Footsteps Nursery Walmley

Inspection of Footsteps Nursery Walmley Ash Cottage, Walmley Ash Lane, Sutton Coldfield B76 2AA

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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 enjoy their time at this welcoming nursery. They build strong relationships with the kind and nurturing staff. Children are very sociable and form firm friendships with their peers. They are kind and thoughtful towards each other. For example, a child pats another on their back when they cough. Children are enthusiastic as they talk about what they enjoy, such as taking part in forest school sessions. Staff provide children with lots of praise, encouragement, cuddles and comfort. Consequently, children demonstrate high levels of self-esteem and confidence.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy story time and looking at books. Staff use these times to promote children's language skills as they introduce new words. Staff encourage older children to predict what happens next. Staff support children's understanding of mathematics. They count as toddlers scoop up sand. Older children learn to recognise numbers and solve simple addition and subtraction problems. Staff provide a calm and nurturing environment for babies. Babies are curious and independent learners. They confidently crawl or toddle around the room as they choose what they want to play with. Children are friendly, outgoing individuals who show a positive attitude towards learning. All children, including those children with special education needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress from their starting points.

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need to do better?

n The manager has devised a well-sequenced curriculum that covers all areas of learning. Overall, the curriculum takes account of children's learning needs and their current interests. However, at times some planned activities are not always fully effective in supporting children's learning. n The manager has good systems to support staff's professional development. For instance, she observes staff working with the children and gives feedback on their performance. She looks to support any areas for further development with focused training. n The manager ensures additional government funding is used effectively to support those children for whom it is intended. For example, children benefit from regular one-to-one support. n Staff support children's communication skills well. Babies thoroughly enjoy singing sessions and listening to stories. Staff use warm facial expressions and good eye contact as they acknowledge babies' babbles and gestures. Staff help

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need to do better?

toddlers to increase their vocabulary and build short sentences. Older children enjoy lots of conversations throughout the day. n Children learn to take responsibility and do things for themselves. Babies start to feed themselves, toddlers learn to put on their coats and older children serve

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need to do better?

15 March 2024 their lunches. Staff ensure that children know their opinions and views are valued. For example, children take part in a children's committee where they are involved in making decisions and choices about activities and events in the nursery. n Children enjoy exploring the garden. They search for items and are keen to use tally charts to record what they find. Children work as a team as they design and build a ladder and slide. They discuss how they can use the different items they gather from around the garden, such as tyres and pieces of wood. n Staff support children to develop their physical skills. Outdoors, children climb, play chasing games and ride around on wheeled toys. Children enjoy activities that develop their small-muscle skills, control and coordination. For example, they use scissors to cut fresh herbs and press, squeeze and manipulate dough. n Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. Children are familiar with

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need to do better?

and are willing to follow the nursery rules and routines. They share, take turns and play cooperatively. n Staff support children with SEND well. The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) works closely with children's key persons, parents and outside agencies. They ensure targeted plans are in place to help these children to make the best possible progress. n The manager prioritises children's safety. She ensures all staff who handle and serve food are aware of children's dietary needs. Staff ratios are maintained and staff are deployed effectively to ensure children are supervised closely at all times. n Parents speak very highly of the nursery. The comment on how their children enjoy attending and the good progress they make. Staff share home-learning packs and library books with parents. This enables them to continue their children's learning at home. However, staff do not always fully support parents

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need to do better?

to help speed up children's acquisition of toileting skills.

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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 support staff to consistently provide activities that match precisely to children's learning needs and interests n work more closely with parents to help accelerate children's acquisition of toileting skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY489802 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 10336158 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 86 Number of children on roll 109 Name of registered person Footsteps Day Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0121 351 6999 Date of previous inspection 17 May 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Footsteps Nursery Walmley registered in 2015. The nursery employs 29 members of childcare staff. Of these, 28 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 to level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6.30pm. The nursery 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 setting received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the setting and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk to gather information about how the provision and curriculum are organised. n The manager carried out a joint observation with the inspector to evaluate the impact of teaching on children's learning. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching to assess the impact of this on children's learning. n The inspector held meetings with the manager, the SENCo and the regional early years specialist. The inspector looked at relevant documentation and evidence of staff suitability.

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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 March 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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