First Steps Lime Tree

First Steps Lime Tree New Life Community Church, Lime Tree Avenue, Crewe CW1 4HZ

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Inspection date 20 March 2019 Previous inspection date Not applicable

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Not applicable 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 Children are eager to attend this small and friendly setting. They receive high levels of attention from nurturing staff who know them well. This helps to promote children's emotional security. n Teaching is strong. Staff know how to interact with children and have fun with them. They create a stimulating and well-resourced environment. Staff provide a good variety of sensory experiences both indoors and outside. n Parents speak very positively about the good progress children make in their learning. They say children have, 'Blossomed' and, 'Their speech has come on loads'. n The manager and staff work well together as a team to make sure the setting runs safely and efficiently. They review their practice and use feedback from parents to help them improve further. n Staff are not always effective in helping children to develop their listening and attention skills. This means that at times not all children are deeply engaged in their learning.

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This provision is good

n The manager's systems for performance management do not focus sharply enough on raising staff's teaching skills even higher.

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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 increase opportunities for children to develop their listening and attention skills to help them remain fully engaged in activities n enhance professional development to help staff understand how they can raise their teaching skills to the highest level.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to staff and children and completed a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held discussions with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school. n The inspector spoke to some parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff supervise children well. They conduct daily checks to make sure the premises are safe for children attending. The manager and staff have a secure understanding of their responsibilities to protect children from harm. They know the procedures to follow if they identify any concerns about children or adults. The manager robustly monitors children's progress. She supervises the work of staff, for instance, by checking their assessments and intervention plans. Most staff are well qualified. They have some opportunities to access further training. For example, staff attended training to strengthen their understanding of working with two-year-olds. This helped them to review their provision and make some changes to daily routines to accommodate the needs of younger children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a good understanding of how children learn. They deploy themselves well to support and challenge children at their chosen activities. Staff regularly assess and track children's progress and clearly identify their next steps in learning. They make good use of assessment tools to measure children's speech and language skills. Where necessary, staff plan specific activities to help children catch up. Staff provide parents with initial and ongoing summaries of children's development. They also share information electronically and hold regular parent meetings. This helps to ensure that parents are kept well informed of children's progress. Children enjoy nature walks in the local area. They visit the library to choose books, which encourages their early reading skills. Children are very eager to explore outdoors. They learn to scoop and mix using various natural materials, including stones, soil and water. They show a developing awareness of

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

mathematics as they describe objects that are 'big', 'full' and 'heavy'.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff develop warm and trusting relationships with parents and children. Parents speak positively about how staff have provided them with support. For example, staff help parents with managing behaviour and how to support children to develop a positive cultural identity. Staff reinforce expectations regarding behaviour. They tell children how proud they are of their achievements. This helps to boost children's confidence and self- esteem. Staff organise the snack-time routine well. For example, children to sit in small, age-related groups and enjoy eating healthy food. They have plenty of opportunity to help with tasks and engage in conversation. This supports their social and communication skills. Children play actively outdoors and show strong risk-taking skills. For example, they carefully balance along wooden planks and jump off by themselves.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress in their learning over time. They gain useful skills that prepare them well for their eventual move to school. Children develop firm friendships with one another. They hug, hold hands and ask if they can sit by their friend at lunchtime. Children learn how to work together and be kind to others. They know how to take turns and follow instructions, for instance, when they make their own play dough.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY539578 Local authority Cheshire East Inspection number 10079952 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 12 Name of registered person Mr Edward Bell and Mrs Christine Elizabeth Bell

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07970 184494

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reference number

First Steps Lime Tree registered in 2016. The pre-school employs four members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications, including two at level 3 and one at level 5. The pre-school opens on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, during term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 2pm. The pre-school 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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T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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