Footsteps 123 Nursery

Footsteps 123 Nursery Jimmy Macs Activity Centre, Jim McDonald Centre, McDonald Court, High View, Hatfield, AL10 8HR

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26 June 2018 12 October 2017

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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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

 Since the last inspection the provider and manager have worked hard to make improvements. They have implemented an effective system for performance management that helps them to identify and address any weaknesses in staff practice. Consultation with parents, children and staff helps the provider and manager to consistently identify and address areas for improvement.  The monitoring of educational programmes is carried out every term. This helps the provider and manager to identify and quickly address any gaps in the development of individuals or groups of children. They have purchased materials to help improve staff teaching in specific areas of learning, such as communication and language.  The outdoor learning environment provides children with exciting play opportunities. Children learn about the world around them as they help to care for plants and trees. They show concern as they water plants that are ‘very thirsty’. Children make good

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This provision is good

progress in readiness for their next stage in learning and school.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always make the most effective use of assessments to focus precisely on what children need to do next in order to help them make even better progress.  Staff do not make the most of their good relationships with parents to support them to complement and extend their children's learning at home.

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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 more-effective use of assessments to inform planning and increase the potential for children to make rapid progress  enhance the strategies that are in place to support parents to complement and extend their children's learning at home.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outside, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint evaluation of an activity with the provider.  The inspector held a number of discussions with the provider, manager, staff and children.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including evidence of the suitability of persons working with children. The inspector discussed with the provider, manager and staff how they reflect on their practice.  The inspector took account of the views of parents through discussion provided at inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The provider, manager and staff have completed training that supports their understanding of how to protect children. They are aware of how to identify abuse and what the reporting procedures for concerns are. The areas used by children are risk assessed and any potential hazards are minimised or removed. Staff complete a daily check of the nursery, including the outdoor area, to ensure that it remains safe for children to use. Staff provide children with good levels of supervision, which helps to protect their welfare. Staff work effectively with other professionals to support children's development. Parents describe staff as 'really nice' and say that they find them approachable. Parents talk about how they work with staff to settle their children into the nursery.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff actively encourage children to use their imaginations. For example, when children sit in a cardboard pirate boat, they are encouraged to talk about what they can see in the pretend water. They enthusiastically tell staff that they can see a 'hammerhead shark', giving a very detailed description. This demonstrates older children's growing knowledge and understanding of the world. Young children show a keen interest in their environment. They closely examine items, such as a drinking bottle, turning it around to view all aspects before taking a drink. Older children thoroughly enjoy listening to staff read their favourite stories and are encouraged to interact. They enthusiastically join in with familiar parts of the story and some of the actions. Younger children show interest when staff read to them. They are encouraged to look at and touch the pages of a book, feeling its different textures.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children have developed good relationships with their key person and other staff. Older children are keen to share some of their learning experiences and younger children enjoy cuddling up as they listen to a story. Children behave well. Staff encourage older children to think about the impact of their own and others' behaviour. They involve them in developing 'golden rules' and use reminders as they learn about what is and is not acceptable behaviour. Children are encouraged to develop good habits, such as tidying up after activities. During physical outdoor play, they learn how to take measured risks and keep themselves safe. For example, they have immense fun climbing large play equipment and know that staff are nearby should they need any assistance.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children show good problem-solving skills as they work out how to climb to the top of a pile of tyres. Older children show good concentration skills as they purposefully negotiate their way across balancing equipment. Young children show high levels of confidence as they move around their base room, exploring what is on offer. Children enjoy mealtimes, they are able to feed themselves with fresh fruit and are beginning to use cutlery with increasing competence.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY544298 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1116322 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 0 - 4 Total number of places 69 Number of children on roll 80 Name of registered person Natasha Skutela

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 12 October 2017 Telephone number 01707 357696

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reference number

Footsteps 123 Nursery registered in 2017. The nursery employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, nine hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including the manager who holds a qualification at level 4. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 8am to 5.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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