The Sunshine Day Nursery @ Seascape Children's Centre

Inspection of The Sunshine Day Nursery @ Seascape Children's Centre Ellison Road, Peterlee, Co Durham SR8 5NJ

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Home visits prepare children and their parents exceptionally well for their important first visits to the nursery. This helps staff get to know and understand each child and make strong connections with parents and families. Children form strong relationships with staff and these help them to feel safe. They arrive full of excitement, anticipation and eagerness. In each room, there is a positive buzz as children focus on their learning, playing happily with their peers. Staff interact very well with children, for instance, to help them recall discussions about previous activities they have enjoyed. This provides excellent opportunities for all children, including the less confident, to share their thoughts and to listen to the opinions of others. Children behave extremely well as there is always something captivating for them to do. They are increasingly confident in offering ideas during group sessions

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The provision is outstanding

and they quickly learn how to focus their attention when listening to their friends and staff. Through activities, such as making sounds with percussion instruments, they learn to discriminate between different sounds. This provides a very good base for their listening and communication skills. Older children are given time to pursue and develop their learning without interruption. They explore with great relish the changes that occur when they mix different-coloured paint together. Children show resilience and an ability to concentrate. They become exceedingly independent from an early age, serving their own meals and accessing resources they want to use.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff aspire for the best and provide exceptional levels of learning and care. All staff are adept at observing children's behaviours, comments, abilities and achievements to amend their input and plan future learning. The exciting curriculum is extended by an array of inspiring initiatives that provide rich, powerful experiences for children. For example, they experience equine therapy where children learn to ride horses and use tools, such as wheelbarrows and shovels. They muck out stables, fill hay nets and build slides using hay bales. This has a tremendous impact on children's physical and emotional well-being. Equally, their communication, attention and listening skills and their learning about the world around them are greatly enhanced. n Staff are totally committed to ensuring the very best for every child. Interactions and conversations are always of the very highest quality. Staff challenge

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need to do better?

children's thinking very effectively, encouraging them to reflect on their ideas and consider many possibilities. As a result, children learn to make decisions, choose appropriate resources for the tasks they are given and discuss the results of their efforts. n Staff grasp every opportunity to help children learn. They promote children's early mathematical skills extremely well. For example, activities at snack times

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need to do better?

23 January 2020 and lunchtimes help children to understand early mathematical concepts, such as counting and sharing. Children learn to have a genuine love of books. Through the home lending library, parents develop a secure understanding of the importance of books in their children's learning. n Funding is used especially well for children who need additional help with their learning. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities achieve exceptionally well from their starting points. Staff work closely with other professionals and target teaching where it is most needed. As a result, all children make the best possible progress and move on to the next stage in learning confident and ready to learn more. n Children's social skills are developed extremely well because staff take time to explain and reinforce high expectations. Children behave exceptionally well. Relationships in the nursery are superb and the atmosphere is very positive.

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need to do better?

Children see adults who are polite, courteous and caring towards each other and, therefore, learn to behave in this way themselves. Staff skilfully guide children to show sensitivity to others' needs and feelings and to form positive relationships with adults and other children. n Staff demonstrate an astute understanding of local need. They have developed very strong relationships with other professionals and parents. Highly effective communication systems are in place to share precise information about children's care and learning needs. Parents are extremely complimentary about the staff and the progress that their children make in their learning. They describe fondly the caring, nurturing and supportive staff team. n All staff are dedicated and work tremendously well together to make a difference to children's lives. Leaders skilfully observe staff practice, which helps to improve performance. They conduct regular supervision meetings which focus on

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need to do better?

children's learning and the ongoing professional development of staff. All staff work tirelessly to reflect continually on what they offer children and the provision. They review the provision critically to make sure they constantly provide an outstanding level of practice.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is a strong culture of safeguarding. The manager and staff share detailed knowledge of each child. They develop strong, positive relationships with the families and work in close partnership with other agencies. They successfully ensure that families get the support they need. All staff have an extensive and impressive knowledge of how to safeguard children. They are vigilant in noticing any changes in children's welfare and report these immediately if further action is needed. Rigorous recruitment procedures ensure that all staff are suitable for their roles.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY386626 Local authority Durham Inspection number 10117656 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 46 Number of children on roll 41

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Name of registered person

Katherine Hardman & Anne Arrowsmith Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 01915867767 Date of previous inspection 15 April 2014

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Information about this early years setting

The Sunshine Day Nursery @ Seascape Children Centre registered in 2008. The nursery employs nine members of staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 5, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and one at level 2. The nursery opens Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 8.30am until 3.45pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector carried out a learning walk with the nursery manager and discussed how the curriculum is delivered. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. She spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke with parents during the inspection and also took account of their written 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

23 January 2020 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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