Footsteps Daycare 2018

Growing vegetables for tortoises and turning roadworks into pretend construction give Footsteps Daycare 2018 a recognisable character in its May 2022 account of children's play. These were hands-on experiences with a purpose: caring for living things and building on children's curiosity.

At its 4 May 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good overall and found safeguarding effective. Based at St. Peters House in Northampton, it accepts ages from four months to 60 months.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the May 2022 examples show how play brought these together: planting involved cooperation and conversation, while pretend building introduced opportunities to write and use books.

In May 2022, children in the Infant Room noticed roadworks through a window; staff extended that interest with construction play, high-visibility clothing and writing resources. Preschool children prepared containers for planting spinach and carrots for the tortoises. A practical task gave them something concrete to discuss and share.

Other experiences that month included watching and feeding ducks at a nearby pond and following duck eggs approaching hatching. Children also pursued their own craft ideas, including paper aeroplanes. These May 2022 examples combined practical exploration with opportunities for children to pursue their own ideas.

In May 2022, babies responded to staff's songs and conversation, while toddlers enjoyed shared stories. Independence ran through everyday care: children practised dressing, toileting and using tissues, and preschool children took turns helping others with coat zips. Small responsibilities gave children opportunities to contribute.

The same month's account included two important weaknesses. Instructions in the Infant Room could be too long and complex for children to understand. Some staff also missed occasions when confident children took over activities or removed toys from quieter children. Clear language and attention to less assertive children therefore deserve particular attention when considering the nursery.

The address is St. Peters House, St Peters Way, Northampton, NN1 1TP. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures on bank holidays and for one week at Christmas.

In May 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated participation statement rather than a promise of a funded place today.

• Instructions children can follow. In May 2022, explanations in the Infant Room sometimes exceeded children's understanding. During a visit, ask how staff keep directions short and suitable for each child's stage.
• Space for quieter children. The May 2022 findings included missed opportunities to protect less confident children's participation. Look for how practitioners respond when another child dominates play.
• Funding for your attendance plan. Funded provision covered two-, three- and four-year-olds in May 2022. Ask which current entitlement and attendance arrangement would apply to your child.

Footsteps suits families seeking care across the working week and year, with practical, interest-led play prominent in its May 2022 account. Its dated strengths include everyday independence and experiences involving plants and animals. The counterweight is specific: families should give equal attention to understandable instructions and quieter children's opportunities to join in.