Stepping Stones Nursery

Stepping Stones Nursery Stepping Stones Nursery, 322 Coleshill Road, BIRMINGHAM B36 8BG

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Inspection date 7 January 2019 Previous inspection date 12 June 2015

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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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This provision is good

n The leadership and management team provides staff with effective support to help them improve their teaching skills. For example, recent training has helped staff to deepen their understanding of how to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEN). n Staff provide children with a wide range of stimulating activities that motivates them to explore and make new discoveries. For example, children show curiosity and interest as they investigate and decide how they will play with exciting objects and materials. Staff skilfully encourage children to be creative thinkers. n Staff know children well and use their assessment information to plan successfully for the next steps in their learning. All children make good progress, including those with SEN. n Staff are friendly and nurturing, and children form close bonds with them. Staff working with babies are attentive to their individual needs. Babies respond well to staff

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This provision is good

and are quickly soothed when they become upset. n The manager does not fully consider the needs of individual children when allocating additional funding, to provide them with the maximum benefit. n At times, staff working with pre-school children interrupt their play with unnecessary waiting, therefore during these times children are not fully supported to explore and learn at their own pace.

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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 identify how additional funding can be best used to maximise the benefits to individual children n review and enhance some elements of the daily routine in the pre-school rooms to minimise the disruption to children's play and learning.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed teaching practices and the impact these have on children's learning. n The inspector held discussions with the leaders, staff, children and parents. n The inspector read some of the setting's documentation, including the safeguarding policy and procedures. n The inspector sampled children's development information and records. n The inspector carried out joint observations with the manager.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Leaders and staff have a good understanding of how to protect children and understand the procedures to follow if they have any concerns. They make careful risk assessments and supervise children well to ensure they can play safely. Partnerships with parents and other providers are strong. Staff update parents on their children's progress regularly and share ideas to help their continued learning at home. They gather detailed information from parents of new children to establish their starting points. Staff exchange information with other settings where children attend, to provide continuity in their development. The leadership and management team reflects effectively on the service it provides to identify and target areas for further improvement. Contributions that parents make to this process are valued.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff support children's communication and language development skilfully. For example, they encourage children to communicate in the different languages they speak at home. Babies listen attentively and follow simple instructions. Older children join in conversations enthusiastically, exploring a range of topics that interest them, such as animals on a farm. Staff provide a range of engaging opportunities that helps children to explore and develop their understanding of the world. Babies enjoy using their senses to explore lemons and limes. Pre-school children investigate a selection of vegetables and enjoy chopping them up to see what they look like inside. Toddlers eagerly investigate the effects created as they shine torches on various objects.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff help children learn about making healthy food and drink choices. They benefit from regular opportunities to be physically active and explore the effects of exercise on their bodies. Children notice that their hearts beat faster after they have been running around. Staff are positive role models and use a range of effective strategies to manage children's behaviour successfully. Children learn to share, take turns and play cooperatively. Staff help children to explore their differences and to respect diversity. Children develop good levels of independence and recognise their needs. They eagerly help staff with tasks, such as preparing sandwiches and setting the tables at mealtimes.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children gain a broad range of useful skills that prepares them well for school. They enjoy reading books and practising their writing. They concentrate well as they carefully use pipettes to transfer water into containers. Children benefit from opportunities to be adventurous and take risks. They enjoy climbing low-level trees and practise jumping off beams. They keep trying to improve their control and steadiness as they land.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY405710 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 10070020 Type of provision Full day care

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Childcare on non-domestic premises Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 62 Number of children on roll 78 Name of registered person Smarteenies Birmingham Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 12 June 2015 Telephone number 0121 748 6666

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reference number

Stepping Stones Nursery registered in 2010. The nursery employs 13 members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 3 to level 6. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 6pm, all year round. It 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.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

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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reference number

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

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