First Steps Nursery School (Dore) Ltd

Inspection of First Steps Nursery School (Dore) Ltd First Steps Nursery School, Savage Lane, SHEFFIELD S17 3GW

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children are extremely happy and busy during their time at the nursery. New children settle swiftly into the creative environment and secure routines. Well- organised procedures ensure each child receives one-to-one support from staff from the moment they start. This includes careful attention to all their initial learning and development needs. Children are engaged by the highly imaginative activities that sharply match their interests. Whether a child attends one day a week or five, they are known and valued by all the nursery's well-qualified staff. Staff are extremely positive role models. Children are very well behaved, polite and thoughtful as a result. They handle the pet guinea pigs with care and are very knowledgeable about their habits and needs. Children are sociable. They enjoy looking after visitors and giving them written invitations to join them at snack time. Children take their turn in group games and follow instruction very closely. They

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The provision is outstanding

learn to play safely and know that they are well cared for. The manager and her team have extremely high expectations and support every child to achieve the very best they can. Children leave the nursery with self-awareness, curiosity and enthusiasm. This helps them to make a smooth start to the next stage of their education.

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need to do better?

n Parents hold the nursery in very high regard. They appreciate the warm and caring attitudes of the staff and the excellent sharing of information, guidance and resources for learning at home. n The very well-qualified and experienced managers are proactive leaders. They set a very positive example for staff to follow in the quality of teaching, the organisation of the curriculum and standards of care. There are well-established procedures for developing all aspects of provision, which are constantly reviewed and enhanced. For instance, training on inclusive language development and philosophy for children has a positive impact on the confidence and communication skills of all children, including those with social and emotional concerns. n Children learn in an extremely bright, well-organised and stimulating environment. Activities are skilfully planned to meet the needs of children at different stages and focus on their identified next steps for learning. For

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need to do better?

example, children developed their mathematical and creative skills when they matched toy animals to designs based on their skin patterns. They developed this skill further when creating very complex, repeated bead patterns. n Procedures to observe and assess children's progress are very clear and effective. Staff have precise roles and responsibilities for monitoring progress and planning learning. This supports consistently high expectations for what all children can achieve and the early identification of any learning delays. Staff

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need to do better?

17 October 2019 have excellent relationships with other agencies, such as speech therapists and professionals who support children's emotional needs. This helps staff to act speedily to address any gaps in children's achievement. n Children develop their speaking and early reading and writing skills extremely well. They hear well-told stories during the day which are carefully tailored to their age and ability. Staff weave stories into many of the activities they plan. Children recognise their own names from a very early stage because they use name cards to register at the start of the day and at snack time, and to write cards and letters and fill in forms in their role play. n Staff's interaction with children is a constant strength of the provision. They speak clearly and purposefully and listen closely to all children. They adjust their questions to the children's needs and interests very effectively.

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need to do better?

n The nursery strongly promotes children's awareness of diversity and differences in modern life. For example, staff work closely with parents to recognise and celebrate aspects of their lives and cultural features from around the world. Children produced exciting boomerang designs or learn about Sikh, Hindu and may other faiths through art, food and role play. n Children's personal development is rigorously promoted. They are very physically active as staff challenge them to find new ways to move along the climbing frame, practise yoga movements or dance to action songs and rhymes.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There are extremely robust policies and procedures to ensure that children are kept safe from harm. Staff have an excellent understanding of the possible signs that children may be at risk of abuse and neglect. All staff know the local procedures for who to inform if they have a concern and the records they need to maintain. Staff are constantly vigilant. There are outstanding systems to check that children consistently play in a safe environment. Record-keeping is thorough and very well maintained. Children learn to manage many aspects of their own safety, such as working with sharp knives or following road safety routines.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY448429 Local authority Sheffield Inspection number 10117671 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 2 to 8 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 75 Name of registered person First Steps Nursery School (Dore) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0114 235 3801 Date of previous inspection 18 March 2013

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Information about this early years setting

First Steps Nursery School (Dore) Ltd registered in 2012. It is situated in a converted school building in Dore, Sheffield. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or higher, including five with qualified teacher status and one with a masters degree in early years. The nursery opens Monday to Friday for 45 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 8am until 5.30pm. The nursery provides funded early years education for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector held a meeting with the management team and looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting. n The inspector completed a 'learning walk' with the manager across all areas of the setting, inside and outside, to understand how the setting and the curriculum are organised. n A joint observation was carried out by the inspector and the deputy manager. n The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to during the inspection and through written feedback provided. n The inspector held discussions with the staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

17 October 2019 regulates and inspects to 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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