First Footsteps (Anfield)

Inspection of First Footsteps (Anfield) 17 Oakfield, Anfield, Liverpool, Merseyside L4 2QH

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Staff are calm and approachable, and have built up lovely relationships with their key children, whom they know extremely well. On the whole, children engage well and are curious in their learning. Babies enjoy songs and join in with the actions, clapping happily when the song ends. Toddlers play a game, where they giggle excitedly as they wait to see what happens next. Pre-school children mix colours and talk about what changes are made. Overall, the curriculum is well established and children make good progress in their learning.

p.2

The provision is good

Routines and visual timetables support children to know what is happening now and next. Staff encourage children to have kind hands and be polite to each other. This helps to promote children's positive attitudes. Staff have a good awareness and understanding of local demographics and issues affecting families, such as lack of dental provision. They work in conjunction with local services to raise children's awareness of the importance of toothbrushing to help improve children's health and well-being. Staff offer a range of opportunities for children to explore the local area. They visit the local shop, where they take their shopping list and pay for their purchases. Babies go out in prams to feed the ducks and visit local sights.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff assess children's learning and identify their next steps. Staff plan opportunities to develop children's learning and skills. Staff implement and sequence the curriculum effectively. This supports children to be ready for the next stage in their learning. n Independence is promoted across the setting, with children encouraged to pour their own drinks, set the table and put on their own shoes and coats. However, staff do not teach some younger children how to learn new skills, such as drinking from an open cup, to develop their self-care skills further. n Provision for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is effective overall. Children are well supported, and interventions are in place to support their learning. However, occasionally, some children do not receive prompt referral to outside agencies. Consequently, not all children receive swift outside support to help narrow the gaps in their learning.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff promote the use of 'golden rules' and visual timetables. Staff encourage children to share and take turns during activities. They are well engaged and concentrate, showing a positive attitude towards their learning. n Supervisions and appraisals take place regularly, as well as staff observations. Staff access a variety of training linked to making improvements to practice within the quality of education. This means the curriculum supports children's learning and development effectively. n Staff place a high emphasis on promoting conversations, asking open-ended

p.2

need to do better?

19 March 2025 questions, and encouraging children to talk about their learning. Staff constantly narrate children's play, supplementing new words such as squash and squeeze when playing. This helps to promote communication and language and extend children's vocabulary further. n Partnership with parents is a strength. Staff exchange information with parents on what children are learning and ideas of how to continue this learning at home. For example, they give details of the book children are learning about and provide suggested activities to extend this learning at home. This shares information about what children are learning and helps to offer a coordinated approach to children's learning. n Children celebrate Christmas, Pancake Day and Easter. They also learn about celebrations important to other cultures and faiths, such as Chinese New Year. Children visit the local Chinese takeaway and implemented this into their role-

p.2

need to do better?

play area. They cook and taste Chinese food and learn about the culture. This helps children to learn about festivals and celebrations that are important to them and others.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

should:

n develop children's self-care skills even further, particularly the younger children n strengthen the assessment procedure for when there are possible gaps in children's learning, to ensure swift intervention is put in place for all children.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY227324 Local authority Liverpool Inspection number 10380351 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 68 Number of children on roll 58 Name of registered person First Footsteps Ltd

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 0151 260 5143 Date of previous inspection 6 June 2019

p.4

Information about this early years setting

First Footsteps (Anfield) registered in 2002. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, nine hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery provides free early education entitlement for children.

p.4

Inspection activities

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 discussed how the curriculum had been implemented and the impact that this had on children's learning. 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.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

19 March 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6