Special Steps Ltd

Inspection of Special Steps Ltd Cornerstone Family Church, 66 Minster Road, Stourport-on-Severn DY13 8AS

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children happily arrive at this nursery, which is specifically run for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They are warmly greeted by enthusiastic staff, who quickly provide support for children to help them to separate from parents and/or carers and settle. Leaders and staff are totally attentive to each child's individual needs and level of disability. The curriculum is designed to take account of all children's individual stages of development. Children's next steps for development and learning are purposeful and match their own individual learning needs. As a result, every child makes progress in line with their personal targets and individual capabilities.

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The provision is good

Staff strive to ensure that each child is supported to make choices and communicate their wants and needs. They implement a wide range of support, such as pictures, objects of reference, signs and buzzers, to enable children to alert staff to what they want to do next. For example, children take staff by the hand and lead them to the door, where they press a buzzer to indicate if they want to go outside or to the sensory room. These systems also start to help children to be independent in their decision-making. Children's behaviour is managed well. Staff recognise patterns of behaviour and react swiftly to intervene where necessary. Quiet corners and sensory experiences help children to start to regulate their own behaviour. Staff talk to children about sharing their toys and taking turns.

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need to do better?

n The nursery is led by a strong, knowledgeable and highly experienced leadership team. They are totally dedicated to providing children with SEND with the very best start to their learning journey. Leaders have won national awards for the service that they offer. Leaders are very mindful of staff's personal well-being, due to the complexity of the role they fulfil. Staff benefit from a well-being coordinator who regularly checks how they are and arranges fun activities to help them unwind. n Staff benefit from regular supervision meetings. Leaders recognise the importance of staff's continued professional development. Staff attend copious amounts of training to continually update their knowledge and skills. Leaders monitor staff practice and offer help and advice, especially to newer staff members, to provide consistency in their approach. Staff have developed a safeguarding culture. They recognise that children with SEND are more

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need to do better?

vulnerable and are vigilant to ensure children's ongoing safety at all times. n Leaders and staff work closely with other professionals involved with the children and their families. Other professionals provide additional support and guidance to staff, and they work with them to set individualised plans and targets that will benefit children's development even more.

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need to do better?

9 September 2024 n Children enjoy a range of different activities. Staff work tirelessly to encourage children to concentrate for longer periods and make connections in their play. Some children are able to sort colours, and others can place numbers and letters in order. When at times children become frustrated with what they are doing, staff intervene in a calm, gentle manner, which soothes children as they help them to try again. For example, when children try to stack cups in a particular way and become frustrated when they fall over, staff show them how to resolve the issue by placing the cups on a flat surface. n Children enjoy the time they spend outside. They develop physical skills as they climb, slide and crawl through tunnels. All equipment has been specifically purchased to ensure all children, including those with mobility issues and those who are in a wheelchair, are able to participate.

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need to do better?

n Children are able to explore their senses in the sensory room. They allow staff to wrap them in a hammock and gently swing them from side to side to calm their emotions. Other children explore bubble tubes or investigate a dark tent. Staff read to children in quiet tones and show them the pictures in a book under soft, twinkly lights in a calm environment. n Children's good health is promoted well. Leaders are fully aware that some children dislike the sense of brushing their teeth. They have introduced special toothbrushes, which brush all of the teeth at the same time, and flavourless toothpaste to encourage children to begin to accept having their teeth brushed. However, while consideration has been given to the placement of nappy- changing facilities, these do not provide children with the utmost privacy during self-care routines. n Parent partnerships are exceptionally strong. Leaders and staff work closely with

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need to do better?

parents to provide support for them and their children. They share information and photos daily to enable parents to be involved in their child's day and to carry on with children's next steps at home. Parents are ecstatic in their praise of leaders and staff. They say that the support they receive is amazing and that their children thrive in the nursery environment.

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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 consider the organisation of nappy changing even further to ensure children's dignity and privacy is maintained at all times.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2780793 Local authority Worcestershire Inspection number 10362166 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 19 Number of children on roll 15 Name of registered person Special Steps Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07580369057 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Special Steps Ltd registered in 2024 and is based in Stourport-on-Seven in Worcestershire. The nursery employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, five are qualified to level 3 and above, including one who has qualified teacher status and the provider who has level 6. The nursery is open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Thursday, and 9am to 3pm on a Friday, term-time only, and part of the summer holidays. The nursery offers government-funded places for children aged nine months to four years and children in receipt of funding for disadvantage.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The provider, who is also the manager, and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

9 September 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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