Stepping Stones Childcare

Stepping Stones Childcare Church Of St Margaret With St Columba, Woodhouse Road, London, Waltham Forest, E11 3NG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 March 2018 21 September 2017

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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

 Leaders have significantly improved the quality of their provision and the arrangements for self-evaluation. They have addressed the actions from the previous inspection effectively to ensure the environment is safe for children. For example, leaders ensure staff complete thorough risk assessments of the indoor and outdoor areas throughout the day.  Staff develop strong partnerships with parents. They share regular information about children's development and encourage parents to extend their learning at home. Parents provide complimentary feedback about the setting. For example, they praise the close relationships they form with staff to meet children's needs effectively.  Staff work closely together to implement the daily routines, policies and procedures effectively, to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the provision for children.  Staff observe and assess children's learning well. They plan stimulating opportunities

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This provision is good

for children to explore, learn and make good progress with their development.  Children are happy at the provision. They form close bonds and attachments with staff and know when to seek support and reassurance from them during play.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff miss some opportunities to encourage older children to listen during group activities and give other children the chance to talk, to develop their listening and social skills further.  Staff do not provide many opportunities for children to learn about people and cultures that are different to their own.

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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

 make better use of group activities to strengthen children's listening and social skills  increase opportunities for children to learn about the similarities and differences of a range of families to extend their understanding of the world.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching in the playrooms and the outdoor play area, and looked at some of the children’s assessment records and planning documentation.  The inspector held discussions with leaders during the inspection.  The inspector held discussions with staff about their roles and assessed their understanding of meeting the requirements of the early years foundation stage.  The inspector took account of the children’s and parents’ views during the inspection.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Leaders ensure staff have a secure knowledge of safeguarding and the procedures to report any concerns, including allegations make against staff. Robust recruitment and vetting processes ensure leaders employ suitable staff to work with children. The manager completes regular staff supervision and offers guidance and developmental opportunities to help enhance their practices and children's outcomes. For example, staff use knowledge gained from training to model and encourage children's positive behaviour. Staff monitor individual children's progress well. They know how to seek support from other professionals to close any gaps identified in children's development. Staff form close relationships with local schools to help support older children's move to school. For example, schoolchildren visit the setting to do reading activities with the older children, helping to make them aware of school and what to

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff supervise and interact with children effectively during their play to help extend their learning. For example, they skilfully support older children to learn that light objects 'float' and heavy objects 'sink' in water. Older children learn to count, recognise numbers and sort puzzles successfully. They learn to use their imagination and creative skills well. Staff provide opportunities for older children to develop their interest in stories and sing nursery rhymes to develop their early literacy skills effectively. Older children use simple sentences well to express themselves in different situations. Staff comment on younger children's play and encourage them to repeat new words to extend their language development. Younger children explore with musical toys and make different sounds well.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children settle easily and quickly. They display a strong sense of belonging and move around to explore the resources freely. Children learn to manage their personal needs independently and help with small responsibilities well. For example, younger children feed themselves and older children use the toilet on their own. Children help to set up new activities and pack away resources effectively. Children are familiar with their daily routines and know what to expect next. They easily adapt to any changes. Staff ensure children have a range of opportunities to support their physical development effectively. For example, younger children have space to walk around and resources to learn to climb and balance successfully. Staff provide healthy lunches for children and they help children understand that healthy food helps them to grow.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress, in relation to their starting points. They acquire skills to help them move on to the next stage in their learning. For example, younger children develop their muscles. They effectively grasp and handle small resources to explore during different sensory activities. All children display good behaviour and they follow simple rules and boundaries well. Older children develop good early mathematical skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY482580 Local authority Waltham Forest Inspection number 1115877 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person Stepping Stones Childcare Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 21 September 2017 Telephone number 07711819522

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reference number

Stepping Stones Childcare registered in 2014. The nursery is situated in Wanstead, within the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The nursery opens every weekday from 8am to 6pm, throughout most of the year. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. A team of 11 members of staff works at the nursery, including the manager and provider. Of these, one member of staff holds an early years qualification at level 4, six hold qualifications at level 3 and three are qualified at level 2.

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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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