1st Stepping Stones Nursery School

Inspection of 1st Stepping Stones Nursery School 39 Coleridge Road, London, Essex E17 6QX

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children develop strong relationships with their key person and they settle quickly on arrival. Older children demonstrate high levels of confidence and independence as they move around the playroom to explore the wide range of resources accessible to them. Children display very keen interests in their play and they also learn to make decisions about what they want to do. For example, children spend a long time exploring with different role-play resources in the home corner and they use their imagination effectively to bring their ideas to life. Staff provide opportunities for children to develop social skills and form positive relationships with others. They support them to develop good communication and language skills. For example, staff ask questions about their play and children respond appropriately. Children enjoy regular visits to the local park, where they have access to physical resources, such as a large climbing frame, slide and swing. This

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The provision is good

helps to strengthen children's balance, movement and coordination. Staff have high expectations of children. They work closely with parents to support children to manage their feelings and to teach them right from wrong. Subsequently, children display positive behaviour and they treat others well.

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need to do better?

n Staff plan a range of exciting activities to promote children's curiosity and learning. For example, young children enjoy exploring and pretending to drive different vehicles around. They learn to press the buttons and they watch the flashing lights while copying the different sounds that they hear. n Staff support children's language and literacy skills well. For example, they use a range of props to help bring the stories to life. Children show great interest in books and they listen attentively to familiar stories. Older children confidently answer questions about what they can see on the page. Staff engage with them in conversation and introduce a wide range of vocabulary. n Older children learn to manage their self-care needs on their own. For instance, they use the toilet themselves and learn to dress for outdoor play. Children help with small tasks, such as setting up the plates and cups for lunch, which helps

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need to do better?

them to gain a sense of responsibility. n Staff support children to develop good health and well-being. They provide healthy food for them to eat, plan opportunities for regular exercise and talk to them about brushing their teeth. n Children behave well and any minor disagreements are swiftly handled by staff. New children to the nursery are beginning to understand the rules and boundaries. Staff act as positive role models for children to see and to know the behaviour they expect from them. n Staff observe and assess children's progress, helping them to build on what they already know and can do. This includes children with special educational needs

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need to do better?

20 September 2021 and/or disabilities. Staff work closely with parents to make referrals, to seek support from other professionals for children with gaps in their development. In comparison with their starting points, children make good progress with their development and they are prepared well for the next stage of learning and their move on to school. n The manager ensures staff maintain constant communication with parents and they share ideas to extend children's learning at home. Parents talk very highly of the nursery. For example, parents feel staff are friendly and easy to approach. They feel their children are making good progress and have increased their independence and confidence. n The manager consistently evaluates the ongoing performance of the nursery and considers the views of staff and parents. Staff feel they are managed well, receive good support and are given meaningful professional development

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need to do better?

opportunities. n Staff do not consistently support some children that find it challenging to maintain interest during group activities. As a result, these children would leave the activity and play alone without an adult interaction. n On occasion, staff do not implement activities to support older children's mathematics skills effectively. For example, they do not support children to develop an understanding of basic shapes before moving them on to more complex mathematical concepts.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager ensures staff have a good understanding of the setting's safeguarding policy and they keep their training up to date. The manager and staff recognise signs and symptoms that would cause them to be concerned for a child's welfare. They know how to identify children that may be exposed to extreme views. Staff know how to report any concerns they may have about any children or the adults they encounter. Robust recruitment procedures are in place to ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children. Staff use risk assessments to help minimise potential hazards and maintain a safe environment. They are vigilant about safety and maintain correct ratios to keep children safe.

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should:

n review the organisation of group activities to ensure all children are consistently supported to meet their learning needs n enhance staff understanding and practice of how to help children develop their mathematical skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2497291 Local authority London Borough of Waltham Forest Inspection number 10191544 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

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inspection

Total number of places 18 Number of children on roll 29 Name of registered person 1st Stepping Stones Nursery School Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 02085098372 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

1st Stepping Stones Nursery School registered in 2018. It is located in Walthamstow within the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The nursery operates Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. There are seven staff, including the manager and a cook. The manager holds an early years qualification at level 6 and four staff have early years qualifications at level 3 and level 2.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing at the nursery. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the deputy manager. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke to parents to obtain their views of the nursery.

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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

20 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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