First Steps Day Nursery

Block towers, creative materials and children learning to serve their own lunch give First Steps Day Nursery a practical, hands-on character in its December 2022 nursery day. Based at St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey, it accepts children aged 0 to 60 months.

At its 1 December 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall, with children making good progress. The detail matters more than the label: children persisted with construction, explored textures and practised doing things for themselves.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. In parent terms, learning and everyday care belong together, with play providing opportunities to develop skills.

In December 2022, younger children strengthened hand control through rolling balls and making marks with creative materials. Older children experimented with large blocks, trying different ways to construct towers. These were opportunities to explore how materials behaved and keep trying when an idea needed changing.

Sensory play in December 2022 also involved tools and different resources, giving children ways to investigate through their own actions. The teaching weakness was specific: some less-experienced practitioners did not adjust activities enough to let children test ideas or try alternative materials and techniques. An interesting resource alone did not ensure that every child could join in. For parents, the important distinction is between putting out an activity and tailoring it to the child using it.

Staff listened to children's conversation and responded in December 2022. Alongside signs and stories, that offered everyday opportunities to communicate. The questioning priority concerned the next step: allowing children space to develop an answer, rather than filling the exchange with questions that invited only a short response.

Conversation and stories also featured in December 2022. Staff used signs with younger children and lively book reading encouraged children to remember the story. However, questioning sometimes restricted children's answers rather than helping them say more. Activity planning also needed closer attention to what individual children could already do.

At the December 2022 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding and close support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including interventions coordinated with other professionals to help children participate and prepare for school.

Everyday independence was practised in December 2022: children served food using utensils, chose resources and attempted coat fastenings before outdoor play. That gave them chances to practise useful skills within ordinary routines.

Relationships supplied another part of the December 2022 picture. Practitioners knew children well and responded attentively to their needs, while older children developed close friendships. Praise recognised what children had achieved, helping them take pride in their efforts. Sharing and waiting for a turn were practised from a young age, so social learning accompanied the practical tasks rather than sitting apart from them.

Safeguarding practice in December 2022 included staff recognising possible signs of abuse and knowing how to raise a concern. Leaders checked staff suitability regularly, and risk assessments covered indoor and outdoor play. Those concrete routines explain the safeguarding judgement beyond its headline. They concern how adults protected children during ordinary nursery life.

The staff team also worked together in December 2022, with management listening to concerns and responding to support staff wellbeing. For families, this adds useful context to the care described: support for practitioners formed part of the organisation behind their work with children.

During that same month, communication with families covered care routines as well as learning and development. Staff also encouraged sharing and turn-taking, using calm responses and praise to help children understand their behaviour.

The address is St Peter's Hospital, Guildford Road, Chertsey, KT16 0PZ. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery opens all year, closing on bank holidays.

In December 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated funding position rather than a guarantee of a funded place.

• Individual learning. In December 2022, some activities did not build closely enough on children's existing skills, leaving some unable to participate fully. Ask how practitioners now adapt an activity for your child.
• Language development. December 2022 questioning sometimes gave children too little room to expand their answers. This deserves attention for families prioritising communication support.
• Starting young. The accepted age range begins at 0 months. For a baby joining First Steps, ask how settling visits and daily care routines are organised.

First Steps suits families seeking a hospital-site nursery with an emphasis on practical independence and exploratory play in its December 2022 provision. Its Good judgement provides a useful starting point. The two teaching priorities, individual activity planning and questioning, remain the most useful subjects for a visit discussion.