Playdays Nursery

Playdays Nursery 15 Simpasture Gate, NEWTON AYCLIFFE, County Durham, DL5 5HH

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 September 2016 5 February 2013

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

p.1

This provision is outstanding

 The quality of teaching is outstanding. The highly qualified staff provide exciting and very creative activities for children to explore. They use thorough observation and assessment systems to track the progress children make in their learning.  Leaders have extremely effective performance management systems in place to support staff to deliver an exceptionally high-quality provision. They complete regular observations of staff practice. There are regular supervision sessions to identify further professional development opportunities.  Children's imagination and creative development are superbly supported. They are provided with a remarkably inclusive and well-resourced environment. Children set their own challenges during play and think of various ways to create large structures in the outdoor environment.  Staff support children to develop an excellent understanding of how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Children actively join in with routine handwashing songs and conversations

p.1

This provision is outstanding

that demonstrate their understanding of germs and how to stay healthy.  Behaviour is excellent. Staff are superb role models for children. They support children to develop an awareness of how their actions affect others. Children use exceptionally good manners. They form positive relationships with staff and other children.  All children make rapid progress from their starting points. They are provided with a wide range of opportunities to extend their literacy skills. Children make marks in play dough with various tools and resources. They enthusiastically talk about the marks they make.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 continue to evaluate existing systems that review the excellent practice to help maintain the outstanding provision.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager and provider. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the nursery's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to some parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Safeguarding is effective. Staff have an excellent understanding of how to identify and report any concerns regarding the welfare of a child. Detailed policies and procedures are skilfully woven into all aspects of practice. Children are exceptionally well supported to manage their own risks during play. They are involved in identifying hazards in their environment. Highly robust partnership working, with parents and other professionals, supports leaders and staff to share precise and accurate information regarding children's safety and well-being. Transition arrangements between other early years professionals are very robust. Children are effectively supported to attend short introductory visits to meet their new key person. Detailed information is provided to ensure a continued approach to children's learning. Self-evaluation takes into account the opinions of staff, parents and children. Leaders are considering how to further improve the existing systems

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Children's interests are exceptionally well catered for. There is an outstanding range of resources available for children to access. Children are very inquisitive learners and actively explore the environment around them. They invite others to share in their new discoveries during play. For example, children use binoculars in the garden to look at birds and reference these in books. They listen attentively as staff talk to them about the various types of birds. Staff help children to think about where the birds live, what they need to grow and how they fly. This helps to promote children's thinking skills. Children are confident at using technology as they draw on the interactive whiteboard and use the computer with ease. Younger children have excellent opportunities to explore their environment. They crawl into the sandpit where they experiment with pouring and modelling. Highly successful strategies engage all parents in their children's learning.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Parents are very well informed about the progress their children make and how they can continue to support their learning at home.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children demonstrate very high levels of confidence and self-esteem. They invite others into their play and show perseverance when tackling challenges. Staff offer praise and encouragement as children play. This helps to support children's emotional well-being superbly. Children have excellent opportunities to extend their physical skills in a highly stimulating outdoor garden. They manoeuvre bicycles around the yard, aware that they need to be careful of other children to prevent accidents.

p.3

Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children make extremely rapid progress towards the early learning goals. Their communication and language skills are extremely well supported. They enthusiastically join in with action songs. Children are motivated to learn. They use mathematical language throughout all aspects of their play with older children using simple calculations. Children are exceptionally well equipped with the key skills needed for their future learning and the eventual move to school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY387645 Local authority Durham Inspection number 1065324 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 54 Number of children on roll 71 Name of registered person Nursery Group Limited

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 5 February 2013 Telephone number 01325312050

p.4

reference number

Playdays Nursery was registered in 2009. The nursery employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, 15 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday and all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

reference number

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.

p.4

reference number

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.

p.4

reference number

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 reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

reference number

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

p.5