Silver Steps Day Care Ltd

Inspection of Silver Steps Day Care Ltd The Pavilion, Silver Street, Silver End, Witham, Essex CM8 3QG

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Children enjoy their day. They wave goodbye to parents and carers at the gate. Children are greeted by smiling staff who show them into the foyer to remove their coats and place their belongings on their labelled coat peg. Children confidently do this, recognising their names on the labels. They find their friends and begin playing with or alongside the other children. They work together with their peers in the role play area, creating delicious plates of pretend food and pouring drinks for each other.

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The provision is good

Children behave very well. They are kind and caring towards each other. Gentle discussions fill the room as children sit with and speak to staff. They talk about the activities they are engaged in, for example making gingerbread people at the dough table. Children excitedly retell the story of how the fox carried the gingerbread man across the river on his back. Children think carefully about how they build constructions across the large tray for the fox and gingerbread man to cross the pretend river. Their ideas and thoughts are well supported by staff, who are on hand and encourage them to use familiar and new words to articulate their thoughts.

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need to do better?

n The members of the management team have worked hard since the last inspection to improve their understanding of safer recruitment. They ensure that appropriate checks are carried out on all staff to assess their suitability. Staff have reviewed the organisation of large-group activities. They now separate younger and older children at story time. This enables staff to tailor the stories and discussions to match the concentration span of the children more effectively. Staff continuously build on their knowledge of how to deliver an effective curriculum. n Parents speak highly of the management team and staff. They comment that they know their child's key person and have regular and purposeful communication with them about how their child is developing and progressing. Parents say that they are looking forward to parents' evening, when they will be able to go into the pre-school and see the environment in more detail.

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need to do better?

n Children listen attentively as staff read them stories in an enjoyable and animated way. They join in with familiar parts. Staff supporting the story activity enable children sitting at the back to stand up to see the pictures. They help them to retell the story and contribute to discussions about what happened, or could have happened. Staff introduce new vocabulary to enhance and extend children's communication skills. n Generally, staff place great emphasis on further developing children's communication and language skills. However, some staff do not give children

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need to do better?

27 April 2022 enough time to consolidate their thinking when asking questions. They occasionally ask too many questions in quick succession, so children are not able to think about their answer, or they answer the question for the children. n Children develop a greater understanding of numbers and weight as they use scales to weigh the ingredients to make gingerbread biscuits. Staff encourage them to stand where they can see the numbers on the scales. They talk confidently to them about weight and how much of each ingredient they will need. Children use their physical skills to mix the ingredients together. They talk about the way the ingredients change during the mixing process and how the mixture feels and smells. n Children enjoy practising their cutting skills as they cut pictures from printed sheets to make their own storyboards to tell the story of 'The Gingerbread Man'. Those needing help are assisted by staff, who model how to hold and cut with

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need to do better?

the scissors. n Children enjoy a mid-session snack and drink. They help to prepare for this part of the routine by clearing some of the toys away to make clean space on the tables. Children sit with their key person and friends in their key-person group. Staff set the tables with colour-matching cups, plates and place mats. They peel and prepare the fruit. While this is a nice way to present snack time, it provides limited opportunities for children, especially the most able, to develop problem- solving skills and further enhance their independence.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The management team and staff demonstrate secure knowledge of their understanding of child protection. They recognise the signs and symptoms that might alert them that a child was being abused or mistreated, including signs of radicalisation. Staff and managers know how to report any concerns to the local safeguarding partners. New staff complete a thorough induction to familiarise them with the setting's procedures for safeguarding children.

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should:

n raise staff's understanding of the importance of effective questioning to help children to further enhance their critical thinking n review activities and group times to further enhance children's opportunities to develop independence.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY562204 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10216056 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 60 Name of registered person Silver Steps Day Care Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01376 583799 Date of previous inspection 8 November 2021

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Information about this early years setting

Silver Steps Day Care Ltd registered in 2018. The nursery is open from 7am until 5pm, for 50 weeks of the year. There are five staff members who work directly with the children. Of these, three hold relevant childcare qualifications at level 3. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector viewed all areas of the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager completed a learning walk with the inspector and discussed the curriculum and what it is that they want the children to learn. n Children shared their views with the inspector. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation together. n Parents shared their views on 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

27 April 2022 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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