Little Steps Big Steps Nursery

Inspection of Little Steps Big Steps Nursery Trinity Community Centre, Old School House, 3 Trinity Road, Luton, Bedfordshire LU3 1TR

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Inadequate Behaviour and attitudes Inadequate Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is inadequate

There is a breach of requirements in relation to child protection that undermine children's safety and well-being. Leaders failed to follow local safeguarding partners' policies and procedures regarding the referral of concerns about a child. Additionally, staff do not effectively risk assess some play areas. Children are not provided with a curriculum that challenges and extends their learning and development. The quality of interactions between the staff and children is at times poor. Staff occasionally lack enthusiasm and fail to implement well-planned and meaningful experiences for the children in their care. They overlook opportunities to extend children's interests and to build on what they already know and can do. Children's interest is not consistently sustained. They begin to wander around the room and some children demonstrate poor behaviour. This has an impact on children's emotional well-being and their ability to make meaningful developmental

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The provision is inadequate

Nevertheless, at times during the day, children participate in craft activities, and enjoy playing outside in the fresh air. Younger children develop their physical skills as they learn to manoeuvre wheeled toys. Children have opportunities to colour pictures. They build towers out of the building blocks and screw nuts and bolts together. However, their concentration and interest is quickly lost. Some members of staff use an animated tone of voice and props when they read a story to the children. This holds most of the children's attention. However, this is not consistent. On other occasions, staff make minimal attempt to engage the children. Children disengage and turn their back on the member of staff reading the story. They fidget and leave the activity.

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need to do better?

n Leaders fail to follow local safeguarding partners' policies and procedures regarding the referral of children. Therefore, children are placed at risk of harm. This is a serious breach of the requirements of the Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage. n Overall, children are not provided with a curriculum that challenges and extends their learning and development. The curriculum is not effectively implemented. Staff interactions are poor, and activities provided for the children do not consistently stimulate or build on what they already know and can do. Children wander around the room and some children's behaviour deteriorates. Furthermore, where activities are provided, children's concentration and interest is quickly lost. n Procedures for staff supervision are not effective. Staff do not receive adequate support, coaching, and training to enable them to perform their roles and

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need to do better?

responsibilities to a consistent good level. This includes the development of their

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need to do better?

14 December 2021 knowledge of the curriculum and its implementation, as well as their interactions with the children. n Staff fail to risk assess some play areas effectively. This is despite having procedures in place that identify potential risks of harm to children. For example, staff identify trailing electric cables as a risk to children. However, they fail to remove the hazard when they complete their daily risk assessment checks. This places children at risk of potential harm. n Staff fail to effectively implement their behaviour management procedures. They do not consistently support children to understand why certain behaviours are not acceptable. Therefore, children fail to listen, which hampers their ability to engage and make progress in their learning and development. n Children demonstrate appropriate hygiene practices. They know that they need to wash their hands before their snack and lunch. Staff are aware of children

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need to do better?

with known food allergies, including food preferences. Children enjoy healthy food options, such as chopped carrots and cucumber, for their snack. They learn appropriate table manners and some children independently pour their own drink of milk or water. n Staff spend time talking to parents and getting to know children's care needs and stage of development before they start at the nursery. Information regarding the children's day and progress is shared at drop off and collection times, and through electronic contact. Parents are happy with the care provided.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Management did not follow the guidance and procedures of the local safeguarding partners regarding the referral of a child. This is despite attending regular safeguarding children training courses. However, management and staff are aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect, including wider aspects of safeguarding, such as radicalisation. Risk assessment procedures are not secure. Staff do not ensure that the environment is thoroughly checked to minimise risks of potential harm before the arrival of the children. Appropriate recruitment and induction procedures are in place.

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Due date

ensure local safeguarding partners' policies and procedures are implemented effectively, with particular regard to the swift referral of concerns about a child 07/01/2022

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Due date

14 December 2021 ensure staff consider the individual needs, interests, and stage of development of each child in their care, and that this information is used to plan meaningful activities and to ensure more positive interactions with the children 28/01/2022

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Due date

ensure all reasonable steps are taken to remove and minimise hazards to children 04/01/2022

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Due date

ensure staff receive effective support, coaching and training opportunities to improve their practice, increase their knowledge of the curriculum provided and their interactions with the children 28/01/2022

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Due date

ensure staff have the skills and knowledge to implement the setting's behaviour management procedures, so that children's behaviour is consistently managed in an appropriate way. 07/01/2022

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2559879 Local authority Luton Inspection number 10217032 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 30 Number of children on roll 18 Name of registered person Inspire & Aspire Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01582 563871 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Steps Big Steps Nursery registered in 2019. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. Five members of staff hold appropriate early years qualifications ranging from level 2 to level 6. The setting opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 3pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n This inspection was carried out following the risk assessment process where concerns had been raised about the nursery. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery to understand how the early years curriculum is organised. n The nominated individual of the nursery, the manager, staff and children engaged in discussions with the inspector at appropriate times during the inspection. n A sample of the nursery documents was reviewed by the inspector. This included evidence of staff suitability and training. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager and discussed

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Inspection activities

the children's progress and achievements.

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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

14 December 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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