Little Steps Nursery rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted

Staff and children at Little Steps Nursery

Little Steps Nursery on Tenby Street, Rochdale has been rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

Manager of Little Steps Nursery, Pamela Salt said: "We are absolutely delighted in achieving 'outstanding'. Everyone is proud and pleased that all of their hard work has paid off."

The inspection report described leaders as “highly effective in driving improvement” and states that the quality of teaching and learning has “vastly improved since the last inspection”. Inspectors put this down to staff working hard in their partnership with officers from the Local Authority and having significantly improved their interactions with the children.

The quality of teaching across the nursery is described as “outstanding” with staff providing an exceptional range of rich, varied and imaginative learning experiences for children. Staff are also said to support children’s learning “exceptionally well in all areas”.

All staff demonstrate a secure knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and an uncompromising commitment towards achieving excellence in all areas. Since the last inspection, a member of staff has attained a qualification at level three and another member of staff has completed a foundation degree.

Inspectors also described staff as having “exceptionally high aspirations” for the children. Children’s differing behaviour is managed extremely well, enabling them to make best use of their time at the setting.

The report also states that staff work highly effectively with social workers and other professionals from the Local Authority and other settings. As a result, the provision for vulnerable children is “extremely effective” and this is demonstrated through children’s excellent levels of achievement.

The nursery is also aiding to children developing essential skills for the future because staff focus on how children learn and not what they learn.