First Steps Nursery

Inspection of First Steps Nursery 347 Lyndon Road, SOLIHULL, West Midlands B92 7QT

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children thrive in the exceptionally well-organised learning environment. They demonstrate that they are very happy and settled and eager to learn. Staff place high expectations on knowing and celebrating each child's uniqueness in this setting. For example, their likes and learning styles are thoroughly considered to ensure that they excel in their learning and development. Behaviour is exemplary. Children show kindness and empathy towards one another. For instance, they enjoy playing with magnets, and when they realise that they have a lot more magnets than their peers, they willingly share what they have. Children smile and say thank you. They listen attentively and respectfully to staff members. When staff play a 'tidy-up' song all children enjoy the responsibility of tidying up and helping each other. These experiences help to build children's excellent social skills.

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The provision is outstanding

Children's independence skills are supported very well throughout the day. Routines are very well established. Children all know to wash their hands before snack time and do so without prompts. They help themselves to snack and pour themselves a drink of water or milk. Once they finish, they place their name on a 'I've had my snack' board. Children thoroughly enjoy this responsibility, older children quickly start to recognise their own names. Children serve their own dinners. They thoroughly enjoy the freshly prepared meals, and the majority of children help themselves to a second serving. Once finished, they discard any food in the bin and stack their plates up for collection. These routines help children to be well prepared for their next stage in their education.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and managers have planned a highly ambitious and broad curriculum for all children. All staff know the curriculum extremely well and work harmoniously to deliver it. The quality of teaching across the nursery is outstanding. Staff know each and every child exceptionally well. This is reflected in children being highly engaged in their play and learning throughout all the rooms in the setting. Staff place great focus on the interests of the child and harness these interests to plan a curriculum that they thoroughly enjoy and excel in. For example, some children start the setting timid and shy. Staff carefully elicit their interests and children now demonstrate high levels of confidence and are building their friendship groups. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) make exceptional progress from their starting points. The SEND coordinator is passionate about her role and works closely with other external agencies and

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need to do better?

parents to create highly effective target plans for children. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience and disseminates this with her team, to ensure all staff have the optimum skills to support children. All staff are well informed of

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need to do better?

24 January 2023 these plans and celebrate collectively when children achieve their milestones. For example, when children start to use three words together to make a sentence the staff rejoice and share this news joyously with other staff members. n Parents comment of the 'phenomenal' service that the setting offers. They say that the setting offers help and support from the onset of their child's journey. Parents speak of the in-depth feedback and extended conversations that happen on a daily basis. They comment on how well the staff know the individual interests of their children and the weekly emails they receive, asking about their children's current interests. Parents comment that the vocabulary used by their children is of such a high level and accredit this to the work staff do with their children. They feel fully supported to continue learning at home. For instance, they have access to a parents' lending library that consists of various books and

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need to do better?

resources. These resources help them to continue their child's learning at home. n Staff work relentlessly to instil a love of books and literacy. For example, when children show a keen interest in space and planets. Staff introduce the children to books about aliens. They then bring the book to life when children pretend to embark on a rocket ship to the moon. Staff introduce new words, such as 'astronauts' and 'Neptune'. Children delight with excitement and share their feelings with their peers. These experiences help to foster a great love of books and helps to improve children's literacy skills by extending their vocabulary. n Staff value parent's contributions. The setting goes to great lengths to know what children's current interests are at home, so that they can build on that in the setting. Children flourish through secure emotional attachments with staff members. For example, when children engage in fixing puzzles together, they

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need to do better?

show great excitement and eagerly share their accomplishments with staff.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff know how to keep children safe from harm. They carry out regular risk assessments to ensure that the equipment and premises are safe and secure. Managers follow robust recruitment and induction procedures to ensure the suitability of the staff that work in the setting. The designated safeguarding lead is passionate about her role and ensures that the team are well versed on all aspects of safeguarding. She sets regular quizzes on safeguarding procedures for the team to complete. These questions include aspects of female genital mutilation, county lines and witchcraft. These strategies are highly effective as all staff are competent with all aspects of safeguarding children. All staff can identify the signs and symptoms that could indicate a child is at risk of harm, and they know who to report to should there be a concern about a child's welfare.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY464119 Local authority Solihull Inspection number 10265396 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 52 Number of children on roll 80 Name of registered person First Steps Nursery (Solihull) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0121 742 7078 Date of previous inspection 5 June 2017

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Information about this early years setting

First Steps Nursery registered in 1998. The nursery operates from a converted house in Solihull in the West Midlands. It employs 18 members of childcare staff, the majority of whom hold appropriate qualifications from level 2 to level 6. The nursery is open all year round, Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 6.30pm. It 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 Children spoke to and communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the manager about the leadership and management of the setting. 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 inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of

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Inspection activities

their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the 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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