First Steps Fountain Of Life Pre-School

Inspection of First Steps Fountain Of Life Pre-School The Well Christian Centre, Swaffham Road, Ashill, Thetford, Norfolk IP25 7BT

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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

Children's emotional well-being is at the forefront of this inclusive and nurturing pre-school. Parents and children benefit from bespoke settling-in processes and can enjoy stay-and-play sessions before children start. This ensures children settle in smoothly, alongside swiftly building trusting and secure relationships with the staff team. Staff provide opportunities to help children find out about a broad range of people and communities outside of their own experience. For instance, staff arrange a visit from a fire engine, where children learn about people who help us. In addition, parents are actively involved in the pre-school, and their children benefit as they contribute their own experiences and professions during sessions with the children.

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The provision is good

The management team and staff embed a successful curriculum that provides children with the chance to develop their social skills, build relationships and become independent. Staff use themed topics and books to bring the curriculum to life with imaginative and fun teaching. For example, children learn the importance of teamwork as they decorate an enormous blue whale together, a character from their story of the week. Staff provide meaningful praise as children independently share popular resources, such as paint and brushes. This helps reinforce their understanding of positive and respectful behaviours expected of them.

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need to do better?

n A robust key-person system and regular assessments ensures that all children make significant progress from their starting points. Staff observe children as they play and any gaps in learning are swiftly identified. Knowledgeable staff know what to do to support their continuing progress. For example, they work closely with outside professionals, such as speech and language therapists, to bridge these gaps in children's learning. Therefore, all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve their best outcomes. n Teaching is very good quality throughout the pre-school. Parents talk incredibly highly of the overall progress their children make. Staff plan activities particularly well indoors, to build on children's curiosity and allow them to experience the natural world. For example, children have the exciting opportunity to observe the life cycle of a frog. Children carefully evaluate daily changes and excitedly point

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need to do better?

out that the tadpoles are starting to grow their back legs. Staff introduce words, such as 'metamorphosis', that children use meaningfully as they describe the changes they are witnessing. n Staff display consistently high expectations for supporting children's independence in developing their personal needs. When children are attempting to put on their painting aprons, staff give children space and time and offer

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need to do better?

7 May 2025 words of encouragement. Additionally, staff are on hand to support children if they need it. As a result, children show perseverance and determination when completing this self-care task themselves. This highlights children's motivation to become increasing independent in preparation for school. n Children's behaviour and attitudes to learning are very good. Children play cooperatively together and show empathy and care towards others, modelled extremely well by staff. For example, during a group music and movement activity children apologise to their peer as they bump into them. Children are gracious and show understanding by responding saying, 'That's okay', before moving to create space for their peer to sit alongside them on a cosy chair. n Children love to plant seeds and watch fruit, and vegetables grow outdoors. Outdoors, children grow in confidence as they test their physical strength on the

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need to do better?

trapeze swing. They learn to risk access for themselves by checking the environment is safe and clear before swinging, to avoid hurting themselves or others. n Joyous laughter can be heard as children play outdoors. However, staff do not fully evaluate outdoor learning experiences, to ensure they consistently offer children the best possibilities to extend and achieve their next steps in learning. n Staff are well supported by the management team and show high levels of contentment in their work. The management team regularly provides staff with supervision sessions and appraisals to reflect on their practice and well-being. Staff appreciate training that complements and raises the quality of teaching they provide to children.

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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 ways to promote children's learning even further in the garden area, to help those who prefer to learn outdoors.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY544373 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 10380282 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 26 Number of children on roll 23 Name of registered person Fountain Of Life Church CIO

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reference number

Telephone number 01760 447444 Date of previous inspection 4 June 2019

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Information about this early years setting

First Steps Fountain Of Life Pre-School registered in 2017. The pre-school employs nine members of childcare staff, including bank staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including the manager who holds qualified teacher status. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 3pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and from 9am until midday on Friday. The pre-school provides funded early education for all eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The pre-school manager and the inspector completed a tour of the pre-school, both indoors and outdoors, to understand how the early years provision and curriculum are organised. Additionally, the manager showed the inspector the premises and discussed how they ensure they are safe and suitable. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact that this had on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of group activities with the manager and also discussed self-evaluation. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. The inspector spoke with parents and carers during the inspection and also took account of their views. n The inspector held a meeting with the management team and also discussed

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Inspection activities

self-evaluation. The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of the staff working in the pre-school and a selection of other records.

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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

7 May 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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