1st Step Pre-school Ltd (Seaton Delaval)

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children demonstrate that they are happy at this warm and welcoming pre-school. They confidently leave their parents at the door and quickly settle into the pre-school routine. Relationships between staff and children are warm and nurturing.

Children show good levels of imagination. In the role-play area, they pretend to make tea and are keen for staff to join in. They count during their play and do simple addition and develop a good awareness of mathematical language. Children explore the leaves and use the digger truck to scoop up compost. They talk about autumn and how the leaves change colour and fall from the trees.

Children enjoy the time they spend outdoors. They are fascinated by the world around them and notice familiar things within their environment. For instance, they are excited when they hear and see a flock of geese fly by and are curious about the spider and how many legs it has. Children develop their confidence and social skills and learn to manage their behaviour, while interacting with others. They learn about the pre-school rules and boundaries and what is expected of them. Children are kind and friendly towards each other. Staff regularly praise them for sharing and being kind to their friends.

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

• The staff work well together as an enthusiastic and dedicated team. They have worked hard to address the actions raised at the last inspection. Staff have completed extensive safeguarding training. The whole staff team understand their responsibilities to keep children safe. They are aware of how to identify the possible signs that a child may be at risk of harm. They know how to raise any concerns they have and the procedures they need to follow. The management team have reviewed and improved the safeguarding policies and procedures, and how information is shared with other agencies.
• The staff provide a well-planned curriculum that supports all children's learning and development. Staff use the information they gather from parents and their own observation to find out what children already know and can do. They use this information, along with a theme of learning, to develop children's knowledge and skills. However, not all staff consistently extend learning opportunities for older children. At times, some staff do not encourage children to think of solutions to problems that arise.
• Staff support children's language and communication well. Throughout the day, staff provide children with regular opportunities to sing songs and read books. Babies giggle and babble with staff. Toddlers name the different colours as they build with the blocks. Older children hold conversations with their peers and adults. For example, they confidently describe their journey to nursery and how
• Inspection report: 1st Step Pre-school Ltd (Seaton Delaval) 14 October 2024 2 they were 'stuck in traffic' and had to go another way.
• Children develop a love of books. Staff are attentive and read to children as they self-select familiar stories, which they listen to intently. Children are starting to use their memory and recall skills to repeat refrains from popular stories. However, staff do not consistently provide children with access to writing tools. This hinders their ability to make marks and practice early writing skills.
• Children learn about the benefits of good health. They know to wash their hands before they eat their lunch. Staff have shared information with parents about healthy lunch boxes. This approach supports both children and parents to understand the benefits of healthy practices.
• Children benefit from regular fresh air and exercise. They run around and have fun playing 'tag' with their friends and staff. Children ride wheeled toys and build towers with the blocks. However, staff do not consistently plan purposeful outdoor activities to extend learning as well as possible for those children who learn best outdoors.
• Partnerships with parents are good. Parents comment how happy their children are attending the setting and often enter the setting without saying goodbye in their haste to greet their friends and staff. They say staff keep them well informed about their children's day and their developmental achievements.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to make the most of opportunities when interacting with children to help challenge them to think, solve problems and come up with their own ideas
• place a sharper focus on planning purposeful outdoor activities to better support those children who prefer to play and learn outside
• provide children with consistent access to mark-making tools to promote early writing skills.
• Inspection report: 1st Step Pre-school Ltd (Seaton Delaval) 14 October 2024 3