Little Steps Day Nursery

Little Steps Day Nursery 1 Lancaster Road, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 4EP

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 14 November 2017 2 October 2014

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The management team is inspirational. Very high expectations motivate staff to work closely as a team to provide the highest quality of care and teaching. Staff work closely with management to evaluate and reflect on their practice. The views of parents and children are frequently gathered and incorporated into plans for further development.  Staff have exceptionally close working partnerships with parents. Their input in their children's learning is highly valued. Staff regularly share information about children's achievements and their next steps in learning. They provide a wide range of innovative ideas that parents can use at home to further support their children's excellent progress.  Children rapidly build close bonds with their key person. They thrive in the staff's care and are very happy in the nursery. Children flourish in confidence and develop their self-esteem. Staff rapidly respond to children's needs.

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This provision is outstanding

 Staff provide a wide range of activities that challenges the children in their learning. They delight in creating pretend birthday cakes for the nursery teddy using a range of natural materials, including mud and leaves. Children pretend to cook the cakes in the outside kitchen and find small sticks to use as the candles.  Children have opportunities for fresh air and exercise. They fully engage in forest school activities and delight in climbing trees and finding a range of natural resources to use in activities. Children skilfully negotiate around crates when riding pedal bicycles. They enjoy the challenge of climbing equipment and negotiate with each other while playing a game of football.

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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

 continue to enhance the procedures for staff supervision meetings that focus on maintaining the excellent quality of the provision and outcomes for children.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector observed and discussed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The management team puts children's safety and welfare at the heart of all they do. Children from a young age learn about risks. For example, they are included in decisions about whether they can safely climb a tree. Staff have extensive knowledge about the signs and symptoms of abuse. They know who to contact and the procedures to follow. The management team understands the importance of continuing to develop supervision meetings to help maintain the very high standards of care and learning. The manager and staff together identify training that helps enhance and develop their skills and knowledge even further. Staff have built excellent working partnerships with settings that children move on to.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff have high expectations of what children can achieve. They use information gained from their observations and assessments of children's progress. They evaluate and plan skilfully for the next steps in children's learning to support them in making really rapid progress. Children delight in developing their early writing skills as they explore creating with paint and writing birthday cards for the nursery bear. Staff expertly support children's language development. For example, they talk to children about what they are doing and repeat words back to them carefully to support their pronunciation. Young children enjoy singing their favourite songs and rhymes. They skilfully count down from five to one as they sing and do the actions to songs. Older children enjoy mathematical challenges as they work out how many more they need to make four and how many they would add to make 11.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children behave exceptionally well. Staff support children to negotiate with each other in sharing and taking turns with toys. They promote excellent hygiene practices and children know to wash their hands after outdoor play and before mealtimes. Children enjoy planting fruit and vegetables in the nursery allotment. Staff talk to children about food that is good for them. This helps children understand about healthy eating. Children treat each other with respect. For example, during story time they patiently wait their turn and listen carefully to their friends' views and opinions. Children eagerly tidy up toys when they have finished playing without being prompted by staff.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children are making very rapid progress from their individual starting points. They are exceptionally well prepared for their next stage in learning and for their move on to school. Young children delight in exploring with vehicles and balls in paint. They squeal with excitement as they mix the colours together with their hands. Children enjoy creating flowers and presents for the nursery bear, using a range of building blocks.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 123558 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1102986 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 - 4 Total number of places 46 Number of children on roll 57 Name of registered person Little Steps Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 2 October 2014 Telephone number 01 727 856651

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reference number

Little Steps Day Nursery registered in 1999. The nursery employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, 13 hold qualification at level 3 or above. The nursery opens Monday to Friday all year round apart from one week at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.45am until 6.15pm. 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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