Stepping Stones Play and Learn Group

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children jump up and down with anticipation and excitement before entering this astounding setting. The gate opens and children are welcomed by caring and friendly staff. Children happily wave goodbye to their parents and skip into this warm and inviting setting.

New children settle with ease. Many attend a 'tots' group with their families before starting and are familiar with the environment. Children show they feel safe and secure.

They confidently delve into the beautifully designed indoor and outdoor learning environments. Children lead their own play and explore activities with enthusiasm and curiosity. A s...tunning outdoor area and sensory room support children's physical and emotional well-being.

Children let off steam and challenge their physical abilities while completing the outdoor wooden circuit. The sensory room provides tranquillity, where children relax in a cosy snug that twinkles with fairy lights. All children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, benefit from highly qualified and experienced staff.

Robust partnership working with parents and outside professionals, such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists, ensures individual children's needs are met. Staff build strong attachments with the children. Children go to their key person for reassurance when needed.

Staff's knowledge of the children is superb. Subsequently, children are learning through their interests and preferred learning style. All children make significant progress in all areas of their learning and development.

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

Teaching is exemplary. The manager provides a clear, inclusive and ambitious curriculum. Staff share this high-quality vision and provide suitably challenging activities and learning experiences for all children.

Sequenced learning, where children build on what they already know, is securely embedded in daily practice. For example, staff provide group times to support early listening and attention skills. Children then progress from this group activity to story groups, for children getting ready for school.

As a result, children consolidate and deepen their knowledge, understanding and skills across all areas of learning.The way that communication and language are prioritised in this setting is exceptional. With high staff ratios, children often benefit from one-to-one support, enabling a focus on supporting individual children's needs.

Staff have incredible working relationships with speech and language therapists to ensure that children's speech progresses and they receive continuity of teaching. Staff extend children's language development by repeating words and introducing lots of commentary as they play. Children rejoice as they join in singing Christmas songs and talk to Santa about what they would like for Christmas.

Staff teach children to become increasingly independent in managing their personal needs. Children are motivated to learn through trial and error. Positive praise from staff supports their resilience and perseverance.

Children pour their own drinks and prepare their own snack.With their wealth of knowledge, staff specialise in using visual tools to support children to communicate. These include Makaton and a picture exchange system that encourages the use of spoken language.

Staff are consistent in their implementation, which means children make their own choices and respond well to these teaching strategies. Consequently, all children's voices are heard. Staff ring a bell and use sand timers before a change of routine.

As a result, children are learning to regulate their emotions and develop an understanding of the behaviours expected of them.Early mathematical concepts are skilfully integrated into children's everyday play experiences. For example, staff encourage children to count how many seats there are on the role-play train.

Children who prefer sensory play learn about space and capacity. Staff introduce words, such as 'full' and 'empty', as children scoop sand into buckets.The way that staff promote children's emotional and personal development is exceptional.

Children start to learn about feelings through colour recognition and activities based around a favourite children's book. Staff choose quiet times to maximise this intended learning. As a result, children are developing empathy and compassion for others.

The management team and staff are passionate and extremely dedicated to continuous development and enhancing the setting. Staff are highly motivated by this inspirational leadership. Parents compliment the setting on the remarkable and significant progress their children are making and the ongoing support they receive.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Safeguarding is of paramount importance, and all staff go through a secure recruitment process to ensure their suitability to work with children. The provider and staff have regular safeguarding training, and they all have a robust knowledge to ensure the safety of children in their care.

All staff can recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and know what to do if there is a concern about a child or a colleague. Staff undertake meticulous training to ensure they know how to use specialist equipment safely. They have a good understanding of any complex health needs of children in their care.

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