Footsteps Day Nursery

Inspection of Footsteps Day Nursery 2 Preston Road, London E11 1NN

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children enjoy their time at this welcoming, safe nursery. They happily leave their parents at the door and quickly settle, supported by caring staff. Children are making friends and developing their social skills. For example, older children play cooperatively with each other and get involved in imaginative play as they plan a puppet show performance.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for all children. They encourage children's learning and praise kind behaviour. Children are aware of the boundaries and behave well. Children are confident to chat to staff, and they share pleasant conversations over mealtimes. This builds children's communication skills and widens their vocabulary. Together, they explore the number of seeds within an apple core and discuss why apples grow on trees. This builds children's critical-thinking skills and helps them to understand the world around them.

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The provision is good

Children participate in the various activities and demonstrate positive attitudes to their learning. Babies make swirling patterns with their fingers in the sand. Toddlers select different-coloured bricks and sort them into colour groups. Older children learn to care for living things and are careful and considerate as they feed their pet snails. All children make good progress from their starting points.

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need to do better?

n The manager has a clear vision for what they want children to learn. There is a strong focus on developing children's independence and building confidence in their own abilities. This is put into practice by staff throughout the nursery, and children are increasingly encouraged to 'have a go' at new things. For instance, staff engage a group of children in making potions using water and a variety of different ingredients. They ask, 'Who hasn't made a potion yet?', and children take turns to pour water from a jug, while other children stir with a spoon. n Children of all ages develop a love of books. Babies look at picture books with staff. Older children and toddlers sit and listen as staff read stories to them. Staff encourage children to talk about the pictures and to guess what happens next in the story. Children confidently share their ideas. n Staff prioritise children's emotional security. They provide effective support when

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need to do better?

children first start and when they transition to new rooms. Staff in the pre- school room have introduced a 'tranquil trolley', where children select resources and reflect on their feelings during the day. Children behave very well. n Older children develop their muscle strength as they pull themselves up a climbing slope. They laugh with their friends as they take turns to slide down the slide. Babies show determination as they crawl or shuffle to select their own resources. Toddlers show agility as they carefully crouch down to pick up

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need to do better?

24 January 2023 colourful balls. They excitedly play a game with staff and race balls down a pipe. This helps children to develop their hand-eye coordination. n Overall, staff deployment is effective. Staff engage with children during their play to build on what they want children to learn next and to develop their interests further. However, on occasion, staff within the toddler room undertake daily chores for long periods, which takes them away from the children. This does not support all children to receive consistent, high-quality interactions. n Staff comment that they enjoy working at the nursery. They have regular staff meetings and training opportunities. The manager regularly observes staff practice. However, the feedback given to staff does not always focus precisely on increasing and improving their individual knowledge and teaching practice. n The nursery chef provides healthy, nutritious meals and snacks throughout the

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need to do better?

day. Mealtimes are sociable occasions, and independence is encouraged in all age groups. Older children serve their own food and pour their own drinks. Babies and toddlers are encouraged to feed themselves and to experience different foods. n Parents praise the staff team and feel well informed. They welcome the detailed information they receive, online and in person, about their children's learning and development.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff understand their responsibilities to safeguard and protect children. They know how to identify the possible signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. They know how to appropriately monitor and report any concerns about children's safety and well-being. The management team provides ongoing support for staff to ensure their safeguarding knowledge remains up to date with any changes in legislation. Robust recruitment systems are in place to ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children. There are clear mobile phone procedures to monitor staff use. Staff have received appropriate first-aid training.

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should:

n improve staff deployment to provide children with consistently high-quality interactions without disruption, particularly in the toddler room n enhance arrangements for the monitoring and supervision of staff, to provide staff with precise feedback and targets that will help them develop their childcare knowledge and teaching practice.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY477461 Local authority London Borough of Waltham Forest Inspection number 10236363 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 35 Number of children on roll 40

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Name of registered person

Footsteps Day Nurseries (Leytonstone) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 020 85305471 Date of previous inspection 15 March 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Footsteps Day Nursery registered in 2014. The nursery is situated in Leytonstone, in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The nursery employs 12 members of staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. 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 The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The manager and the inspector carried out two joint observations during the inspection. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

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Inspection activities

suitability of staff working in 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

24 January 2023 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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