Stepping Stones

Stepping Stones The Institute, Main Street, Cononley, KEIGHLEY, West Yorkshire, BD20 8LJ

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 30 April 2018 24 January 2014

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

 The management team is very dedicated and ambitious to provide good-quality play and learning experiences for children. They accurately evaluate the nursery provision, involve and gather the views of staff, parents and children and implement robust development plans to help raise the quality even further.  Staff provide a calm, caring and nurturing environment. Children settle quickly and are very well supported by their key person. They are happy and display a strong sense of belonging. Children are emotionally secure in the nursery.  Children's mathematical skills and understanding are developing well. Staff consistently use play opportunities to encourage children to count, recognise numbers, estimate quantities, complete simple calculations and identify different shapes.  Staff develop strong partnerships with parents. They encourage parental involvement from the moment children start to attend. Parents are kept fully informed about their

p.1

This provision is good

children's learning. They are very complimentary about the nursery and are pleased with the progress their children make. Parents describe how their children 'love nursery'.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasions, staff do not ensure that whole group time activities consistently match the developmental stage of the youngest children who attend.  Staff do not provide sufficient opportunities for children to learn about communities beyond their immediate experience and develop their awareness of differences between themselves and other people.

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

 enhance group time activities so that they are precisely matched to the developmental stage of the youngest children  extend opportunities for children to learn about communities beyond their immediate experience and further develop their awareness of differences between themselves and other people.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken with during the inspection and their written comments.  The inspector held discussions with the management team, staff, children and the headteacher from the local school.  The inspector discussed the nursery's self-evaluation process. She checked a range of policies and procedures and children's learning records.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff understand their responsibilities and keep children safe from harm. They know the process to follow should they be concerned about a child's welfare or the behaviour of a colleague. The management team provides staff with supervision, training and opportunities to gain qualifications. This helps them to understand their role and develop their knowledge. The management team monitors children's progress well. They put effective support in place to help children catch up quickly in their learning and development. Staff develop excellent working relationships with the local school. Teachers from school visit children in nursery and staff share detailed information about their learning. This helps to supports consistency for children.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Qualified staff regularly observe children and make accurate assessments of their development. They use what they know about children to extend their learning well, overall. Staff provide many opportunities for children to learn about nature. Children are curious and motivated in their learning and show their good understanding of the life cycle of frogs. Staff respond well to children's questions about insects and skilfully help them to use information books to identify and name the different types of insects they see. Staff support children's language development very effectively. They skilfully engage children in many conversations and introduce interesting words, such as, 'camouflage' to extend their vocabulary. Girls are very observant and accurately describe how the sunshine creates shadows on the nursery floor and on the wall outside. Staff captivate children's interest as they use different voices to tell stories. Children listen attentively and confidently join in

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff effectively teach children how to keep themselves safe during the regular outings to the nearby park and forest area. Children run energetically, hop on one leg and push scooters at speed, showing their good physical skills and body control. In addition, staff provide a small outdoor area at the nursery to ensure children enjoy varied outdoor play experiences each day. Children manage their own self-care needs independently. Staff encourage young children to butter their own crackers and pour their milk from a jug. Staff are good role models for children and provide clear expectations. Children behave extremely well. Staff skilfully use opportunities to help children understand which foods and drinks are healthy and which are not.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in their learning. They enthusiastically sing a wide range of songs and join in the actions. Young children correctly identify their own name-card and older children confidently write their name and a range of other letters from the alphabet. Children use magnifying glasses competently and use them to look carefully at flowers and insects. Children display a positive attitude to their learning and develop the skills they need for the future. Children are well prepared for starting school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY312228 Local authority North Yorkshire Inspection number 1102026 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 2 - 11 Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 22 Name of registered person Joanna Marie Clark

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 24 January 2014 Telephone number 01535634217

p.4

reference number

Stepping Stones registered in 2005. The nursery employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, including one who holds a level 6 qualification. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday term time only. 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