Stepping Stones Nursery

Stepping Stones Nursery 55 Glanville Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX4 2DD

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Inspection date 20 August 2018 Previous inspection date 5 April 2016

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Good 2 Effectiveness of leadership and management Good 2 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2 Outcomes for children Good 2

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The provision is good

n The provider, who is also the manager, creates a welcoming and caring environment for all children. Staff build warm attachments with the children. Children show that they are settled and happy in their care. n Staff promote children's language development well. For example, they model new words clearly and make good use of opportunities to listen to children and engage them in conversations. Children who start with less well-developed language skills quickly begin to catch up with their peers. n Children show that they are developing good levels of independence. They confidently move around the nursery and complete age-appropriate self-help skills. n Parents appreciate the kindness of the staff. They appreciate the time that staff take to get to know them and their child in order to meet their child's individual needs. These strong partnerships have a positive impact on children's care and well-being.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

n Although staff receive feedback on their performance and opportunities to attend training, the provider does not focus these closely enough on the quality of teaching in order to raise it to an even higher level. n Staff do not consistently fully consider the developmental stage of older children when planning some learning experiences. At these times, some children do not find the resources and activities challenging enough to encourage them to extend their learning to build further on their existing skills.

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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

n improve the use of staff supervision and professional development to raise the quality of teaching to an even higher level n enhance the use of resources and the planning of activities to provide older, most-able children with greater levels of challenge in their learning.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed children and staff, indoors and outdoors. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the provider. n The inspector spoke to staff about their understanding of safeguarding and first aid. n The inspector spoke to parents and children and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at documentation, including policies, staff qualifications and children's records.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The provider follows thorough recruitment procedures to ensure the suitability of those she employs to work with children. The provider and all staff understand their responsibility to safeguard children. They know what to do if they have concerns about a child's welfare. They ensure that the premises are safe and they supervise children closely. The provider monitors the progress of all children in order to identify where children may need additional help. She works effectively with parents and other professionals to ensure that children receive the support that they need. She evaluates the quality of the provision to make ongoing improvements.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff make accurate assessments about each child's progress. Overall, they use this information well, to plan activities that children will enjoy. They focus on helping babies and younger children to develop key skills, such as to manage their movements and to feel confident with staff. Staff encourage older children to develop their creativity. For example, children enjoy choosing different materials to make music shakers. Staff help them to develop their early literacy and mathematical skills. For example, they point out familiar letters and words to children and encourage them to count objects, such as when they fill pots with pieces of pasta.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff offer children new to the nursery lots of cuddles and reassurance. These young children quickly begin to develop the confidence to begin to explore their new surroundings; confident that the kind staff remain nearby if they need them. Staff are good role models. They are polite and helpful to each other, and children show the same concern towards each other. Children behave well for their age. Staff meet children's care needs well. They are flexible about routines so that babies and young children can sleep and eat at times that suit their individual needs. They help children develop an interest in a healthy lifestyle, such as to enjoy healthy food, fresh air and exercise.

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Outcomes for children are good

Babies learn to move with confidence, to communicate their needs and to enjoy exploring new toys and resources. Younger children continue to develop their language skills. They develop their muscles and coordination, such as when using the large apparatus outdoors. Older children gain a broad set of skills in preparation for starting school. For example, they learn to recognise familiar words and to count and recognise numbers. Children, including those in receipt of additional funding, make progress in line with children of similar ages.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY276264 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10065514 Type of provision Full day care

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childcare on non-domestic premises Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 22 Name of registered person Greatbatch, Natalie Alexandra

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 5 April 2016 Telephone number 01865 717139

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reference number

Stepping Stones Nursery registered in 2003 and is privately owned. It is situated in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The nursery opens from 8am to 6pm each weekday, for 51 weeks of the year. There are seven members of staff; of these, six hold appropriate childcare qualifications. In addition, the provider, who is also the manager, holds a level 5 qualification. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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.ofsted.gov.uk . 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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