Newtown Community Learning Center t/a First Steps Day Nursery

Newtown Community Learning Center t/a First Steps Day Nursery Newtown Community Primary School, Newtown Road, Carlisle, Cumbria CA2 7LW

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Inspection date 6 August 2019 Previous inspection date 31 January 2014

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Outstanding 1 Effectiveness of leadership and management Outstanding 1 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1 Outcomes for children Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

n A culture of reflective practice is extremely well embedded throughout the whole nursery. Leaders and staff alike show a show passion and commitment to delivering the best service for children and their families. They are proactive and consistently reflect on their practice, accurately identifying where improvements can be made. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are provided with exceptional support. Staff work collaboratively with all involved, including healthcare professionals, and advice is accurately and swiftly threaded into individual plans. Staff make every effort to ensure all children are fully included and reach their full potential. n Teaching is outstanding. Staff use their expert knowledge to provide children with support that is extremely well matched to their developmental needs. Staff are entirely in tune with children, sensitively joining in with their play ideas or understanding the

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This provision is outstanding

importance of giving them uninterrupted times to play and explore. All children make excellent progress. n Partnerships with parents are superb. Leaders and staff place high priority on providing every opportunity for parents to be involved in their children's learning, in the nursery and at home. For example, home learning boxes and monthly challenges for parents to complete with their children at home have had a positive impact on children's learning. n Children thoroughly enjoy their time at this exceptionally warm and nurturing setting. Parents take the lead on settling-in arrangements, entirely accommodated by staff. As a result, children settle in quickly and develop a strong sense of inclusion and positive attachments with their key person and staff they regularly see. 2019 2 of 5

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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

n continue to develop professional development opportunities for staff that aim to maintain the already excellent practice and teaching in place.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact this has on children's learning, during play inside and outside. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the nursery manager. n The inspector spoke to members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and held a meeting with the nursery manager. n The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection and other written comments. n The inspector looked at children's records, evidence of the suitability of staff and a range of other documentation, including policies and procedures.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are supported exceptionally well by the manager to maintain their comprehensive knowledge of safeguarding and the procedures to follow in the event of a concern. There is an array of professional development opportunities for staff. The manager is aware of the importance of ongoing training in order to maintain staff's skills, knowledge and practice. She has highly effective systems in place to closely monitor and swiftly identify any gaps in children's learning. The manager works very closely with staff to implement highly effective support and timely interventions, to enable all children to excel.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff's enthusiasm for working with children is infectious. They are dedicated to maximising every opportunity for learning through carefully planned and fully informed activities, experiences and interactions. Together with ongoing information from parents, staff use their expert knowledge of children's next steps to create further opportunities for learning. Staff are equally skilled at planning 'in the moment'. For example, following on from children's play with balls, staff facilitate further challenge, introducing tubes for children to extend their own ideas. Children thoroughly enjoy posting the balls down the tubes, which staff extend even further, suggesting they measure how far the balls have travelled. Staff's skilful teaching greatly enhances children's learning.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children's good health is promoted exceptionally well. They thoroughly enjoy time spent outdoors. Staff ensure the garden area is equally rich in learning experiences. Important hygiene routines are very well embedded. Staff talk to children about why we wash our hands, which children confidently explain. Behaviour within the nursery is exemplary. Children play harmoniously together, sharing resources, working as a team and inviting one another to join in with their play. Children have wonderful opportunities to learn about people and communities beyond their own experiences. For example, in the lead up to the 'around the world picnic', children explored many different countries. This included Greece, where they listened to traditional music and participated in their own version of the custom of plate smashing, using paper plates.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children, including the very youngest, show an excellent attitude to their learning and explorations. Babies determinedly navigate around the environment, seeking out the array of interesting and inviting resources. Older children are keen and motivated, becoming entirely absorbed in their learning. Older children develop superb early literacy skills. They recite their favourite stories and use the pictures in books to identify the nursery rhyme. Children are confident communicators. Younger children are learning to listen and focus their attention, while older children introduce storylines into their play and articulately share their ideas. All children are confident, motivated and well prepared for their future learning. 2019 4 of 5

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY288187 Local authority Cumbria Inspection number 10109707 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 68 Number of children on roll 75 Name of registered person Newtown Community Learning Centre

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 31 January 2014 Telephone number 01228 522249

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reference number

Newtown Community Learning Center t/a First Steps Day Nursery registered in 2003. The nursery operates from a purpose-built building in the grounds of Newtown Community School in Carlisle, Cumbria. It opens five days a week from 8am until 6pm, all year round. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. There are currently eight staff employed at the nursery, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications. The manager holds a foundation degree.

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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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procedures set out in the guidance Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . 2019 5 of 5

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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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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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

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Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: www.ofsted.gov.uk/user .

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

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