Stepping Stones Day Nursery

Little Acorns Day Nursery Valley House, Towngate, Mirfield, West Yorkshire, WF14 9JG

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23 April 2018 12 January 2016

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 Staff plan a range of challenging activities that are well matched to children’s interests. As a result, children develop a wide range of skills. This supports the next steps in their learning and helps ensure they are ready for school.  Staff work closely with parents to provide regular updates about children’s care and education. They encourage parents to contribute to children’s learning which helps to foster good relationships.  Leaders and managers are ambitious. They have developed effective systems for supervising and monitoring the work of staff. Staff attend regular early years training which helps to ensure that their interactions with the children are good.  Children have developed strong relationships with their carers. Staff are highly responsive to children’s individual needs which supports their emotional well-being.  Staff risk assess the nursery on a daily basis. They are aware of how to refer any

p.1

This provision is good

concerns that they may have about children in their care. This helps to keep children safe.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, children have to wait before being able to engage in their activities because staff do not organise routines effectively.  Systems to monitor the progress of different groups of children are not yet fully developed. As a result, teaching practice is not yet fully evaluated.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 refine routines so that children do not have to wait unnecessarily before taking part in activities  further develop the current systems used to monitor the progress of different groups of children and use this information to evaluate the quality of teaching.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector reviewed a wide range of documentation including children’s planning and staff suitability checks.  The inspector took account of the views of parent's and spoke with staff and children.  The inspector carried out a joint observation of a mathematical activity with the nursery manager.  The inspector observed staff’s interactions with the children throughout the inspection to assess the quality of teaching.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. There are clear policies and procedures in place which supports the work of staff. Staff have attended safeguarding training which helps them to recognise the possible indicators of abuse. There are clear, well-developed action plans in place to ensure that the nursery continues to improve. Partnership with parents is good. Parents are invited to contribute their ideas and suggestions about how the nursery can improve and develop. This means that areas to improve are well focused.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide good opportunities to support children’s mathematical development. Children thoroughly enjoy the number and colour sorting activities where they compare the varying amounts of Lego bricks. However, on occasions the poor organisation of nursery routines mean that that children have to wait to take part in activities. Toddlers enjoy playing in the water tray and use their fine motor skills to make shapes with the playdough. They enjoy playing in the nursery garden where they can access wheeled toys and practice their large motor movements. This supports children to develop a good range of physical skills. Young babies enjoy tummy play and cuddles with their key-person which supports their personal, social and emotional development.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are positive role models. They have devised clear rules and boundaries with the children. This helps to promote children’s good behaviour and supports children to feel safe at the nursery. Children benefit from regular outdoor play and healthy snacks and meals. This supports their understanding of healthy lifestyles. Staff work closely with a wide range of professionals such as health visitors and portage workers. This ensures that children receive the support they need in a timely manner. Children attend settling-in visits before they start their placement at the nursery. This is the same when children move rooms and eventually move on to school. This supports children’s transitions and helps them to feel emotionally secure. Staff involve the children in routine tasks such as setting the table for mealtime. They encourage children to make choices about what they play with and as a result, children develop a good range of independence skills.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Leader’s and manager's monitor the progress that children make which helps to ensure that staff can promptly identify when children are at risk of falling behind. However, systems for monitoring different groups of children are in their infancy and there is room to further develop this. Most children make good progress in relation to their starting points. Those that are working below the expected levels of development are well supported by staff. Planned activities are helping to narrow the gaps in children’s learning.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY362250 Local authority Kirklees Inspection number 1133119 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 1 - 5 Total number of places 62 Number of children on roll 44 Name of registered person Little Acorns Nurseries Limited

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 12 January 2016 Telephone number 01924 499210

p.4

reference number

Little Acorns Day Nursery was registered in 2007. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. 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.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

reference number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

reference number

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

p.5