Stepping Stones Childcare (Cornwall)

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children happily arrive and enjoy their time at this nurturing nursery. Staff are warm and caring towards children and adults. They welcome children and parents as they arrive and give children their full attention. Children settle quickly in the nursery and immediately become engrossed in their play. Staff use their knowledge of children's interests to provide stimulating activities which children clearly enjoy. Children develop positive attitudes to learning. They show high levels of engagement and motivation in their play. Children of all ages are independent and confident in their choices. They choose activities by themselves and ask adults to help them if needed. For example, children take books to staff and ask them to read to them.

Leaders and staff strive for children to build positive relationships with others. They support young children's understanding of turn taking and sharing. For example, they play 'catch' with children, saying whose turn it is next. They play alongside children talking to them and model good social skills and manners. Children behave well and show respect for adults and other children. For example, they ask other children and staff if they want to join them when playing, and offer toys for them to play with.

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

• Staff provide a well-planned curriculum based on children's next steps in their learning and development. They use regular observations of children to plan for their specific needs and to identify children who require additional help. They seek advice from outside agencies and ensure that funding to support children is used effectively. This helps children achieve the best possible outcomes, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• Staff promote children's communication and language development well. They skilfully encourage children to talk by asking questions and leaving children time to respond. They focus on developing children's speech and vocabulary. For example, staff plan activities and identify words they want to share with children during their play. Children use new words they have learned independently. For instance, they discuss if they should 'weigh' toys using the 'scales' and predict which will be 'lighter' and 'heavier'.
• Partnerships with parents are good. Children benefit from this relationship that provides a consistent approach and continuity of care. Staff offer additional support for the parents of children with SEND. They meet with them regularly to share children's progress and provide information about how they can help their children. For instance, parents are taught simple signs to promote children's speech and language skills at home.
• Leaders are passionate about providing high-quality care and learning for children. They have introduced changes, such as providing a deputy key person for each child, and holding regular meetings with staff to discuss children's learning and development. Leaders use these meetings to check staff's understanding and moderate the quality of their assessments of children. Staff feel more supported and this helps the quality of teaching to continue to improve.
• Staff teach children how to assess risks and keep themselves safe. For example, children learn how to hold knives safely when cutting fruit for their snack. However, staff do not teach children about the potential dangers that online technology may pose.
• Staff teach children useful skills, such as following instructions, recognising their names and how to count accurately. They have good links with Reception class teachers and local schools. Children are well prepared for the next stage in their learning, including starting school.
• Staff build children's understanding of the wider world around them and to appreciate people's similarities and differences. They learn about important festivals celebrated by families who live in the local town, which supports their awareness of other cultures.
• Staff support children's physical health. They provide daily opportunities for children to be active and play outside in the fresh air. However, they do not always explain to children the benefits of eating healthy foods to further support their understanding of the importance of healthy food choices.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• help children to learn about the benefits of eating healthy foods to further promote their ability to make healthy food choices
• develop children's understanding of how they can keep themselves safe when using technology online.