Footsteps Day Nursery & Preschool

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children enjoy their time at the homely and welcoming nursery. Most children arrive happily.

Those who are more unsettled receive the cuddles and attention they need to feel safe. Soon they are playing as happily as other children.Children behave appropriately for their age.

They understand and cooperate with routines. For example, children in the pre-school room quickly gather together for group circle time when asked. Children show that they are learning to share and take turns.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff have prioritised children's personal, social and emotional development. Staff identifie...d that babies would need more support to settle. Staff also understood that some toddlers and older children would be a little overwhelmed to be around lots of other children again.

Children show that this approach has worked well. They are now confident to explore and learn. Children show that they are developing a love of books.

They frequently bring books to staff to read and enjoy snuggling in to listen to stories. This has a positive impact on children's developing communication and literacy skills.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

Babies have plenty of opportunities to develop their physical skills.

They learn to crawl and walk confidently. They enjoy exploring the baskets of resources, developing their hand-to-eye coordination as they do so.Staff plan well how to build on children's independence skills gradually as they move through the nursery.

For example, babies learn to feed themselves with spoons and forks, and toddlers learn to drink from open cups. By the time children are in the pre-school room, they are confident to serve their own food and pour their own drinks.Sometimes the planning for adult-led activities focuses on what children are to produce as an end result, rather than the skills they would most benefit from learning next.

This is especially the case when planning creative activities. At these times, children are not being fully extended or challenged in their learning.Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are quickly identified and supported well.

Staff work closely with other professionals and parents to ensure children's specific needs are met.Relationships between children and staff are very warm and positive. Staff consistently praise children for what they can do.

Children receive lots of encouragement and smiles throughout the day. This adds to the happy and positive atmosphere and helps build children's self-esteem.Staff provide ample opportunities for physically active play.

Children show great delight in spending time outside. They are encouraged to run about energetically and are developing a positive view of an active lifestyle. Staff encourage children to develop other useful physical skills.

For example, children learn to throw and catch and to move their bodies around cones and obstacles.Children build warm attachments with the staff who look after them. They show that they feel very at ease in their company.

For example, children offer staff spontaneous hugs and receive big smiles in return.Staff diligently meet children's care needs. Staff regularly check and change nappies and remind children about the importance of wiping their noses and washing their hands.

Staff ensure that the premises, equipment and resources remain clean and hygienic throughout the day.Some members of staff are new to the nursery or have recently taken on additional responsibilities, such as those of a key person. The manager and provider recognise that there are some inconsistencies in staff's knowledge and practice, which means the quality of teaching is not consistently of the very highest level.

They have a plan of action in place to improve the quality of some assessments. They also plan to support the less qualified or less experienced staff to develop their understanding of how children learn.Parents speak very highly of the nursery and the staff.

They praise the 'family feel' and the flexibility of staff in meeting their childcare needs.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager takes effective steps to ensure staff have a thorough and accurate understanding of the signs of potential abuse or neglect.

Staff understand the importance of sharing any concerns promptly, to keep children safe. Staff know how to escalate any concerns beyond senior nursery staff, should the need arise. Staff have a secure understanding of wider safeguarding issues, including the risks to children or others of being exposed to extreme views or ideologies.

The provider and manager carry out the necessary checks to ensure the suitability of those they employ to work with children. Staff supervise children closely and provide a safe and secure environment for children.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: nimprove planning for adult-led activities, focusing more precisely on identifying the skills or knowledge which children need to learn next or practise more monitor staff's practice more closely, to focus support on ensuring greater consistency in the quality of teaching and assessments.