First Steps Moorlands Children's Centre

Inspection of First Steps Moorlands Children's Centre Moorfields Road, Bath, Avon BA2 2DQ

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children arrive at First Steps nursery eager and excited for their day to begin. They have formed secure emotional attachments with all staff, not only their key person. Children are happy and busy throughout the day. They show high levels of confidence as they access the well-resourced environment indoors and outdoors. Staff are kind and nurturing and are superb role models. As a result, children's behaviour is excellent. Staff provide children with an extremely consistent approach to care routines, behaviour management and expectations within all rooms, which supports children to feel safe and secure. Children thrive on the positive praise and encouragement from staff, and this helps to build their self-esteem and confidence.

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The provision is good

Staff provide very good support for children from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs, and/or disabilities. This support is a key strength of the nursery. The manager and staff work extremely closely with a range of services and professionals to meet children's individual needs. The manager uses additional funding, such as early years pupil premium, to meet children's individual learning needs and extend their interests effectively. For example, the manager implements specialist one-to-one outdoor activities such as woodwork to extend children's experiences and learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff provide children with a variety of stimulating activities outdoors. Young children begin to explore their senses as they investigate different flowers in the mud kitchen. Older children squeal with delight as they slide down the grassy garden slopes on pieces of cardboard. n The manager and staff are passionate about enhancing children's personal, social and emotional development. For example, they use targeted interventions to support children to develop their understanding of different emotions and their skills in sharing and taking turns. n Children develop strong friendships with other children. They laugh and play happily together as they explore the indoor and outdoor environments. These positive interactions significantly promote children's social skills. The staff provide a broad range of activities and resources to enhance children's curiosity and creativity. For example, children show concentration as they carefully

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need to do better?

transport the different-coloured oats and pasta into different-sized containers. n The manager is committed to providing children with the best start in life. She has a clear vision for the setting and works closely with senior leaders to continually reflect on where changes can be made. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents describe the manager as 'fabulous' and feel that the staff are 'excellent and always supportive'. They comment on

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need to do better?

25 November 2021 the tailored settling sessions when children first start, which support children and families to feel at ease. Parents feel that their children have made high levels of progress since starting at the setting and there is a good two-way exchange of communication and information. Staff prepare children well for their next stage of learning. n Overall, the curriculum is well planned and children develop knowledge and understanding across all areas of learning. Staff use assessments well to understand what children know and what they need to learn next. However, the manager recognises that there is still some work to be done to make better use of planned teaching opportunities in order to raise children's learning to the highest level. n On the whole, children learn to celebrate differences between themselves and others. For example, older children explore different flags from around the world

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need to do better?

during group circle time. However, they do not consistently learn about different cultures, people and places around the world in order to further broaden their understanding. n Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, parents are unable to enter the nursery building. Staff utilise the outside space to share detailed information with parents about their children's day. This means that daily discussions can take place with appropriate social distancing. Staff make good use of electronic communications to ensure information about children's progress is shared effectively with parents. This has ensured that the restrictions in place due to the pandemic have had no impact on children's learning and development.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff have an excellent understanding of all areas of safeguarding, including current legislation and guidance such as the 'Prevent' duty. Staff confidently describe the signs and symptoms that may indicate possible abuse to children. Staff know who to contact and where to obtain further advice to act upon any concerns they may have. The management team uses robust vetting and recruitment systems to help ensure that staff are suitable for their roles and responsibilities. Staff are deployed well within the setting and constantly risk assess the environment to ensure that children are safe and secure.

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should:

n strengthen curriculum planning to ensure that planned teaching opportunities consistently promote all children's learning to the highest level n provide more opportunities to develop children's knowledge and understanding of different cultures, people and places around the world through their play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY287532 Local authority Bath and North East Somerset Council Inspection number 10212969 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 65 Number of children on roll 95 Name of registered person First Steps (Bath)

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reference number

Telephone number 01225 317 123 Date of previous inspection 1 May 2019

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Information about this early years setting

First Steps Moorlands Children's Centre registered in 2004. It is situated in the Moorfields area of Bath. The nursery is open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, for most of the year. The nursery employs 18 members of staff. Of these, 13 members of staff hold a level 3 childcare qualification. One member of staff has qualified teacher status. The nursery receives funding to provide 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 provider received since the COVID-19 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 led the inspector on a learning walk around all areas of the setting and explained how the early years provision and curriculum are organised. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n Consideration was given to parents' views. The inspector spoke to parents on the telephone during the inspection. n The manager and the inspector completed two joint observations of activities. n The nursery manager and the inspector discussed the leadership of the setting. The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of all persons working on the premises.

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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

25 November 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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