Little Stepping Stones Day Nurseries

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

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision requires improvement

Leaders and managers have taken steps to improve since the last inspection. They have engaged with the local authority to access training and support. However, the learning from this has not yet been embedded enough to achieve a good level of care and learning for children. At times, staff do not provide a wide enough variety of activities to support all children's learning needs.

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The provision requires improvement

Despite this, children are generally happy and settled. They are lively and play with the resources which staff set out. Younger children are interested in splashing and pouring water alongside their friends. Pre-school children develop their imaginations, such as they pretend to take food orders and serve each other meals during role play.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff generally have realistic expectations for children's behaviour. Children learn to share and take turns with toys and learn to follow simple rules, such as holding hands when walking in the park. Staff help children to learn about their local community. Children visit the local library and meet members of the emergency services. This helps to build their understanding of the world around them and extends their cultural capital.

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The provision requires improvement

Leaders and managers have a clear intent for what they want children to learn. However, there are still weaknesses in how they support staff to tailor the planning to meet children's individual needs, which impacts on the progress children make.

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need to do better?

n The key-person arrangements do not consistently meet younger children's emotional needs. For example, children become confused or unsettled during personal care routines as staff focus on the routine tasks and do not notice children becoming upset or are trying to communicate their needs. However, they praise children and encourage them to develop some new skills, which supports their self-esteem. n The weaknesses in planning mean that children's individual learning needs are not consistently met. Although staff have identified children's next steps in learning, the learning opportunities they provide do not consistently reflect these. This means some children are not sufficiently stimulated at times and results in children losing focus and running around or wandering aimlessly. n The nursery promotes children's good health. Children have daily exercise in the park, and enjoy healthy, freshly prepared meals. Children learn to brush their

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need to do better?

teeth after meals and staff share information with parents about oral health at home. This helps children to learn about healthy lifestyles. n Overall, children are active in their play and interested in the learning

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need to do better?

27 June 2024 opportunities provided. Babies persevere to thread cereal hoops onto spaghetti and pre-school children concentrate well as they use play dough and cutters. However, leaders and managers have not supported staff to embed their own learning to support children's development well. For example, at times, staff move children on too quickly from their play which prevents children from exploring their own ideas further. n Leaders and managers have taken steps to improve the arrangements for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). There are suitable plans in place to support children with SEND. There are effective systems for sharing information with other professionals, which means there is a consistent understanding of children's learning needs. n Staff interact with children in ways which supports their communication and language development in general. They repeat single words, such as 'banana'

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need to do better?

and 'aeroplane', and encourage toddlers to repeat these to extend their vocabulary. Pre-school children engage in back-and-forth conversations with each other and staff. They demonstrate a wide vocabulary and are confident to ask questions. n Older children develop their independence skills, such as washing their hands and putting on their high-visibility vests to go out. Staff encourage children to serve themselves at mealtimes. Toddlers make choices about the activities they want to play with, and babies learn to feed themselves. This prepares children for the next stage in their learning. n Staff keep children safe in hot weather. For example, they keep children in the shade, apply sun cream and encourage children to wear a hat. Additionally, staff ensure that drinking water is available to keep children hydrated. This helps children learn to keep themselves safe. n Parents say their children enjoy attending the setting. The nursery uses a digital

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need to do better?

app to share information with parents. Staff share observations of children's development to provide parents with updates on the progress their children make. Communication with parents is effective.

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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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Due date

27 June 2024 improve the key-person arrangements so staff use their knowledge of children effectively to tailor care and learning to children's individual needs 31/07/2024

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Due date

improve planning to make sure that all children are sufficiently stimulated to make the best progress possible. 31/07/2024

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should:

n support staff to improve and embed their knowledge and understanding of how children learn.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY467575 Local authority Wandsworth Inspection number 10316172 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 40 Number of children on roll 39 Name of registered person Little Stepping Stones Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 02088706824 Date of previous inspection 3 October 2023

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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 for bank holidays. There are 10 members of staff, including the manager. Of these, seven staff hold early years qualifications between level 2 and level 6. The nursery receives funding to provide early years education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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 provider. n The 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 Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at nursery. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the nursery. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of the transitions at lunchtime. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views

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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

27 June 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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