Kids 1st - Darlington

Kids 1st - Darlington Alderman Leach Drive, Darlington, County Durham, DL2 2GF

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 March 2015 23 March 2009

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Outstanding 1 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is outstanding

 Staff's quality of teaching is consistently high. Consequently, children are highly motivated to learn and make excellent progress in their learning and development.  Children are cared for in a very safe, vibrant and highly challenging environment, where staff provide an excellent range of toys and resources. These are used extremely well to maximise children's learning.  Children's emotional well-being is exceedingly well supported by superb settling-in arrangements. As a result, parents and children build excellent relationships and flourish during their time at the setting.  Children are robustly safeguarded as the leadership team regularly review their policies and procedures, and actively contribute to staff's understanding of these processes through effective monitoring and support. As a result, staff have an excellent knowledge of the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation

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This provision is outstanding

Stage.  Leadership is inspirational. Highly effective systems for self-evaluation give careful and thorough consideration to all aspects of the provision, which ensures that they are constantly improving the already exceptional practice.  Partnerships with parents are excellent. Staff ensure parents are extremely well informed about their children's progress and are fully involved in their child's learning through regular meetings, information sessions and the welcoming, open-door policy, which encourages parents to speak to staff whenever they wish.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 develop even further opportunities for staff to share their excellent practice to continue to enhance the superb quality of the teaching and learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities and the quality of teaching.  The inspector held meetings with the curriculum coordinator, manager and area manager.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records and planning documentation.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working with the children and the provider's procedures for self-evaluation.  The inspector took into account the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection.

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who attend. This is outstanding

The highly skilled staff team have an excellent understanding of the different ways in which children learn and develop. They plan a rich and varied programme of experiences that reflect children's individual needs and interests. Consequently, children are highly motivated to learn. The procedures for assessing children's progress are accurate and robust, and enable parents to fully contribute to their child's learning at home. Children have many opportunities to develop their literacy skills and practise their early writing, such as writing recognisable letters and numbers. Younger children make marks in sand with their hands, and use toy trains as they notice the marks and tracks made. A range of real items in the role-play areas for children to use, enhances their already excellent imaginative play opportunities. Children develop essential skills for the future as they are inquisitive, ask questions and solve problems. Therefore, children are extremely well

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who attend. This is outstanding

prepared for school and their next stage in learning.

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outstanding

Children are exceptionally settled and display high levels of self-esteem. The extremely sensitive, caring and nurturing interactions between staff and children ensure that children are emotionally secure. Staff follow excellent practices and procedures to support children's health. For example, children access their own snacks and enjoy healthy and nutritious meals, where their individual needs are catered for. Children are taught how to keep themselves safe, as they talk about using walking legs when inside. However, when outdoors they are encouraged to climb and develop a breadth of skills. Consequently, children are developing their confidence and sense of achievement. Staff provide gentle, consistent reminders about sharing and taking turns and as a result, children's behaviour is excellent.

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provision is outstanding

The leadership and management of the setting is outstanding. Highly comprehensive safeguarding policies and procedures are understood and are effectively implemented by the staff. Staff have developed excellent relationships with other early years settings. This ensures there is continuity and cohesion in children's learning and development. Staff are extremely well deployed, ensuring the highly effective and vigilant supervision of all children throughout the setting. Robust procedures for checking the quality of the provision ensure that each child reaches their full potential, in relation to their starting points and capabilities. A meticulous induction programme is completed by all new staff, who have regular access to a wealth of training opportunities. Furthermore, staff are extremely well supported through rigorous monitoring, effective supervision and targeted appraisal. This ensures that they consistently deliver high-quality standards in care and

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provision is outstanding

education. However, opportunities for staff to share their expert knowledge and skills, to enhance the superb quality of the teaching and learning are not always fully maximised.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY364039 Local authority Darlington Inspection number 849658

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Type of provision

Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 108 Number of children on roll 235 Name of provider Kids First Day Nurseries Limited Date of previous inspection 23 March 2009 Telephone number 01325 380199

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Type of provision

Kids 1st - Darlington was registered in 2007. The nursery employs 36 members of childcare staff. All hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, including five with Early Years Professional status or Qualified Teacher Status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Type of provision

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Type of provision

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Type of provision

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way. To receive regular email alerts about new publications, including survey reports and school inspection reports, please visit our website and go to ‘Subscribe’.

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Type of provision

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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