First Steps Nursery

Inspection of First Steps Nursery Robson Way, Lowton, Nr. Warrington, Cheshire WA3 2RD

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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

Staff greet children with a smile at the front door as they arrive full of chatter and excitement ready for photo day. Children separate from their parents with ease and go off to find the inviting learning environments staff have created for them.

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The provision is good

Leaders and staff have designed an ambitious, well-planned curriculum to ignite children's imagination and curiosity. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and children in receipt of additional funding, are well supported. The excellent key-person system and accurate use of assessment means that gaps in children's learning and any specific needs are identified early and acted on quickly. All children make good progress in their learning and development.

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The provision is good

Staff model expectations for children's behaviour and routines. For example, following the five-minute warning for tidy-up time, children vigorously work together to tidy up their classroom. They ensure that the inspector is aware that she too must tidy up. Additionally, younger children remind the inspector that they are to be rewarded with a sticker for their good work. Children know what is expected of them. Consequently, they are well behaved and demonstrate positive attitudes to learning.

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need to do better?

n The quality of education is good. Staff provide many fun experiences to support children's development. For example, they provide many opportunities for babies to crawl and pull themselves up. This helps them develop the skills needed for walking unaided. Older children make gingerbread men with play dough, taking great care in putting them in the pretend oven to bake. However, when routines are changed, for example on photo days, leaders and staff do not routinely monitor the implementation of the curriculum to ensure that all children's learning needs are met. n Overall, leaders and staff plan effective care routines to support children's personal development. For example, all children have opportunities to be physically active both inside and outside. Additionally, staff give clear and consistent hygiene messages in encouraging children to wash their hands and wipe their nose. However, the mealtime routine is not consistently well

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need to do better?

organised. Children have to wait too long for their meals. Consequently, some children become unsettled and learning is limited at such times. n Staff support the development of communication and language well. The nursery is full of chatter and song. Babies and toddlers are enthralled when staff sing 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat'. They attempt to follow the actions and babble tunefully. They eagerly anticipate the sounds, such as 'pop', in familiar songs.

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need to do better?

26 November 2024 Older children spontaneously sing 'Old McDonald Had a Farm' when staff support them in the construction area to build roads and bridges for their animals. Children are developing their language structures and vocabulary and are becoming confident communicators. n Staff support children to understand their own feelings and emotions. For example, staff ask babies if they are sad when they are unsettled. This helps children from a very young age to put a name to their emotions. n Effective relationships with parents and professionals have a positive impact on children's learning and development. Leaders and professionals share ideas with parents, such as doing specific activities at home that are linked to special events or developmental targets. These partnerships are helping children to thrive and flourish. n Following a recent concern of a safeguarding incident, leaders failed to notify

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need to do better?

Ofsted of this significant event. Notifying Ofsted of significant events is a requirement of registration. Leaders fully understand how they have made this error and have been working with other safeguarding professionals. There was no impact on children's safety and welfare because of this breach of requirements.

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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 improve deployment and organisation of staff at lunchtimes to meet children's needs n monitor more closely the implementation of the curriculum when routines change to ensure that all children's learning needs are met.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY101522 Local authority Wigan Inspection number 10371842 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 226 Number of children on roll 209

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Name of registered person

First Steps Private Day Nursery (Lowton) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01942 678 803 Date of previous inspection 2 September 2022

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Information about this early years setting

First Steps Nursery was registered in 2002 and is situated in the Lowton area of Warrington, Cheshire. The nursery employs 47 members of childcare staff. Of these, 39 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The nursery opens each weekday, from 7.15am until 6.30pm. The nursery provides government funded early education for children aged nine months to four years.

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Inspection activities

n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n Children spoke with the inspectors during the inspection. n The inspectors talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Staff spoke to the inspectors about how they support children with SEND. n The inspectors observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspectors carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n The inspectors spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspectors looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The assistant managers and inspectors completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum.

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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

26 November 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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