Stepping Stones Nursery School

Stepping Stones Nursery School Oakhill Farm, Upper Oakhill, Froxfield, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 3JT

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12 March 2018 3 October 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 and staff have made good improvements since the last inspection. They have used the support from other professionals and developed detailed improvement plans. Leaders and staff have successfully used their evaluations to plan quality learning experiences to enable children to make good progress in their learning.  Staff use effective systems to observe, plan and assess children's progress to build on their knowledge. Leaders monitor these systems successfully to enable consistent practices throughout the setting.  Partnerships with parents are effective. Leaders and staff use various strategies to keep parents well informed about their children's learning and how to extend learning at home. Parents comment that they value the support that they and their families receive.  Children behave well. For example, children help determine the rules in the setting and how they expect their friends to behave. Babies and young children develop close,

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This provision is good

affectionate relationships with staff and feel secure.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Younger children have few opportunities to explore natural objects and materials, to support their developing sensory skills and further enhance their learning and development.  Staff miss some opportunities to effectively engage older children to develop their early writing skills further.

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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 opportunities for younger children's exploration and sensory experiences to help them develop their skills and understanding  make the most of opportunities that arise for children to develop their early writing skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities and the quality of teaching throughout the nursery.  The inspector held discussions with the leadership team. She spoke with children and staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector looked at a sample of documentation, including staff suitability checks and self-evaluation documents. She viewed observations, assessments and documentation linked to checking children's progress.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection.  The inspector conducted a joint observation of staff practice and discussed this with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Staff are well qualified. Leaders provide good ongoing support and professional development opportunities that help to enhance staff skills further and enrich the learning outcomes for children. For example, following training, staff used their new knowledge to reflect on how they can support opportunities for children to explore and make discoveries in their learning. Leaders regularly observe staff and hold individual meetings that help to improve practice and teaching skills. Safeguarding is effective. Leaders and staff have updated their knowledge through accessing further training. They have an effective understanding of child protection issues and the procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child. Leaders follow safe recruitment guidelines to ensure new staff are suitable and existing staff remain so.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff place a clear focus on supporting children's mathematical skills. For example, they engage children in interesting activities to estimate how many dinosaurs could be hidden in soft dough eggs. Staff encourage children to use their counting skills to find out if their estimations are correct. Staff support children well to develop their good communication and language skills. For example, they explain the meaning of new words they introduce to children, such as 'extinct'. Staff support children well to express their creativity. For instance, children relish being imaginative and moving to music like an 'elegant butterfly'.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are good role models for children. They support children to learn how to share and take turns with their toys. Staff support children to develop very good independence skills. For example, younger children are encouraged to help dress themselves ready for outdoor play. Older children confidently serve themselves at mealtimes. Staff teach children about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. For instance, they encourage children to follow thorough handwashing routines before eating. All children have good opportunities to be outdoors on a daily basis and to be physically active.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children develop the skills they need for their future learning and the eventual move to school. They show great curiosity and inquisitiveness. For instance, children are keen to discover what will happen to dry ingredients they add to liquids in their play dinosaur swamp. Children develop confidence in their communication skills. They enjoy learning new words and songs in other languages, such as French. Children are very articulate communicators and discuss with staff the meaning of words, such as 'herbivore' and 'carnivore'. Babies develop an early interest in literacy, for example, listening to stories and turning the pages of books.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY488986 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 1115874 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 63 Number of children on roll 69 Name of registered person Stepping Stones Nursery School (froxfield) Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 3 October 2017 Telephone number 01488 681067

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reference number

Stepping Stones Nursery School re-registered in 2015. It is based in the village of Froxfield. The nursery operates from 7.45am to 6pm from Monday to Friday all year round. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years. There are 12 members of staff working with the children. Of these, one holds qualified teacher status, one holds a relevant qualification at level 5, eight hold qualifications at level 3 and a further two hold qualifications 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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