Footsteps Nursery & Pre-School

Inspection of Footsteps Nursery & Pre-School 11 Albany Road, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, Bedfordshire LU7 1NS

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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 arrive at the nursery excited and eager to go inside. Staff know all children and families well. They greet them warmly and are welcoming. This helps children to settle, feel safe, and secure. The children enjoy playing outdoors. They spend time using magnifying glasses to look at insects. As they do this, they engage in rich conversations with each other and adults. The children also enjoy counting the insect's legs and talk about, and compare, the various shapes and sizes of them. This supports their understanding of the world and mathematics.

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The provision is good

Younger children confidently move around the garden in a range of ways. They jump, crawl and enjoy climbing in and out of cars. They also delight in playing hide and seek with each other. This supports their physical development and social skills. Babies enjoy playing with balls and instruments. They use their increasing physical skills to reach, grab, crawl and shake them. As they do this they say 'shake, shake'. This supports their physical skills and their emerging communication and language development.

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The provision is good

Staff are good role models. They teach children the nursery rules and the importance of being kind. All children behave well, are motivated to learn, and make good progress. This ensures they are ready and well prepared for their next stage in learning.

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need to do better?

n The dedicated team plan and organise the curriculum well. They put children's interests at the heart of everything they do. The managers and staff team support children to become curious, confident, and independent with a love of the outdoors. The intent, implementation and impact of the curriculum are evident throughout the nursery. n Children develop good literacy skills. A wide range of books are available throughout the nursery. Staff provide a book swap, where children can bring in their own books from home and swap them for ones from the nursery to enhance their early reading skills. n Children visit places of local interest, including the local farm. They visit residential care homes, where children interact and sing with the residents. Children develop a sense of community. These experiences ensure children have a wide range of exciting opportunities that support their cultural capital. n Leaders and managers are duly focused on supporting staff's well-being, and

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need to do better?

provide them with valuable professional development to extend their knowledge and skills. Managers support new staff through a thorough induction process. As a result, all staff, including those new to the role, are very knowledgeable about the policies and procedures of the nursery.

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need to do better?

17 February 2023 n Children are encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyles. They learn about the importance of good oral hygiene and practise the correct way to brush teeth and understand that they become 'germ free' when they wash their hands. n Children are given many opportunities to enjoy fresh air and exercise. They show growing competency in manoeuvring around obstacles on their bicycles. This helps enhance children's understanding of good health and well-being. n Children are confident communicators. Babies babble with delight as they play with the dry rice. Staff use single words, such as 'more' and 'pour', to build on their vocabulary and understanding. Toddlers use simple phrases, such as 'more please', as they request another drink or more food. Pre-school children speak with increased confidence. For example, they introduce themselves to the inspector and relish telling her their names, ages and what they enjoy doing

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need to do better?

while at the setting. n Overall, children make good progress in their communication skills. However, staff do not always make the best of questioning techniques or give children time to process and answer questions that they are asked. n Children have opportunities to explore their local community. However, staff do not widen children's opportunities to learn about the diversity that exists in their locality and further afield.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good knowledge of a range of safeguarding and child protection matters, including the awareness of the signs of radicalisation. Staff know the procedure to follow to report concerns about a child's welfare or if an allegation has been made against a colleague. Leaders have effective recruitment processes in place and do ongoing checks on the suitability of staff who work with children. Staff carry out regular checks of the learning environment, indoors and outdoors, and identify potential hazards that could harm children.

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should:

n support staff to develop their teaching skills, so that they consistently use skilful questioning techniques n strengthen opportunities for children to learn about cultural diversity in their community and the wider world.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY394420 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 10276258 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 45 Number of children on roll 67 Name of registered person Footsteps Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01525 375 679 Date of previous inspection 7 July 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Footsteps Nursery & Pre-School registered in 2009 and is located in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. The nursery employs 19 members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including the manager who is qualified at degree level. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6.30pm. 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 joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about the curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they like doing while at the setting. n The manager took part in a joint observation of an activity with the inspector. n The inspector took into account the views of parents by means of written feedback provided for the inspection.

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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

17 February 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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