Little Stepping Stones Day Nurseries

Inspection of Little Stepping Stones Day Nurseries Argento Tower, Mapleton Road, London SW18 4GA

p.1

Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Inadequate

p.1

The provision requires improvement

Children are eager to attend nursery and are welcomed in by friendly staff. They come in happily and quickly settle to play with their friends. Staff know children well and support their emotional needs effectively. Children develop close bonds with the staff and demonstrate that they feel safe and secure.

p.2

The provision requires improvement

Staff provide a wide range of fun activities for children to choose from and support children in their play effectively. For example, children invite staff to join in with their role-play tea party and confidently retell their favourite stories using different props. Staff have systems in place to monitor children's progress. However, they are not quick to implement robust strategies to support those children who need extra help with their learning. This means that not all children make the best possible progress.

p.2

The provision requires improvement

Staff encourage children to be independent learners. For example, younger children confidently explore the toys and make choices in their play. All children are encouraged to dress themselves before going outside. Older children confidently serve themselves at mealtimes and attend to their own self-care needs. Children are sociable and build friendships with their peers. They are kind and caring towards each other and behave well.

p.2

need to do better?

n The manager and the owner work well together. They are passionate about making improvements to the provision and practice and have taken steps to improve the quality of the nursery. For example, the manager and owner have worked hard to address the safeguarding and welfare requirements actions raised at their last inspection. n Overall, the quality of education has improved. The manager and staff have a good understanding of what they want children to learn. They plan activities based on children's interests and next steps in learning. Staff have a clear intent for each activity and implement it effectively to support children's development. However, children who need additional help with their learning do not always get tailored and robust support to help them catch up with their peers. Therefore, not all children make good progress. n Staff work well as a team. They have regular meetings to evaluate the

p.2

need to do better?

effectiveness of the nursery and reflect on their practice and the experiences they provide for children. The manager makes good use of training, supervision meetings and peer observations to develop staff's knowledge and experiences, to help to improve practice and outcomes for children. For instance, recent training around behaviour management has supported staff in their understanding of how to deal with challenging situations.

p.2

need to do better?

3 October 2023 n Staff support children's developing language well. They introduce words, ask questions, use repetition and act as good role models for communication. For example, staff enthusiastically talk to children while they are on a walk. They talk about the natural wildlife and what they can see and hear. n Partnerships with parents are effective. The manager and staff keep parents up to date with their children's learning. For example, staff use an online tool that parents can access at home, and parents are regularly invited in for parents' evenings to discuss their children's progress. Parents are positive about the quality of care their children receive at the nursery. n Staff encourage children's literacy skills effectively. Children enjoy listening to a range of stories and demonstrate their writing skills during play. For example, older children confidently write their names in chalk and sound out the letters

p.2

need to do better?

familiar to them. n Children's physical well-being is supported well. Staff ensure that children take part in daily outdoor activities at the local park. In addition, they provide healthy meals and drinks and encourage children to try new foods. Children also learn about the importance of dental hygiene. They enjoy brushing their teeth each day and learn about the impact of different foods on their teeth. n Occasionally, staff do not consistently organise transition times during the day effectively. This means that younger children are sometimes left waiting too long and become unsettled. n At times, staff do not organise large-group activities for younger children as well as possible. This causes children to sometimes lose interest and become distracted. n Staff have high expectations of all children. They have a consistent approach to managing children's behaviour, which ensures that children know what is

p.3

need to do better?

expected of them. Children behave well and have good attitudes towards their learning. For example, they listen to staff at tidy-up time and help to sweep the floor. Staff help children to understand about turn taking and sharing.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Since the last inspection, the manager and staff have all completed safeguarding training and have a good understanding of how to keep children safe. They have a good knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse and an understanding of a range of safeguarding issues. Staff know the procedures to follow if they have a concern about a child in their care, as well as the whistle-blowing policy. The manager has robust recruitment and induction procedures in place. Staff complete regular risk assessments to ensure that the nursery is safe and suitable. They follow comprehensive procedures with regard to the recording of accidents.

p.3

Due date

improve support for children who need additional help with their learning to help them make the best possible progress. 27/10/2023

p.4

should:

n review the planning of daily routines to reduce the amount of time that younger children have to wait without being occupied n improve group times for younger children to ensure that all are engaged and do not lose interest.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY467575 Local authority Wandsworth Inspection number 10290706 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.5

Registers

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

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 58 Name of registered person Little Stepping Stones Ltd

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 02088706824 Date of previous inspection 3 April 2023

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Little Stepping Stones Day Nurseries opened in 2013 and is located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. The nursery is open each weekday, from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year, except on bank holidays. There are 12 members of staff, including the manager. Of these, nine staff hold early years qualifications to at least level 3. The nursery receives funding to provide early years education for children aged two, three and four years.

p.5

Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n A learning walk was conducted by the inspector and the manager of the nursery to discuss how the early years provision is organised and structured. n Some parents shared their views with the inspector, and these were taken into account to assess the effectiveness of partnerships with parents. n The inspector and the manager observed an activity together and held discussions about children's learning. n A range of documents, such as staff's suitability checks and qualifications, were viewed by the inspector.

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

3 October 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