Developing steps Nursery

Inspection of Developing steps Nursery 516 Romford Road, Forest Gate, London E7 8AF

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

All children settle well in this fun, friendly and welcoming nursery. Children form positive relationships with staff and feel safe and secure as staff support those new to the nursery. They show a positive attitude to learning and behave well. Children play cooperatively with their peers and are developing their independence as they get ready for garden play. They wash their hands after garden play and before meals.

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The provision is good

The curriculum is designed and implemented well. Staff know what they want children to learn to help them progress in their development. Staff work hard to get to know and understand the children in their care. This is done by providing settling-in visits and reassuring children with familiar comforts from home. This helps children to feel safe and secure at the nursery. Staff observe children while playing and then use this information to plan more activities based on the children's interesting themes, taking account of children's next steps for development. Children show confidence in their learning abilities and share their achievements with staff. In response, staff offer praise and recognition for children's successes and invite children to celebrate these.

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need to do better?

n Since the last inspection, staff have completed many training courses to enhance their knowledge and skills to better their teaching and enhance outcomes for children. Leaders help staff to be reflective practitioners through mentoring and coaching alongside regular meetings supporting their well-being. n Staff engage well with children and talk to them about their experiences and what they encounter within the local community. This includes going to the shops and seeing the local hand car wash. Children talk about different roles people have in supermarkets and why cars get dirty and need to be clean. Staff extend children's knowledge as they plan activities to extend this learning. For instance, children enjoy washing cars like the ones they have seen. n Staff are good role models and interact well with children. However, at times, staff are unsure of their roles and responsibilities during the routines of the day.

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need to do better?

They do not consistently organise themselves effectively, particularly when routines change. They do not always have a full awareness of what is happening around them to enable them to meet children's needs. n Staff join in with children as they play, encouraging them to solve problems, to keep trying and offering them support. However, occasionally, staff do not encourage the quieter children to contribute and join in, particularly during group activities. At these times, more confident children capture staff's attention, and the quieter children are occasionally overlooked. This means some children's learning experiences are not extended as well.

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need to do better?

24 February 2025 n Staff engage children in meaningful conversation and provide a running commentary during activities. They understand how children develop their conversation skills and introduce new words to enhance their communication and increase their vocabulary. Children enjoy listening to stories and eagerly use props to interact during stories and repeat familiar phrases. This supports children to become confident communicators. n Staff help children to develop a broad understanding of mathematical concepts. They assist children to understand individual numbers and offer activities such as counting and finding and making different shapes in the play dough. Staff introduce vocabulary such as full and empty as children play with water. This teaching supports children's mathematical development. n Parents speak highly of their children's experience at nursery. Many comment on their gratitude for the support their children receive. They say the staff team is

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need to do better?

professional and welcoming, and their children make good progress and are happy and settled. Staff share children's learning and progress, offering suggestions to support learning at home. This supports continuity of care and learning. n Leaders foster a positive and supportive culture. They offer staff continuous development through high-quality coaching and training. Leaders provide effective supervision and one-to-one mentoring sessions, which ensures a clear understanding of staff's strengths. They use regular reviews to help to enhance staff's skills and aspirations. Staff feel highly supported and valued.

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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 help staff to develop a stronger understanding of their role in managing daily routines to best meet children's needs n support staff to include quieter children more effectively during group activities to enhance learning and development opportunities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY497843 Local authority Newham Inspection number 10351990 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 50 Number of children on roll 19 Name of registered person The Enchanted Castle (Day Nursery) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 02085526777 Date of previous inspection 24 April 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Developing Steps Nursery registered in 2016. It is located in Forest Gate, in the London Borough of Newham. The nursery operates from 8am to 6pm every weekday, for most of the year. The provider employs six members of staff, all of whom hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The nursery offers the government funded places for childcare.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and 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 quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity for pre- school children. n The inspector spoke to 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

24 February 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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