Emeralds Little Gems Daycare - Crook

Inspection of Emeralds Little Gems Daycare - Crook 11 North Terrace, Crook DL15 9AZ

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children arrive happily and receive a warm, friendly greeting from the caring staff. Parents are not able to come into the nursery due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic so leave their children with a member of staff at the main entrance. Children quickly become engaged in their play and learning. They receive very good support from staff as they settle at their chosen activity. Staff have a warm, caring relationship with children. Children are motivated and eager to learn, and consistently show high levels of interest in their chosen activities.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour and treatment of each other. Children follow the golden rules. Staff talk to children in a gentle manner and remind them to use kind hands with their friends. There are lots of discussions about sharing the resources. Staff make good use of visual aids to help communicate changes in the routine. They use a bell and give a five minute warning to allow children time to finish their activities when it is time to tidy up. A high priority is placed on well-being. In pre-school, children are encouraged to express themselves and talk about feelings.

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need to do better?

n Staff have high expectations of what children can achieve. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, progress well. Staff understand the needs of their individual key children. They assess children's developmental needs with the help of parents as they settle in at nursery. Staff continually review and assess children's development. From this they plan the next steps for children. Children enjoy activities based on what they know and can do. Staff fully understand how to follow children's interests. n There is a very strong partnership with parents at this nursery. Staff communicate with parents regarding their children's progress and next steps through an online system. Learning packs were sent home for children to complete with their families when they did not attend during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents say they cannot praise staff enough for the support that they

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need to do better?

have received. They say that staff have helped their children to return to the nursery. Additional funding has been used to support children who lost confidence. For instance, funding went towards extra staff to support children in a smaller group. n Staff skilfully support children to form words and sentences. Staff speak clearly to children and use sign language and pictures to aid communication. Good arrangements are in place to support children who are learning English as an additional language. Staff find out about children's home language and use this to support children's language development. As children get older, staff provide many opportunities for them to join in conversations. However, in pre-school,

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need to do better?

15 July 2021 some staff overly direct some activities and do not consistently encourage children to think and work things out for themselves. n Staff who work with babies are experienced and knowledgeable about their roles. They are skilled at helping babies learn through inspiring activities. Children under the age of two years enjoy singing familiar rhymes at group time. They select a character from the prop bag that relates to the rhyme. They attempt to join in with the actions when staff sing. However, there are occasions when the youngest children are not fully included, such as holding something from the prop bag like the older children. n Children are quick to learn mathematical skills. This is because staff weave mathematical learning throughout most activities and daily routines. Children are keen to use tape measures to measure distances in pre-school. Younger children sing number rhymes that involve adding or taking one away.

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need to do better?

n The dedicated and passionate manager shows a good commitment to the professional development of her team. She carries out regular staff meetings and supervision meetings with staff. These play an integral part in the development of the setting. This helps to promote children's progression.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff complete regular safeguarding training. This helps them to understand their responsibilities. Staff know how to report concerns about a child's welfare or any inappropriate actions of adults working with children. They are aware of wider safeguarding concerns, such as radicalisation. There are effective procedures in place to make sure that children are in a safe and secure environment. Staff carry out regular risk assessments. Cleanliness of the premises is a priority and staff keep checking throughout the day. At the end of each day, the rooms are 'fogged' to protect against germs and viruses for children that come the following day.

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should:

n build on how staff implement activities to allow children time to explore and work things out for themselves rather than being directed n review the use of whole group activities in the baby room so that they include all children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY549485 Local authority Durham Inspection number 10174664 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

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inspection

Total number of places 48 Number of children on roll 101 Name of registered person Emeralds Little Gems Daycare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01388 767 300 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Emeralds Little Gems Daycare – Crook registered in 2018. The nursery employs 19 members of childcare staff. Of these, 17 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This is the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together and the inspector spoke to staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The manager and inspector completed a joint observation together and discussed the quality of practice that they both observed. 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 to a number of 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

15 July 2021 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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