The Laurels Child Care

The Laurels Child Care Laurel Avenue, The Woodlands, DURHAM, DH1 2EY

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 1 February 2017 21 January 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

 Leaders and staff have worked exceptionally hard since the previous inspection to raise the quality of the nursery to a remarkably high level. Highly detailed and incisive self- evaluation procedures are in place that capture the ongoing views of children and parents. Leaders are extremely passionate and demonstrate an exceptional drive to maintain the highest level of practice.  Parent partnerships are first-rate. Staff provide superb opportunities for parents to contribute to all aspects of their children's care and learning. Parents speak extremely highly of the exceptionally dedicated staff team. For example, comments include, 'Not only do staff support my child but they also support me as a parent. They are extremely welcoming and my child loves it here'.  The quality of teaching is superb. Staff create a sense of wonder and excitement with their creative and innovative teaching strategies. They use excellent questioning to help

p.1

This provision is outstanding

support children to evaluate their learning. For example, they encourage children to solve problems for themselves, helping to develop their thinking skills.  Children are provided with a very wide range of opportunities to develop their physical skills. Staff take children on highly exciting outings, such as to the local woodlands. Children recreate their favourite story adventures. Older children are given excellent opportunities to learn how to build dens using natural materials.  Staff have excellent systems in place to encourage children to develop an awareness of healthy choices. For example, children are inspired to learn about where foods come from. Children grow their own produce and learn about how it changes over time. Staff show children the immediate effect of change, such as by growing cress from seeds.  Children make rapid progress. They are highly inquisitive and very confident learners.

p.1

This provision is outstanding

Children demonstrate very high levels of self-esteem and take on the responsibility of completing small tasks. Children are independent and do things for themselves.

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

 evaluate the impact of practice observations on maintaining excellent outcomes for children.

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 spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager. She looked at relevant documentation, including self-evaluation procedures and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.  The inspector had a tour of the premises with the nursery manager.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Safeguarding is effective. Leaders and staff demonstrate an extremely thorough understanding of local safeguarding procedures. They are exceptionally vigilant and have highly detailed policies and procedures in place that underpin all areas of practice. Very effective partnerships with other professionals in place. Supervision sessions are completed in a very timely and effective manner. Leaders offer very valuable support and guidance to the highly qualified staff and encourage them to review their excellent quality practice. For example, staff working with babies and young children complete specific projects to further their already superb understanding of how children learn. Leaders have highly efficient monitoring systems in place to review children's progress and precisely evaluate any gaps in learning. They intend to complete regular practice observations to continue to provide superb teaching and achieve excellent outcomes for children.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Planning, observation and assessment systems are extremely well embedded. Staff are highly skilled and use daily observations to plan highly effective and challenging activities based on children's interests. Children have access to an exceptional range of resources and lead their own learning. For example, during outdoor play, children access their own water supply from a large barrel and fill up large trays. They stomp in the water, wearing wetsuits and wellington boots. Children fill up watering cans and water the nearby flowers and talk. They provide a running commentary as they play. Children make their own pizzas for snack time. They carefully cut up pieces of ingredients and talk about how the different ingredients taste and feel. This helps to develop their exceptional language skills.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children behave exceptionally well. They are very well mannered and demonstrate care and concern for others. For example, they care for the nursery guinea pig and develop an understanding of his needs and how to care for him. Children play very well together and invite each other into their play. They work highly collaboratively on self-chosen challenges and during role play games. Children have superb opportunities to develop an understanding of how to keep themselves safe. For example, staff create fire pits with the children and talk to them about emergency procedures and how to recognise hazards in the environment. Children show excellent relationships with staff and are extremely well settled. Staff gather precise information from parents when children first start at the nursery about what they know and can already do.

p.3

Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children are exceptionally well encouraged to develop the key skills needed for future learning and the eventual move on to school. They make excellent progress in all areas of learning. Children use mathematical language as they build a large junk model train. They show a deep understanding of size and position to solve problems in their play. Children demonstrate high levels of engagement and great enthusiasm for learning. Young children spend very long periods of time in the highly resourced outdoor environment. For example, they crunch leaves under their boots and dig in the large sand pit.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY337804 Local authority Durham Inspection number 1064898 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 38 Name of registered person The Laurels Child Care Company Ltd

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 21 January 2013 Telephone number 01913849795

p.4

reference number

The Laurels Child Care was registered in 2006. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including three with early years qualifications at level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday 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