First Steps First

First Steps First Hall 2 Marlow Air Scouts, Mill Road, MARLOW, Buckinghamshire SL7 1PX

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Inspection date 4 December 2018 Previous inspection date 9 October 2013

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Good 2 Effectiveness of leadership and management Outstanding 1 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1 Outcomes for children Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

n The pre-school is a hidden gem. The manager trains, coaches and inspires her staff, students and volunteers to provide very high levels of teaching and care. Children's laughter frequently adds sparkle to their unyielding pleasure in learning. n The manager and her staff are highly reflective and have particularly high standards for their practice. Their astute self-evaluation leads to constant improvements across the pre-school. n The manager speaks four languages fluently and she, and her staff, understand others. They are exceptionally skilled in settling young children who do not speak English. Children who are learning two or three languages simultaneously and children whose language is delayed due to poor hearing rapidly catch up with their speech and early literacy skills. n Staff are extremely kind and caring. Children form exceptionally warm and secure relationships with staff and with each other. They are extremely confident and eager to

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This provision is outstanding

try new activities. n Children quickly become very independent. Staff put experiences in place which develop children's confidence in their own abilities. From an early age, children are curious to explore further and persevere with challenges.

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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 embed further strategies to encourage parents to contribute more consistently to their children's current interests and learning at the pre-school.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed, listened to and talked with children as they played indoors and during outdoor play. n The inspector talked with parents and listened to their views about the pre-school and their children's progress. n The inspector looked at children's records, discussed staff's planning and evaluation of activities, and how they exchange information with parents. n The inspector reviewed records and procedures relating to safeguarding and risk assessment, and discussed a range of other procedures relating to children's welfare with the manager. n The inspector observed care routines and completed a joint observation with the manager. Together they discussed how staff training had contributed to children's learning and development.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is outstanding

The manager is highly experienced and accountable for her practice. She meticulously documents her safe recruitment practice, staff induction and training. The manager inspires her staff to meet her high standards and they willingly raise the quality of their practice through carefully targeted opportunities for further professional development. Safeguarding is effective. The manager checks that her staff know how to identify and respond appropriately to any concerns about a child's safety or welfare. Her excellent policies and procedures guide staff and underpin children's safety.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Extremely skilled and enthusiastic staff encourage children to take greater responsibility for themselves and each other. For instance, older children explore how babies' needs are different to their own and all children practise brushing their own teeth. Staff prompt children to design, cut out and create a collage of a pair of gloves. Children learn that wool provides added warmth while also experimenting with patterns and fastenings. Staff use a diverse range of ways to share information with parents about their children's achievements and activities at the pre-school. For example, they share termly reports with parents, who also appreciate excellent daily updates. Staff are exploring ways to support parents in responding more consistently to requests for children to take in items from home that support their current topics of interest and learning.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff create a joyful atmosphere. For example, they help children to make up their own songs and rhymes as they chat around the play dough table or encourage them to eat a broader range of fruit. Children sing heartily as they learn new songs to mark the seasons and visit older local residents. Staff carefully research and select areas for further discussion that prompt children to question and think deeper. For instance, children learn a little more about poppies and the significance of World War I as staff share stories about wild animals living on noisy battlefields. Older children are so fascinated and curious that they revisit the story several times to gain a better understanding. Children visit hedgehog rescue centres and feed wildlife on the river.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children make rapid progress in their learning and are extremely well prepared for school. For example, children with delayed starts in communication and language leave as confident communicators who use a broad vocabulary. Children with limited experience in cutting, colour matching and creating learn to plan, do, review and improve their chosen activities. Inspired by conversations about favourite television programmes, such as Blue Planet, older children quickly refer to reference books to share and check further facts. They confidently explain why barnacles live on whales and are prompted to think further about what barnacles might feed on in the sea.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY458783 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 10085658 Type of provision Sessional day care Registers Early Years Register Day care type Childcare on non-domestic premises Age range of children 1 - 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 10 Name of registered person Campbell-Baker, Susan Belinda

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 9 October 2013 Telephone number 01628483111

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reference number

First Steps First originally opened in 1992 and re-registered at these premises in 2013. It is open each weekday during school term times from 8.30am to 2.30pm. The pre-school is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years old. All three staff hold level 3 qualifications in early years education. The manager and another member of staff also hold degrees in other subjects. The pre- school also supports the professional development of a volunteer and a student.

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

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