Little Footsteps of Dereham

Inspection of Little Footsteps of Dereham 15a Norwich Road, DEREHAM, Norfolk NR20 3AE

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Children develop strong attachments with their key person. This helps to promote their emotional well-being and ensures that they feel relaxed and safe. Children move confidently between the inviting indoor and outdoor spaces. When venturing outside, they often stop to share warm and friendly interactions with staff in the different rooms.

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The provision is good

Songs, rhymes and stories are a key feature of the nursery's broad curriculum. Babies excitedly join in with group singing activities. They develop their confidence as they move their hands and bodies to join in with familiar rhymes and songs. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are keen to get involved with the range of experiences on offer. They embrace new physical challenges, such as learning to use the purposefully designed steps on the new climbing frame.

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The provision is good

Children are supported to develop their understanding of different people, places and their local community. For example, they enjoy regular visits to a local care home for the elderly, where they take part in activities with the residents. There are high expectations for behaviour. Children learn from the positive actions modelled by the staff. For example, they remind each other to use their 'walking feet' when carrying their plates at mealtimes.

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need to do better?

n Leaders have taken swift action to address the weaknesses identified at the last inspection. For example, they have ensured that all children benefit from a key person who understands their needs and maintains regular communication with their parents. This helps to ensure children experience good continuity in their care and education. n In the main, children take part in activities that are planned effectively to build on their existing development. Staff recognise that some children have fallen behind in their speech and language development since the COVID-19 pandemic. While they identify the support children need to catch up, staff do not always best utilise this knowledge to promote children's speech and language at every opportunity. n Arrangements for the care of children with SEND are good. Managers ensure staff are deployed to offer direct support to children with more complex needs. Staff work closely with parents and the other professionals involved with the

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need to do better?

children. They make good use of additional funding to source specialist equipment and deploy extra staff to meet children's specific needs. n Children are encouraged to do things independently. For instance, staff plan for children to serve nutritional meals and pour drinks of water for themselves. They

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need to do better?

14 June 2023 praise children for working together to tidy things away. This motivates children to focus on tasks and develop pride in being responsible and helpful. n Staff hold parents' evenings throughout the year to share and discuss children's progress. Managers involve parents in decisions about their children's education. For example, parents are fully involved when it is time for their children to move into the next room or on to school. This helps to ensure that children experience a smooth transition. n Staff are alert to children's safety. They often take the time to explain risks to children. This helps them to develop a strong awareness of how to keep themselves safe. For example, children know that they can protect themselves by applying sun cream and wearing a sun hat in warmer temperatures. n Leaders, managers and staff put good thought into evaluating and enhancing the educational provision. For example, staff monitor children's interest in

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need to do better?

specific activities and make changes to help to extend the learning potential. These changes, particularly in the outdoor environment, help to ignite children's curiosity and maintain their motivation to learn. n Staff say that their well-being is important to their leaders and managers. They benefit from frequent supervision sessions that help them to build on their roles and feel valued. For example, staff are encouraged to reflect on their practice and identify training and development opportunities. This has had a particularly positive impact on extending staff's understanding of how to support children's behaviour.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Since the last inspection, there has been a strong focus on helping staff to improve their understanding of the nursery's policies and procedures for safeguarding children. This means that staff know how to identify concerns about a child's welfare and who they must report these to. Staff confidently raise any worries they have about the conduct of staff, and managers take swift action to notify the relevant agencies. This helps to ensure children are protected from harm. Robust recruitment procedures are in place to ensure children are cared for by suitable people.

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should:

n provide more targeted support for staff to help them consistently make best use of opportunities to develop children's communication and language skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY440629 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 10282728 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 88 Number of children on roll 147 Name of registered person Little Footsteps of Dereham Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01362693937 Date of previous inspection 21 February 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Little Footsteps of Dereham registered in 2011. It is situated in Dereham in Norfolk. The nursery employs 30 members of childcare staff. Of these, 18 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including one with early years professional status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The provider and nursery 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 observed the quality of interactions during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing while in the nursery. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. 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

14 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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