Barnwell Academy

Inspection of Barnwell Academy Barnwell School, Whitefield Estate, New Penshaw, HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING, Tyne and Wear DH4 7RT

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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

Children are very happy and settled at this welcoming nursery. They show that they feel secure in the care of the nurturing staff. Children benefit greatly from a range of exciting and challenging experiences. For example, they use a variety of brushes and paint rollers to make marks with water during play outside. This helps to develop children's larger muscles, balance, and coordination in preparation for later tasks, such as early writing. Children use their senses as they roll and shape dough to identify scents that staff have added to the mixture. There is superb support for children's physical development. Children navigate wheelbarrows along winding paths in the nursery garden. They use their whole bodies as they climb up steps and slopes and slide back down.

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The provision is outstanding

Children's behaviour is excellent. They are encouraged to be respectful, take turns and help others. Staff are excellent role models, who have high expectations of all the children in their care. New children settle quickly and grow rapidly in confidence and independence. For example, young children are encouraged to learn how to use cutlery and drink from beakers from an early age. Children show great enthusiasm for the experiences on offer and are highly motivated to learn.

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need to do better?

n Children benefit from a robust curriculum that covers all areas of learning. The manager and staff have a deep understanding of what children know and can do. They understand how to embed this and extend children's learning further. The manager is inspirational and has a very strong vision for the nursery. She has very high standards and supports staff exceptionally well. n The manager and staff work closely with other professionals who support children. For example, the manager meets weekly with the reception teacher, from the nearby school, to help plan experiences that support progression for children. Together, they have put in place a highly detailed plan to help children understand counting and number. They work closely together to help provide consistent support for children as they move on to school. There is very strong support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff work

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need to do better?

closely with health visitors and other health professionals to help identify where children might need extra support. n Parents speak highly of staff and the quality of education and care they provide. They comment that they feel informed about their child's day. The manager and staff work hard to involve parents in their children's learning. For example, staff provide paper bags for parents and children to take home and fill with natural objects found during autumn walks. Children are encouraged to bring these back to nursery to show and share with their friends. Staff put on fun events to encourage parents to share stories with their children at bedtime.

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need to do better?

3 November 2021 n Staff are highly skilled and well qualified. They have superb relationships with the children and know them individually very well. Support for children aged under two is exceptional. Staff have a deep understanding of how young children develop and plan fun activities to support their future learning. For example, they move teddy bears around to teach children language, such as 'up, down and side'. They cover the teddies with scarves and play peekaboo. This helps children understand things can still be there even though they cannot always see them. The children are delighted by this. They have formed very strong bonds with staff and are eager to learn. n Staff provide excellent opportunities for children to access fresh air and exercise. Children learn directly about nature as they grow carrots, cauliflowers and onions in the nursery's vegetable plot. Children learn first-hand about the natural

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need to do better?

world. They compare the colours and patterns on leaves they have gathered. Staff encourage children to carefully handle insects they find during their play. These nurturing experiences contribute highly to children's personal development and emotional well-being. n Support for children's developing communication and language skills is of very high priority. Children learn new words, such as 'scrunch' and 'crunchy', as they explore with leaves. Staff teach them new names for creatures, such as 'woodlouse'. Staff write down the new words children say and display them for parents to see. This helps promote children's self-esteem. Staff provide children with rich opportunities to learn about language through stories, songs and rhymes.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff have an excellent understanding of their responsibilities around keeping children safe. All staff attend training to keep themselves up to date with procedures to protect children. They know very well how to identify any concerns about children or staff, what procedures to take and who to contact. Children have rich opportunities to learn how to keep themselves safe and healthy. For example, staff teach them to take turns safely when playing on the slide and to wash their hands before they eat.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY477912 Local authority Sunderland Inspection number 10131630 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 74 Name of registered person Barnwell Academy Trust

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reference number

Telephone number 0191 553 6584 Date of previous inspection 5 July 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Barnwell Academy registered in 2014. The nursery employs 11 members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or higher, including one with early years professional status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery supports a number of children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery, received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The manager discussed with the inspector how the nursery organises and plans the curriculum and experiences for children. The inspector viewed the inside and outside space used by the nursery. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities and assessed the impact on children's learning. The manager and the inspector evaluated an activity together. n The inspector looked at a sample of the nursery's documents. This included evidence of training and suitability of staff. n The inspector held discussions with the manager and staff. She spoke to a number of parents to gather their views on the nursery and took into account the written views of others.

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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

3 November 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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