Exmoor Stepping Stones CIC

Exmoor Stepping Stones CIC Bottom Meadow Car park, Lynton, Devon, EX35 6AR

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 May 2018 12 February 2015

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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

 The manager and staff work well together as a team with a strong commitment to improving outcomes for children. For example, they attend training and then make changes within the setting, such as enhancements to the outdoor learning opportunities.  Staff know the children and their families well. This helps children to settle quickly and develop positive self-esteem.  Partnerships with parents are strong. There is an effective two-way sharing of information, which helps to ensure that children's learning and care needs are met fully.  Staff have a good understanding of how to keep children safe and healthy. For example, all staff are aware of individual children's food allergies and intolerances, and use this information well at snack times and mealtimes.  Children are happy, confident and behave well. For instance, they share and take turns when playing together with a small-world garage and selection of cars.

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This provision is good

 Children make good progress from their starting points. They are very confident communicators with staff and their friends.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff sometimes miss opportunities to extend children's learning and independence skills. At times, staff miss opportunities to help develop children's understanding of how technology can be used.

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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

 provide children with more opportunities to be independent, to help better prepare them for their next stage of learning  provide children with further experiences to develop their use of technology, to help support their understanding of the world more effectively.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff interactions both indoors and in the garden areas.  The inspector spoke with parents, staff and most children during the inspection.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including children's learning files, planning, policies and procedures.  The inspector met with the manager to discuss matters relating to leadership and management.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager and deputy support the team effectively. Supervisions take place regularly and management helps staff identify their personal goals, such as extending their levels of qualification. The manager has identified the strengths within the setting and areas the team believes need to improve. She clearly identifies children's confidence and self-esteem as an area of strength and is aware of the need to improve children's access to more technology resources. Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff have a good understanding of child protection policies and implement these effectively to keep children safe from harm. The manager carefully monitors the progress of individual children and groups of children, to identify and close any gaps in achievement.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use their observations and information from home to plan a range of appropriate activities for the children to help them make progress. They know each child very well and support their personal, social and emotional skills successfully. Staff model and encourage early reading and writing skills. For example, children are very keen to retell their favourite stories to staff and visitors. Others happily 'have a go' at writing on clipboards and chalkboards using a variety of writing tools, such as pencils and chalk, to support their literacy skills. Staff successfully support children to learn about the world around them. They take them for regular trips to the local beach where they can explore the natural environment.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are motivated to learn. Different age groups play well together, taking turns and sharing equipment and resources. For example, a group of children play collaboratively in a cardboard pirate ship and enjoy their joint adventure to find more treasure. Staff help children learn about using equipment safely. For example, children use sharp knives to prepare vegetables during a cooking activity. Staff support children's personal, social and emotional development well. For instance, they encourage all children to greet their friends by name at the start of a session.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress from their starting points. For example, children who are learning English as an additional language progress in a timely way. They develop good levels of confidence, helping them to communicate effectively with their friends and staff. Children are developing skills needed to prepare them for their next stages in learning. For example, older children take part in regular visits to the local primary school to aid a smooth transition.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY381223 Local authority Devon Inspection number 1093583 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 23 Name of registered person Exmoor Stepping Stones CIC

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 12 February 2015 Telephone number 01598753336

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reference number

Exmoor Stepping Stones CIC registered in 2008. The pre-school operates from its own self-contained property in Lynton in North Devon, and is in receipt of funding for children aged two, three and four years. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3.30pm during term time only. There are four members of staff. Of these, two have a qualification at level 3 and two have a qualification 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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