Selby Cottage Childcare Centre

Inspection of Selby Cottage Childcare Centre The Close East, Chester-le-Street, Durham DH2 2EY

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children thrive in this warm, welcoming setting. They are provided with a rich, stimulating learning environment which excites and motivates them to learn. Children thoroughly enjoy investigating the well-resourced garden. They develop their small-muscle skills as they collect leaves and use their large muscles as they negotiate their way around the garden. Children explore natural materials with great interest. Staff introduce new words, such as 'sycamore', and demonstrate how the leaves fall from the trees. Children learn how to stay safe and manage risks. For example, staff talk about crossing the roads safely and support children as they learn to use a flint and steel to light a fire. Staff have high expectations for every child, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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The provision is good

Young children develop incredibly close and trusting relationships with the caring and attentive staff. They take time to settle children into the setting. Staff plan a well-balanced curriculum which is exciting and tailored to children's individual learning needs. For example, staff provide young children with objects to roll as this is a current interest. Parents are extremely complimentary of the setting. They say that the quality of the care their children receive is 'fantastic', 'amazing' and 'second to none'. Parents also commend staff for the extra support they give families when they are experiencing difficult times in their lives.

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need to do better?

n The committed and passionate manager has an excellent knowledge of her role and individual responsibilities. She is well supported by her extended leadership team. There is a varied programme of training and professional development for staff. Staff have a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the setting and strive for continuous improvement. Their well-being is paramount. The manager works closely with staff to help them to manage their workload. Regular supervisions and staff meetings ensure staff feel valued and supported in their roles. As a result, they are highly motivated. n Overall, partnerships with parents are a strength of the setting. Staff share information with parents to help them understand how children's learning can be further supported at home. For instance, home learning packages provide parents with resources and ideas of activities to carry out at home. However,

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need to do better?

staff do not utilise the information gathered initially from parents, about what children can do, to plan effectively from the very beginning. n The quality of teaching across the setting is good and occasionally outstanding. Staff are highly qualified and have a good knowledge of children's individual needs. They provide children with an ambitious range of activities and experiences which support them to make good progress. Staff support children's

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need to do better?

12 November 2019 communication and language development effectively. Older children relish in guessing rhyming words as they make 'silly soup' with staff, and younger children listen and join in as staff sing action songs and rhymes. n Children, including those with SEND, are very well supported. The special educational needs coordinator is passionate and committed to her role. She supports staff to produce in-depth support plans help to ensure that children's individual needs are met. Staff work closely with schools, speech and language professionals and other external agencies to provide children with any additional support they require. Additional funding is used well to support vulnerable children. n Children's behaviour is exemplary. They demonstrate positive behaviour at all times. Older children are able to resolve their own conflicts and negotiate solutions to their problems. For example, children are keen to put on a show and

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need to do better?

sing their favourite songs. They show exceptionally high levels of cooperation and respect for one another as they take turns to perform. n Staff provide children with a rich set of experiences that help to develop an excellent understanding of the community. Children visit the library, go swimming and attend forest school sessions. They visit the local aged miners' homes with care packages and spend time getting to know the residents. This helps children to understand people and communities beyond their own. n Staff support children to develop excellent levels of independence. Very young children learn to serve themselves during mealtimes. Older children develop excellent skills in their own personal care needs. Children have high self-esteem and are extremely confident.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

As the designated lead for safeguarding, the manager has an excellent understanding of her role in protecting children. She is confident of procedures to follow in the event of an allegation being made against herself, or a member of her team. All staff are very knowledgeable about safeguarding legislation. They have an in-depth knowledge of how to report concerns about children's welfare. Staff also demonstrate a good knowledge of wider safeguarding issues, including the 'Prevent' duty legislation. New staff and students complete a robust induction process to help ensure that they are suitable to work with children.

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should:

n gather more detailed information from parents about what a child already knows and can do when they first start at the setting.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY446983 Local authority Durham Inspection number 10117670 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 to 14 Total number of places 77 Number of children on roll 144 Name of registered person Durham County Council

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reference number

Telephone number 03000 264 095 Date of previous inspection 23 November 2012

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Information about this early years setting

Selby Cottage Childcare Centre registered in 2012 and is situated in Chester-le- Street. The centre is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 6pm, all year round. It employs 19 members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one with level 5 and one with level 6. The centre provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n A number of discussions were held with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The senior nursery officer and the inspector completed two joint observations and evaluated the quality of education. n The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the nursery's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

12 November 2019 regulates and inspects to 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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