Footsteps Nursery

Footsteps Nursery Ochill Terrace, Billingham, Stockton on Tees, TS23 2QL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24 October 2017 12 March 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

 Staff use accurate observations to identify children's next steps in learning. They plan a wide range of opportunities that helps children to build on what they already know and can do. The environment, both inside and outside, is well organised and stimulating.  Staff successfully help support children to develop strong emotional attachments. They demonstrate high expectations of children they care for. This builds on children's confidence, fosters their positive behaviour and helps them to form strong friendships with others.  Parent partnerships are a real strength of the nursery, overall. There are highly successful strategies in place to support parents with a range of issues, and staff ensure they are kept well informed about their children's progress. Parents are extremely positive and comment they appreciate the extended settling-in period, as this enables them to establish a rapport and confidence with the staff.

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This provision is good

 Well-established links with schools, other providers and professionals are effective. This ensures that children's needs are maintained and provides continuity for their future learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, some staff do not give children time to think about how to respond to questions and share their ideas when extending their learning further.  The nursery has not found successful ways to engage parents consistently in their self- evaluation to help identify further areas for improvement.

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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

 enhance teaching skills further and provide children with enough time to think, respond and share their ideas when challenging them in their learning  enhance the self-evaluation process and involve parents more fully in identifying where aspects of the nursery can be improved.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector had a tour of the premises.  The inspector observed activities in all areas of the nursery. She observed the quality of teaching and assessed the impact on children's learning. She spoke with staff and children throughout the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at records and documentation, including the suitability of adults working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke with parents and took account of their views and comments.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The management team and staff regularly update their knowledge of child protection issues. They demonstrate a clear understanding of their responsibility to promote children's welfare. Furthermore, robust recruitment procedures help to ensure the suitability of all adults working within the nursery. The manager supports staff through regular meetings and observations of their practice. She gives targeted feedback which she uses to identify training to help improve their knowledge and skills. For example, staff recently accessed training on outdoor play and using the garden all year. They have now planted a sensory area for the youngest children, which has had a positive impact on their explorative and investigative skills.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The quality of teaching is good. Staff have high yet realistic expectations of what children can achieve. Staff interact well with children to promote their learning. Children have good opportunities to develop their small-muscle skills through a range of activities. For example, children confidently manipulate tweezers as they pick up and count various objects. Younger children enjoy making marks using chalks and using a range of tools in sand. Staff promote children's creativity. For example, they are provided with pictures, books and puppets about owls to help them to create pictures using a range of different materials. Younger children explore with creative materials as they make pictures with 'glove painting' and giggle as they splash each other. Children have plenty of opportunities to freely explore, investigate and use their senses during activities. Staff provide good support for children's communication and language development, overall.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are physically active every day and enthusiastically explore the space outdoors. For example, they take calculated risks, balancing, climbing and jumping off the equipment. They engage in rhymes with actions and repeat rhythms. They understand rules that help them to keep safe. For example, they are reminded to be careful while cutting vegetables for snack. Snacks are healthy and mealtimes are a social occasion. Children learn about healthy choices and good hygiene practices. For instance, they wipe their own nose and are supported to independently wash their hands and share that this helps to remove germs.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children are gaining the skills they need for the next stage in their learning. Children are confident, sociable and become increasingly independent. Staff use group times with young children effectively. For example, children join in singing songs while staff support them to stay focused. Children learn to count accurately as staff encourage them to use their fingers to represent the amount of each number.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY368378 Local authority Stockton on Tees Inspection number 1088046 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 57 Number of children on roll 70 Name of registered person Pre-School Learning Alliance

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 12 March 2014 Telephone number 01642 556 378

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reference number

Footsteps Nursery was registered in 2008 and is located in Billingham. The nursery employs 18 members of childcare staff. Of these, 13 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above, including two with a degree in early years childhood studies. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four- year-old children.

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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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