First Step Daycare & Nursery Ltd

Inspection of First Step Daycare & Nursery Ltd 78 Elmgrove Point, 77 Walmer Terrace, London SE18 7AN

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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

Staff greet parents and children with a warm and friendly welcome. Children are happy and keen to start their day at this inclusive nursery. New children are supported well by their key person, who spends time getting to know their interests and needs. Consequently, children form positive attachments with their key person. This helps children settle quickly and feel safe in the environment.

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The provision is good

Children have opportunities to play indoors or outdoors. They focus and concentrate on their chosen activities for long periods. For example, babies enjoy using magnifying glasses to explore bugs and insects in the garden. Pre-school children enjoy exploring the home corner. For instance, they mix spices, noodles and water and then show staff the mixture. Staff talk enthusiastically about the mixture and give them praise, which helps to promote children's creativity and imagination.

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The provision is good

Pre-school children eagerly talk to the inspector about their class pet, a goldfish, and what it eats. They also explain what they like about the nursery. They are confident around authorised visitors. Children understand the high expectations staff have of them. They play well together and form strong friendships. As a result, children develop social skills that prepare them well for their next stage in learning, including their eventual move to school.

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need to do better?

n The long-serving manager speaks passionately about her commitment to providing children with high-quality education and care. She self-evaluates the provision regularly and makes positive changes. For example, she has reduced paperwork to maximise the time staff spend interacting with the children. n The manager uses additional funding, such as early years pupil premium, to enrich children's learning and experiences. The manager and staff identify potential areas of need and use the funding to support children. For instance, funding is used to purchase specialist resources for individual children. This contributes to children making good progress during their time at the nursery. n The manager and staff have a well-planned and ambitious curriculum. They know what they want all children to learn. The curriculum focuses on promoting children's communication and language development. This helps children make

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need to do better?

good progress in their speaking and listening skills from their starting points. However, staff do not consistently promote the use of the home languages of children who speak English as an additional language during their play and learning to help them make even better progress. n Children learn about feelings and emotions. Staff read 'The Colour Monster' story to children to help them understand and manage their emotions appropriately.

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need to do better?

20 April 2023 Children enjoy listening to this story and recall which colours depict which emotion. In addition, they use facial expressions to show how they feel. This helps children to understand their feelings and vocalise them to others. n Staff observe and assess children's development regularly. They use this information to plan inspiring, age-appropriate activities to aid children's development. Children engage in adult-led and self-initiated play. During play, staff ask children questions and give them time to respond. However, they do not consistently use questions to challenge children's learning and extend their knowledge further. n Parent partnerships are strong. Parents describe the staff as 'kind, friendly and approachable'. Parents mention that their children have made good progress with their confidence, language and self-care skills. Staff speak to parents daily and use an online childcare application to communicate children's achievements

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need to do better?

and share information. Parents have positive views about the nursery and highly recommend it to others. n Staff ensure that children's personal needs are met. For instance, they talk to younger children respectfully and tell them when it is time to change their nappy. During nappy-changing times, they speak and sing with the children. These positive experiences help to promote children's emotional well-being. n Children learn about the importance of leading healthy lifestyles. Children are provided with well-balanced, nutritious meals and snacks. They recognise the difference between healthy and unhealthy foods and the impact on their bodies. Children's health and well-being are supported well.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff have completed safeguarding and paediatric first-aid training. They understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. For example, the manager monitors staff suitability on an ongoing basis. Staff know who to contact if they have concerns about a child's safety and welfare. Staff confidently describe what actions they would take if they were concerned about the conduct of a colleague. Staff are deployed effectively and supervise the children well. Staff maintain a safe environment for the children.

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should:

n strengthen staff's understanding of how to further support children with English as an additional language during their play and learning so that they make even better progress n enhance staff's questioning techniques to challenge children's thinking and increase their knowledge to the highest possible level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY483083 Local authority Greenwich Inspection number 10280418 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 63 Name of registered person First Step Daycare & Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 02035812100 Date of previous inspection 18 August 2017

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Information about this early years setting

First Step Daycare & Nursery Ltd registered in 2015 and is situated in Plumstead, in the London Borough of Greenwich. It is open Monday to Friday, from 7am to 7pm, all year round, except for bank holidays. The nursery employs 17 staff. Of these, 13 staff hold relevant childcare qualifications from level 3 to level 6. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery 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 her evaluation of the nursery. 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 spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke to the nominated individual and manager about the leadership and management of the setting.

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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

20 April 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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