Stepping Stones Pre-School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents

This provision is good Since the last inspection, the provider has put thorough systems in place to ensure that all committee members are notified to Ofsted and have the relevant suitability checks.

Staff encourage children to lead their own learning. They provide resources to help children make discoveries. When children enjoy playing with water outside, staff provide them with mops and buckets, and show them how to make circular patterns.

Children quickly develop their spoken language and talk very well for their ages. The manager has an excellent understanding of how to use books to promote all areas of children's learning and encourage them to become keen readers and... writers. Parents are very pleased with their children's progress and have been inspired to extend the learning experiences they offer their children at home, such as creating their own 'mud-kitchen' areas.

The well-planned key-person system enables children to quickly develop strong bonds with staff and helps staff to get to know children's individual learning needs. It is not yet outstanding because: Although the manager has a very good understanding of effective teaching strategies, she does not provide highly effective coaching to help all staff develop their practice to the highest level. Staff miss a few opportunities to consistently extend children's levels of engagement in activities and fully enhance their learning.

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