Key Steps Day Nursery

Inspection of Key Steps Day Nursery 25 Ashcroft Road, Cirencester GL7 1QZ

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children arrive happy and separate from their parents with ease. They are independent and free to make choices in their play. Children settle quickly because staff are nurturing and caring. Staff support babies to feel safe and secure. They are attentive to their needs, offering reassurance, comfort and cuddles.

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The provision is good

Staff support children's physical development well. Children enjoy playing in the outside area, running, riding the tricycles, and balancing carefully on the equipment. Inside, children make marks with purpose, using a range of resources. Older children learn to cut with scissors competently and are starting to identify and write their own names. They have fun modelling and rolling the dough as they develop use of their hand muscles. Children are confident and are showing readiness for their next stage in learning, including school.

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The provision is good

Children learn how to be kind, considerate and well mannered because of staff's skilful role modelling. They behave extremely well. They have exceptional attitudes to their learning. For example, children explore a variety of activities, including building panels, playing with bricks, and water play. They cooperate and share independently as they work in collaboration to build a den. Children are deeply engaged in their play together.

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need to do better?

n Staff use their knowledge of child development and the different areas of learning to deliver the curriculum well. For example, staff teach toddlers how to use their big muscles to develop their core strength. They help older children to exercise their hands and fingers ready for practising using writing tools. However, the knowledge of some staff of how to implement the curriculum for mathematics is less well developed. This affects how well some children develop their knowledge of mathematical concepts relating to number, shape, space and measure. n Children behave exceptionally well. They show kindness and consideration towards their friends. For example, children kindly offer to share toys with each other as they play in the outdoor space. They continuously demonstrate excellent manners, saying 'thank you' and 'please' at snack and mealtimes. Children help the staff to tidy up the room during the routine transitions and, in

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need to do better?

return, staff praise children's efforts with words of encouragement. Staff use effective behavioural strategies that are individual to the child. For instance, staff quickly identify children who struggle to self-regulate their behaviour. They offer calm and reassuring support. Children from an early age demonstrate they understand and can express their feelings in a positive way. n Staff focus on developing children's communication skills. They use signing as an

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need to do better?

7 June 2023 additional form of communication for children who are developing their speaking skills. Very young children receive good support as they progress from saying single words to putting two or three words together. Staff speak slowly and clearly, using simple words and phrases, to support children's understanding. They describe what children are doing and ask lots of questions. However, staff do not always give children enough time to think about what they are being asked, to build their communication skills even further. n Children's independence is supported well. Children enjoy making choices, based on their interests, about their play. For example, they choose whether to play inside or outside, select their own toys and clear away after themselves during lunchtime. Children's health and hygiene are supported effectively. Children wash their hands before eating and have discussions about healthy foods and

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need to do better?

the importance of good oral health. This helps children to understand the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. n Managers have created a strong staff team, and staff are confident in their roles and enjoy coming to work. Staff feel well supported and have lots of opportunities to continue their professional development. They regularly attend training courses relevant to the needs of the children in their care. For example, staff recently took a course around behaviour. This guided them to build children's emotional development even 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 and share information. Parents have positive views about the nursery and highly

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a secure understanding of safeguarding and child protection procedures. They can identify signs of physical abuse and neglect. Staff have a confident knowledge of the process involved to report a concern about a child or an adult. They are aware of who to report a concern to, both in the nursery or to outside agencies. Staff know where safeguarding information is should they need it. They extend their knowledge of safeguarding by discussing it during staff meetings and training.

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should:

n support staff to extend all aspects of mathematical concepts to develop children's skills further

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should:

7 June 2023 n give children more time to process their thoughts while in conversation with them and when asking them questions.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2630882 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10291790 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 80 Number of children on roll 114 Name of registered person Key Steps Day Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07843489444 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Key Steps Day Nursery registered in August 2021. The nursery is based in Cirencester. It offers care from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round, expect for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. There is an optional early start time of 7.30am and late pick up at 6.30pm. There are 31 staff, of whom 15 hold a level 3 qualification. The manager holds a level 5 qualification. The nursery receives funding to provide 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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk of the setting. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager and, together, they evaluated this. 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 A leadership and management meeting was held with the manager. n Parents' views of the setting were shared with the inspector through email

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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

7 June 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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