Early Steps Preschool

Inspection of Early Steps Preschool Waterlea Adventure Playground, Crawley RH10 6SP

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children arrive happily at the setting and settle quickly at a chosen activity. They develop warm, caring relationships with staff and good friendships with each other. For example, they talk about who their friends are and that they share toys with each other as they play. Children use a wide range of resources, such as chunky chalks and a cornflour and water mixture to make marks and develop small-muscle skills. They develop a clear understanding of the impact of their actions. They receive guidance from staff and access the well-resourced calm area, where they learn about managing their feelings.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy taking the lead in their play and learning experiences, and learn to take risks in safe surroundings. Staff are highly skilled in their interactions with children and understand how to plan a challenging curriculum for each child. They make the most of every opportunity to bring all areas of learning into each activity. Children recall recent events and take delight as they look through the book of past activities. The photographs, pictures and simple words help to prompt children to talk about the different things. For example, they recall how they made volcanoes and know which ones were theirs and which belonged to their friends.

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need to do better?

n The provider and her staff team have worked hard to address areas raised at the last inspection. Staff receive a full induction and ongoing supervision to make sure that they understand their roles and responsibilities. They also have effective coaching and training. Staff complete daily risk assessments to identify and minimise potential hazards to children. n Staff use their secure knowledge of what children know, understand and can do to support them as they play. This helps to develop children's confidence and resilience. They use simple sign language to enable children to follow instructions. Staff understand that that there is a sequence to learning new skills and that children need to master each part of the sequence before moving on. They are fully aware of any gaps in children's learning and how to weave what children need to learn next into the day's play. n Children receive effective support to encourage their listening skills. For

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need to do better?

example, they thoroughly enjoyed a lotto game. They excitedly anticipated the next sound to be played and placed their counter on their card. However, during some activities, staff occasionally use the incorrect pronunciation of words, such as 'doggy'. Also, they do not consistently give children the time that they need to gather their thoughts and respond to questions. n Staff worked successfully to maintain effective partnerships with parents throughout the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and share information. They found alternative ways to help parents to have an insight into daily activities

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need to do better?

21 September 2021 while they are unable to enter the setting due to the pandemic. However, they do not always explore different ways to make sure that all parents fully understand how they can support their children's learning at home. n Children develop a secure understanding of what makes them unique. Staff act as positive role models and help children to learn about respecting others. For example, while pretending to be hairdressers, children explore the differing hair and skin colours of the models. This helps to enhance their knowledge of similarities and differences. n Staff establish good links with other early years professionals. This results in teaching being focused on meeting the unique needs of individual children, who achieve well. Staff actively seek support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. This enables early diagnosis and support plans to be implemented without delay, and for gaps in learning to close swiftly. Staff

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need to do better?

successfully use additional funding that children receive to support each child's individual needs. n Children thoroughly enjoy outdoor play. Here, they learn about their shadows and show great curiosity as they realise that they follow them wherever they go when in the sun. Staff expertly support this experience as they help to draw the body shapes with chalk on the ground and clearly name parts of the body. This increases the number of words that children know and retain for future use.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a clear understanding of child protection and the wider aspects of safeguarding. They complete regular training to keep their knowledge up to date with cultural practices. Staff understand the importance of making prompt referrals should they have any concerns about a child and are fully aware of their local procedures to follow. This helps to support children's well-being. The provider follows safer recruitment procedures to make sure that staff are suitable to work with children.

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should:

n build on the good partnership working to explore further ways to offer learning at home opportunities n strengthen staff's knowledge of the importance of using the correct pronunciation of words and of allowing enough time for children to respond to questions.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY554037 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10112801 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 9 Name of registered person Owen, Judith

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reference number

Telephone number 01293544513 Date of previous inspection 5 June 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Early Steps Preschool registered in 2017 and operates from a playroom in Waterlea Adventure Playground, Crawley, West Sussex. It is open each weekday from 8.45am to 2.45pm. There are five members of staff, three of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications. The provider holds early years professional status. The pre-school provides funded free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the curriculum. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager, spoke with staff and interacted with children. n Parents shared their views about the setting with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

21 September 2021 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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