Ke Steps Pre-School Ltd

Inspection of Ke Steps Pre-School Ltd The Blue Bell Hill Community Centre, Dennett Close, NOTTINGHAM NG3 2GL

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children are greeted warmly by staff when they arrive. Those who have been absent due to illness are greeted with 'I missed you' by the manager. This contributes to children feeling valued in the pre-school. If children are unsettled, staff provide them with comfort. They sing nursery rhymes and read stories to children. This works effectively to distract children and results in them settling quickly.

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The provision is good

Children have opportunities to develop their balance and coordination. They are offered a helping hand from staff to promote their safety as they are encouraged to walk across wooden beams. Staff ask children to consider if the equipment they use is safe to walk across, helping them to identify and manage risks in their play. Children are supported by staff to wait their turn to walk across the wooden planks, promoting positive behaviour. Children are keen to investigate and explore the toys and resources staff offer them. They find torches and show fascination as they shine them around the room. Staff give children gentle reminders not to shine the light in people's faces because it might hurt their eyes, helping them to be considerate to others. Staff put their arms against walls, asking children to shine a torch onto it, showing them how to make shadows.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff focus their curriculum on supporting children's communication and language skills. For example, staff ask children a good range of questions, encouraging their thinking skills. Children listen to and follow staff's instructions well. n Staff help children to learn about similarities and differences between themselves and others. For example, occasionally, children wear clothes from their own cultures. When they do this, staff ask children to share with others the cultural celebrations they attend with family members. This contributes to children, especially those who speak English as an additional language, having a sense of belonging in the pre-school. n Staff help children to recognise numbers in their play. For example, when children look at numbers on cards and identify a number eight, staff ask them to recognise other numbers such as one and two and tell children that it is the

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need to do better?

number 12. n The manager has a new staff team and supports them well. For example, staff are given additional responsibilities, such as being a health and safety officer and fire marshal. The manager ensures that they attend training courses to help them understand their new roles in keeping children safe. n The manager and staff reflect on their practice. They make changes that allow children to follow their interests. For example, a toy kitchen has been added to

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need to do better?

15 January 2024 the outside area due to children's interests in pretending to cook. This helps children to build on their imaginative skills. n Staff praise children for their achievements. For instance, they give them a high five for balancing and say 'well done' when children switch off torches by themselves. However, staff do not fully support children to understand their own and others' feelings and emotions. For example, when children struggle to share, staff do not help them to understand how it might make others feel. n The manager works with other professionals to find out about children's individual needs and how staff can support their progress. For example, the manager and staff support children to follow their own learning styles. This includes providing children with soft balls when they show an interest in throwing, allowing them to do this safely. Staff support children to avoid using barriers in their mouths, to encourage their speaking skills.

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need to do better?

n Staff share information with parents at the end of each day about activities their children took part in and enjoyed. However, staff do not help all parents understand how they intend to build on their children's individual learning and how parents can contribute to this at home. This will provide a more united approach to supporting children's development. n Staff encourage children's independence. For example, at snack time, staff invite children to use tongs to select the fruit they would like to eat. Children are asked to pour their own drinks.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n help staff to strengthen their interactions with children to support them to understand their own and others feelings and emotions n support staff to share with parents how they intend to build on their children's individual learning and how parents can contribute to this at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY485544 Local authority Nottingham Inspection number 10300960 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 18 Number of children on roll 19 Name of registered person KE Steps Pre-School Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07956165062 Date of previous inspection 23 January 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Ke Steps Pre-School Ltd registered in 2015 and is situated in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, including the manager with early years teacher status. The pre-school opens on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday during term time. Sessions are from 9am until 2pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the pre-school and discussed how the manager implements the curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n Children interacted with the inspector throughout the inspection. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She reviewed relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school. n Parents shared their views on the pre-school with the inspector.

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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

15 January 2024 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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