Footsteps Day Nursery

Inspection of Footsteps Day Nursery 215 Queens Road, LONDON E17 8PJ

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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 know children in the nursery very well. When children first start, staff take time to learn about their interests, home lives and stages of development. This helps children to settle in comfortably. A strong key-person system focuses on children's well-being and personal growth. Children are happy at the nursery. They grow and form good bonds with staff because of staff's warm, caring and thoughtful interactions. Children's behaviour is good. Staff set clear expectations, which they explain to children at the start of each session. Children confidently remember to share, take turns, listen and use good manners. The nursery has a calm and focused atmosphere, with all children playing well together.

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The provision is good

Managers and staff are committed to helping all children to make the best progress possible. They follow a progressive curriculum, which focuses on what children need to learn next, considers their interests and prepares them well for transition to school. Staff prioritise supporting children's communication, language, social skills and independence development. They adjust their support to help children with their language development, using tools such as visual aids and signs. This helps children to express their feelings and communicate their needs effectively.

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need to do better?

n Managers offer plenty of support to staff, who highly value and appreciate this guidance. They ensure that staff participate in training tailored to their individual needs and help them improve their skills, such as incorporating mathematics in early years. Managers also encourage staff to take responsibility for their own learning, using reflection tools to assess their practice and identify areas for further training. n Parents and carers value the information that staff share to help support their children's development at home. They appreciate the daily feedback that staff give during pick-up times. Additionally, parents are very pleased with the progress their children make at the nursery. n Children have many chances to develop their independence. For example, they learn to use the toilet, wash their hands and put on their coats. Staff help children to build these skills from an early age. In the baby room, babies have

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need to do better?

the opportunity to self-feed with spoons, while in the toddler room, staff introduce children to using cutlery with some support. In the pre-school room, children show more confidence and responsibility, such as by helping to set up for mealtimes. n Children play outdoors and practise their physical skills. For example, they learn to pedal bicycles and climb. Children persist as they use a custom-designed climbing frame that suits their different developmental stages. They are eager to try new things and receive encouraging praise from staff for their efforts.

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need to do better?

21 January 2025 n Staff recognise and celebrate the diversity of children and families at the nursery. They make sure to incorporate learning experiences that teach all children about the religions, traditions and events that are meaningful to their friends. They are fully dedicated to ensuring that the nursery is inclusive for everyone. n Staff encourage children to explore books and offer a variety of sensory resources for babies to interact with, fostering an early love for books. They introduce new vocabulary, ask thoughtful questions and talk about children's play, helping them to become confident communicators. n Staff model and scaffold learning well to children. They encourage children to discuss their likes and dislikes and interact well with children in their play. They ask questions to check children's understanding and allow children sufficient time to think and respond to questions. However, at times, particularly during

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need to do better?

group activities, all children do not benefit from the same positive interactions due to the large size of the groups. n Staff ensure that children experience a healthy lifestyle while at the nursery. They provide a variety of fruits and vegetables at mealtimes and have drinking stations available to help children stay hydrated. The dedicated catering team collaborates with staff to manage children's dietary needs and intolerances effectively. During mealtimes, staff support children in understanding which foods contribute to a healthy diet.

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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 review group activities to maximise all children's learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY551980 Local authority London Borough of Waltham Forest Inspection number 10372154 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 58 Number of children on roll 74 Name of registered person Footsteps Day Nursery (Walthamstow) Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 020 89233395 Date of previous inspection 3 April 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Footsteps Day Nursery registered in 2017. It is operated by Footsteps Day Nursery (Walthamstow) Ltd, which owns a number of nurseries in the borough. The nursery is situated in Walthamstow, in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It opens Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The provider employs 18 members of staff, including the manager. Of these, one member of staff holds qualified teacher status and 12 staff hold appropriate early years qualifications ranging from level 2 to level 6. The nursery provides government funded childcare.

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Inspection activities

n The manager discussed with the inspector how staff organise and plan the curriculum, environment and experiences for children during a learning walk. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector evaluated children's learning together in all the rooms. n The inspector held a meeting with the managers. She looked at relevant documentation, including evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector took account of parents' views, which were gathered during the inspection.

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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

21 January 2025 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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