Footsteps Nursery Cannock

Inspection of Footsteps Nursery Cannock Bridge Court, Orbital Plaza, Watling Street, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 0DQ

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 Inadequate

p.1

The provision is good

Staff are extremely gentle and caring. They greet children with enthusiasm and smiles. Children show how happy they are to be at the nursery and spend time with their friends. Older children chat to staff, adults and their friends. Babies giggle with excitement as they respond to staff's interactions. Staff comfort babies and children and provide positive, warm interactions. This helps them to feel secure and to settle quickly.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff provide a curriculum that is sequenced to help every child build on the experiences they arrive with. Babies and young children begin to make their needs known through pointing, eye gaze and single words. As children move through the nursery, they gain confidence to talk and express themselves. Older children articulate their thoughts and ideas confidently. Staff have high expectations for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff are skilled at adapting their teaching to include all children. This helps every child to feel a sense of achievement and to make consistently good progress.

p.2

The provision is good

Pre-school children have their own committee. This provides them with plenty of opportunities to share their views with each other and staff. Staff have focused the committee group on encouraging children to share what they know about their new schools. Children are confident to explore their feelings about the changes ahead. This has helped them to feel more secure with their transition on to Reception. Children's behaviour is good. Staff are positive role models, and they help children to be respectful towards one another.

p.2

need to do better?

n Leadership and management are strong. The manager is enthusiastic and committed to making continuous improvements. Since the last inspection, she has provided training, supervision meetings and whole-group team meetings. All staff work extremely well together. They comment on the support they receive to improve the overall quality of the provision. They are confident in their roles and talk about the ongoing improvements that have been made. n Children with SEND are supported to make the best possible progress. Funding is sought to provide one-to-one support for those who need it. Staff are very quick to identify where there are gaps in children's development. They work closely with parents and the nursery's special educational needs coordinator, as well as outside agencies, to ensure that appropriate targets are in place to help close gaps in children's learning quickly. n Staff implement consistent behaviour management strategies. They offer gentle

p.2

need to do better?

reminders to help children to overcome barriers and manage their feelings and emotions. Older children manage conflict well and understand how their

p.2

need to do better?

3 August 2023 behaviour can affect others. n Children's communication and language development is a focus across every room. Staff provide stories, songs and rhymes and use Makaton, pictures and props to help babies and non-verbal children to join in. As children move on to the rising threes and pre-school rooms, they predict what will happen and excitedly wait in anticipation as staff enthusiastically read to them. n Parents are positive about the nursery. They receive information about activities and care routines. Parents are invited in for parents' meetings and stay-and-play sessions. However, some parents of the older children comment that they do not receive consistent information about their children's individual next steps to enable them to support their child's learning effectively at home. n Children's good health is promoted well. Staff follow good hygiene procedures and model these to children. Children talk about healthy food, and they show

p.2

need to do better?

the knowledge they have gained as they play imaginatively in the role-play area. Children have daily opportunities to develop their physical skills outdoors, and older children take part in weekly physical education sessions. n Staff working with the younger children organise routines and activities to respond to their needs. This helps these children to have opportunities to be curious and inquisitive as they play indoors and outside. However, on occasions, during some parts of the routines for older children, staff do not consistently organise activities in a way that sparks children's interests. This means that some children are sometimes distracted and do not remain highly engaged in their learning.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

All staff have a good understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities. They know the signs that could indicate a child is at risk of harm or abuse. They are fully aware of the procedures to follow if they have a concern about a child or member of staff. Safer recruitment procedures are effective. The premises are safe and secure, and no unauthorised persons can gain access. Staff risk assess all areas of the premises to ensure that any risks are removed to keep children safe.

p.3

should:

n review the organisation of routines and activities, particularly for the older children, to sustain their interests and help them become more highly engaged in their learning n provide all parents with consistent information about their children's individual next steps so that they can continue to support learning at home.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY484984 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10287434 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 117 Number of children on roll 197 Name of registered person Footsteps Day Nurseries Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01543 509089 Date of previous inspection 14 March 2023

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Footsteps Nursery Cannock registered in 2014. The nursery employs 30 members of childcare staff. Of these, 25 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including four members of staff who hold qualifications at level 6. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four- year-old children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspectors discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the provider and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The manager joined the inspectors on a learning walk and talked about the curriculum and what they want children to learn. n Children communicated with the inspectors during the inspection. n The inspectors talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to one inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspectors carried out joint observations of two group activities with the manager. n One inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager showed one inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

p.5

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.5

Inspection activities

3 August 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.5

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.6

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.6

Inspection activities

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

p.6

Inspection activities

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

p.6