Big Steps Childcare

Puppets, storytelling and outdoor climbing give Big Steps Childcare a recognisable character: language and physical confidence feature strongly in its November 2023 account. Based at St Sebastian's Community Centre in Salford, it has capacity for 28 children.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good at its 27 November 2023 inspection. Children aged two to three attended at that time; the account below describes their experiences during that visit.

In November 2023, conversation was woven into play. Staff introduced vocabulary as children moved puppets through a familiar story, giving words a practical meaning. Books also invited participation: children turned pages, discussed pictures and recalled stories, with adults joining their storytelling.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the November 2023 examples show how play supported language, movement and relationships. During ball-catching practice, children drew on earlier attempts and kept trying. Adults acknowledged their successes, giving them encouragement to persevere.

Outside, the garden offered a water tray, mud kitchen and climbing frame. In November 2023, children explored water and practised climbing, with staff nearby to help them steady themselves. That combination gave children opportunities to attempt physical challenges with support close at hand.

At the November 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and identified SEND support as a strength, with staff monitoring development, sharing individual plans with parents and seeking help from other agencies when needed.

In November 2023, staff gathered information about children before they started and used their interests to help them settle. Adults also helped children recognise feelings and treat others kindly. Communication with families included updates on development, advice about potty training and support for continuing learning at home.

Safety teaching had a practical element. During the same visit, staff explained why grapes needed cutting at lunchtime, connecting an everyday precaution with children's understanding of risk.

The address is St Sebastian's Community Centre, 1 Douglas Green, Salford, M6 6ES.

In November 2023, the nursery ran during term time, with sessions from 9am to midday and midday to 3.10pm. It also provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children at that time. These are dated attendance and funding arrangements.

• Learning intentions. In November 2023, staff did not consistently understand the intended learning behind activities, which reduced opportunities to extend children's learning precisely. Ask how practitioners now plan and explain those next steps.
• Staff development. November 2023 brought a second improvement point: more purposeful opportunities for staff to exchange skills alongside supervision. How does the team now share effective teaching practice?
• Term-time routine. The November 2023 pattern divided attendance into morning and afternoon sessions. For a family planning around work, how do today's sessions and holiday arrangements fit the weekly routine?

Big Steps merits consideration for families drawn to story-based language work, supported outdoor play and communication about children's development. Its November 2023 experience suited families using morning or afternoon sessions during term time. The Good judgement gives that account weight, while clearer learning intentions and more focused staff development remain important points to explore.