Kids Planet Southfield

Inspection of Southfield Day Nursery 1 Sandersons Terrace, Cramlington, Northumberland NE23 6XD

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

Children come into nursery happy and most quickly settle to activities they clearly enjoy. They engage in a good overall range of experiences, indoors and outdoors. For example, pre-school children thoroughly enjoy exploring paint outdoors. They use brushes skilfully to paint toy dinosaurs, using the feet to make prints on a large covered surface. Younger children develop an interest in early literacy. They thoroughly enjoy group-time sessions where they clap their hands and join in with their favourite songs and rhymes. Children in the baby room spend time in the outdoor area and their designated indoor space. However, there are times throughout the day, when staff do not implement the curriculum effectively enough to meet babies' individual needs. Babies often cry and become unsettled at points during the day.

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The provision requires improvement

Older children behave well throughout the day. They respond well to instructions from staff and interact well with other children as they play together. Children are safe in the setting. They learn about and use good manners. This is evident when staff encourage them to sing songs at mealtimes that help them to say please and thank you. Children benefit from resources, such as 'now and next' boards, to help them understand the routines of the day.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children in the baby room to begin to make sounds and use single words. They say words, such as 'splash, splash', as babies and toddlers engage in water play outdoors. However, other aspects of the curriculum for this age group are not always effectively implemented. This includes support for children's personal, social and emotional development and their physical development. For example, on occasion, staff spend extended lengths of time settling babies who they feel are tired and need to sleep. This is often to the detriment of other children, who begin to cry and get unsettled when they cannot fully access their supportive adult. n Children are encouraged to be physically active and exuberant. They enjoy daily fresh air in the garden. However, other aspects of children's good health, including their oral health, are not fully supported. Although food is freshly prepared daily on the premises, children are provided with desserts that are too

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need to do better?

high in sugar across the course of a week. In addition, staff do not consistently adhere to good hygiene practices when handling children's dummies, when they no longer require them. n The newly appointed manager spends time in the nursery's rooms. She observes how some staff interact with children and provides feedback to help them improve their skills further. However, this monitoring is still in its infancy. The manager has not yet identified and addressed weaknesses in practice in the

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need to do better?

28 September 2021 baby room. This affects the nursery's ability to reach a good standard of quality, overall. n Pre-school children are supported very well to develop positive attitudes to their learning, by experienced and capable staff. Children are set regular challenges and become fully absorbed in making model dinosaurs out of clay. Staff support them very well to develop their awareness of number and count the number of spikes on the back of their models. Children count with accuracy, using numbers up to 10. n Children in the 'Explorers' and 'Investigators' rooms are supported very well to develop their speech. Staff make accurate assessments and know how to identify and target any possible gaps in children's learning. They work in partnership with external services, including speech and language therapy, if required. Staff incorporate strategies to support children into their daily planning, which promotes their good progress.

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need to do better?

n Staff give a high priority to supporting children's early literacy throughout the nursery. They have a clear focus on children developing a love of books. Children thoroughly enjoy listening to stories. For example, pre-school children engage well when stories are read to them. Younger children enjoy picking up wooden spoons with nursery rhyme pictures on them and delight in singing their favourite rhymes. n Partnerships with parents are good. They speak highly of the nursery and praise the nursery staff for the support they give their children. Staff share high levels of information with parents and encourage them to take an active part in the nursery. For example, parents enjoy contributing to the 'community garden'. Children look after the plants as part of their learning in the outdoor environment.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff attend regular safeguarding training to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. They know how to respond to any concern they may have about children in their care. Staff are aware of the procedures to follow if an allegation is made against them and know where to find relevant contact information. They also know the action to take if they are concerned about any inappropriate actions towards children by a colleague. The manager has sound induction procedures in place to ensure that staff, including apprentices, understand their role in keeping children safe.

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Due date

28 September 2021 improve the implementation of the curriculum for children in the baby room to ensure that it meets their needs at all times 30/11/2021

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Due date

ensure that children's good health, including their oral health, is effectively promoted throughout the nursery. 30/10/2021

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should:

n improve monitoring procedures to ensure that all weaknesses in practice in the baby room are effectively identified and addressed.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY555669 Local authority Northumberland Inspection number 10174780 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

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inspection

Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 81 Name of registered person Choice Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0191 250 2221 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Southfield Day Nursery registered in 2018. The nursery employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, nine hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was 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 joined the inspector on a learning walk. She talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what she wanted their children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out joint observations of activities with the manager. n The inspector spoke to children, to find out about their time at the setting. n Parents provided their views online, which the inspector took account of.

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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

28 September 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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