Stepping Stones Community Nursery

Inspection of Stepping Stones Community Nursery Ground Floor, Melbury House, Richborne Terrace, London SW8 1BA

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children happily separate from parents and carers and they are warmly welcomed into this small, homely and safe nursery. The curriculum is well designed, considering children's interests and stages of development. Children quickly find something that captures their imagination, they play with purpose and show good levels of concentration.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff are positive role models for children and, as such, behaviour is good. Sharing and turn taking is reinforced with children beginning to understand the impact their actions can have on others. Children develop strong friendships. They smile and greet each other enthusiastically. Children seek others out to share experiences with. For example, children set up a pretend picnic on the table outside and call for others to join them.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff have worked hard since the previous inspection in promoting children's independence. For example, as children come in, they take off their own shoes and put on slippers. Children serve their own breakfast cereals, butter their own toast, and scrape their plates at the end of the meal.

p.2

The provision is good

The manager identifies the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on children's learning. Gaps in children's learning are quickly identified and plans put in place to enable all children to make good progress from their starting points.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff know children well. Starting points are accurately identified and appropriate next steps put in place. Children show secure foundations of knowledge. They talk about what they have learned previously and how this applies to their current learning. Children are well prepared for the next stage of their learning. n Overall, children's communication and language skills are well promoted. Children listen to a range of songs, stories and rhymes, hearing a variety of spoken language. Small-group activities use repetition to reinforce key vocabulary. However, questioning can sometimes be ineffective and does not challenge children who have wider vocabularies to fully express their ideas. n Staff are skilled at following children's interests. In the garden, children find a snail. They are interested in investigating this further, getting magnifying glasses for a better look. Staff pick up on this and ask children if they would like to go

p.2

need to do better?

on a bug hunt. Children cheer excitedly, following the staff member as they upturn trays and stools to find what lies beneath. n Children develop positive relationships with caring, attentive staff. Children are offered an abundance of praise and encouragement. They are supported to persevere at tasks they may find difficult and develop skills of resilience as they

p.2

need to do better?

22 May 2023 succeed where they thought they may not. n Routine activities, especially for younger children, are not always managed to minimise the amount of time children spend waiting. For example, babies are sat in high chairs before snack has begun to be prepared. They begin to get frustrated as they sit waiting, while older children continue to play around them. n Staff promote the importance of living healthily to children. Seasonal produce is used to create healthy and nutritionally balanced meals for children. Children enjoy vegetable soup followed by pasta bolognese for lunch. Oral health is promoted with children brushing their teeth before they settle down for their nap. Children have a wide range of opportunities, both inside and outside, to engage in physical play, developing both small and large motor skills. n Partnership with parents is strong. Parents value how well staff know their children and recognise the progress children have shown since starting.

p.2

need to do better?

Communication is effective with verbal handovers being given daily, alongside sharing photos of 'wow' moments. n The diversity of children is celebrated within the nursery. Children are confident and display high levels of self-esteem. Resources allow all children to see themselves positively represented. Children learn about the community around them and what makes them unique. Children learn Spanish alongside English, with even the youngest children communicating using both languages. n The manager is reflective. She regularly seeks feedback from parents, children, and other staff to continue to enhance the setting. Staff feel well supported within their roles, they have regular opportunities to meet and discuss their own professional development.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The manager ensures that safeguarding forms an integral part of the induction process for every staff member. As such, all staff confidently demonstrate a secure knowledge of how to keep children safe from harm or abuse. There are clear and robust recording and reporting procedures in place. Staff understand the whistle- blowing procedure should they have concerns about colleagues. Rigorous risk assessments are in place to ensure the setting and any outings taken remain safe, both for children and staff. The manager understands the importance of recording children's attendance and following up on unexplained or repeated patterns of absence.

p.3

should:

n review how questions are used with children to provide them greater opportunity to use their widening vocabulary and share their ideas and opinions

p.3

should:

22 May 2023 n look at the way routines are managed to ensure children are not waiting for prolonged periods of time.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY398669 Local authority Lambeth Inspection number 10280184 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 14 Number of children on roll 13 Name of registered person Stepping Stones Community Nursery

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 0207 820 3800 Date of previous inspection 14 September 2017

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Stepping Stones Community Nursery opened in 2009. It is located in Vauxhall in the London Borough of Lambeth. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.55am to 6pm, all year round, except on public bank holidays. There are nine staff members, including the manager. Five of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery accepts funding for free early years education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It is a bilingual nursery.

p.5

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 their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector spoke to children, to find out about their time at the nursery. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the nursery. 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 carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager.

p.6

Inspection activities

n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

p.6

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.

p.6

Inspection activities

22 May 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.

p.6

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.7

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7