Stepping Stones

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Managers and staff at this exceptional pre-school place children's individual needs at the centre of everything they do. Children flourish in the extremely nurturing and caring environment.

There are excellent settling-in procedures. Parents are confident staff know and will expertly meet their children's various needs. Home visits ensure staff get to know children before they start, and that children have a familiar face at the pre-school.

Children make excellent progress based on their individual starting points.Children enter the pre-school enthusiastically, and their key person quickly supports them to settl...e into an activity of their choosing. Children can select from a well-chosen range of toys based on the individual interests and needs of each child.

Staff communicate enthusiastically in a variety of ways to ensure all children are included. For example, they use picture exchange cards, symbols, signs and speech. Staff are highly sensitive to each child's level of interaction.

When a child indicates a need, no matter how subtle, staff quickly respond. This helps children to feel listened to and know that their attempts to communicate are important. Staff know the children very well.

They sensitively use various techniques, such as gentle modelling, to support children with their behaviour. Children are happy, safe and behave well.

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

The highly proactive and inspirational manager has a strong vision.

She places a high emphasis on professional development. Staff are extremely enthusiastic and happy in their role. The manager talks to staff about their well-being during the regular appraisal meetings.

This helps staff to feel highly valued. Staff say that the manager is always available to support and encourage them in their challenging but rewarding role. Children thrive in this positive and happy environment.

Staff plan a stimulating, individualised curriculum for the children in their care. They use exciting methods to support children to communicate. For example, staff put favourite toys into a lidded see-through box.

This inspires children to ask for help to open the box so they can play with the toy.Staff skilfully weave all areas of learning into the day, while valuing each child's uniqueness. For example, staff develop children's listening and attention skills by playing a recording of different animal sounds.

Staff use signing, pictures of animals and speech to help children identify which sound each animal makes.There is an exceptional partnership with parents. Parents say that the pre-school is 'amazing' and that their children would not have progressed as they have done without the support of the staff.

Parents receive help with all aspects of their children's care. For example, staff help parents to complete paperwork for additional funding, and they increase parents' confidence to leave their children, sometimes for the first time. Parents are inspired to support their children's learning at home.

Staff share what they are working on with children so parents can continue their development at home. Staff hold regular meetings with parents, individually and as a group, to share their knowledge and set learning targets together. Parents are regularly invited to training events to help them build their knowledge and understanding of different ways to communicate with their children.

Staff use mealtimes as learning opportunities. For example, they encourage children to use picture exchange cards to ask for more snack. Staff notice and celebrate all children's achievements.

This helps to build children's self-esteem.Professional development is a high priority. The manager strongly believes there is always more to learn.

She encourages staff to attend training and share their knowledge with the rest of the enthusiastic team. Staff strive 'to always do better', and this is evident in the ethos of the pre-school.Partnerships with other agencies and settings are exceptional.

For example, staff regularly visit other settings that some of the children also attend. They invite staff from other settings to visit the pre-school, and they share their specialist knowledge and information to ensure continuity of care. The pre-school also provides training for staff from other settings.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.All staff have a comprehensive understanding of how to keep children safe, and know their responsibilities to protect children. They know the signs and symptoms to look out for that may indicate a child is at risk, and understand the procedures to follow if they need to report a concern.

During home visits, staff share key safeguarding messages with parents, for example, not to take photographs and not to let others into the building. Posters around the setting remind parents of these safety messages. An extremely robust recruitment procedure ensures that the best and most knowledgeable staff, who are thoroughly vetted, work at the pre-school.

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