Stepping Stones Nursery

Stepping Stones Nursery 344 Long Lane, Hillingdon, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB10 9PN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15 September 2017 5 June 2014

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 The owners make targeted improvements to the nursery that have a positive impact on the experiences of children. They are supported in this by a dedicated and knowledgeable manager.  A wide range of stimulating and easily accessible resources is available to the children. Staff support children's confidence in choosing activities that reflect their current interests.  Staff are enthusiastic and motivated. They sensitively nurture children's emotional well- being. For example, staff create an atmosphere which parents describe as 'warm, like a home from home'.  Assessment of children's progress is detailed and accurate. Staff effectively target children's learning to support them in making good progress and help them to catch up where necessary.  Staff are skilled in observing and listening to young children. They give children time to think about and use their own words to express their ideas.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, staff do not make the best use of opportunities to show younger children how to use resources appropriately, to extend their learning.  Staff do not explore the most effective ways to offer parents information about their children's learning and to support them to extend it further at home.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 provide consistent guidance for children to help them understand how to use resources appropriately, to further support their learning  devise highly effective ways to share information with parents and support them to extend their children's learning at home.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed a range of activities, including outdoor play.  The inspector undertook a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager.  The inspector looked at some policies, children's records and documents relating to the suitability of staff, and discussed self-evaluation with the manager.  The inspector talked to staff, children and parents to gather their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager ensures that staff are confident in their understanding of the signs and symptoms which may give cause for concern about a child's welfare. Staff understand the procedures to follow if they have concerns. They have completed relevant training about how to identify any children who may be at risk of being exposed to extreme ideas or behaviours. The manager is supportive of staff professional development, providing regular training and supervisory meetings. Staff use the information gained through training effectively, for example, to introduce new activities tailored to support children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. This helps staff to improve outcomes for all children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff are skilled at enriching activities to capture children's interest and imagination. Children enjoy acting out their favourite stories as plays and performing them to staff and parents. Children successfully use their problem-solving and thinking skills. For instance, they explore exotic fruits and make predictions about what colour there will be inside. Staff successfully nurture children's physical development. For example, children learn to climb and manage their own risks safely in a soft-play area. Imaginative play is used effectively by staff to support learning. For example, children and staff build a train together from large construction bricks and pretend to travel to different places. Children laugh with delight as they make train sounds for their game.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff support children's social skills well. Children are excited to play together and describe one another as 'friends'. Children learn about adults who help to keep them safe and well. They receive visits from a dentist, a doctor and firefighters. Staff help children to learn about people whose experiences might be different to their own. For example, they find out about different festivals with the support of parents. Staff are polite to each other and are very good role models for the children. Children build secure relationships with staff and turn to them for help and support, if needed.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children behave well and are engaged, motivated learners. They confidently use their communication skills to hold detailed conversations with adults. For example, they talk about having new clothes to wear which they describe as 'comfortable'. The youngest children experiment with colour as they paint their hands to make prints. Children play shops, examine vegetables and use mathematical language, such as 'big' and 'heavy'. They use their emerging writing skills to write their own names. Staff prepare children very well for the next stage of their learning, particularly school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY468793 Local authority Hillingdon Inspection number 1069768 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 1 - 4 Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 35 Name of registered person Stepping Stones Academy Childcare Ltd.

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 5 June 2014 Telephone number 01895 238007

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reference number

Stepping Stones Nursery registered in 2013. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. There are 10 members of staff, five of whom hold relevant early years qualifications at level 2, 3, 4 or 6 and two hold qualified teacher status. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early years education for children aged two, three and four years.

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reference number

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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reference number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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reference number

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reference number

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reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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