Shotley Bridge Nursery School Limited

Inspection of Shotley Bridge Nursery School Limited 36-38 Derwent Street, Consett, County Durham DH8 8LY

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

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

p.1

The provision is good

Staff provide a wide range of inviting play spaces, that invoke children's curiosity and ignite their imaginations. Children are remarkably focused during their independent play. They work together with their friends, test out their own ideas and find new ways to do things. For example, pre-school children use pasta to represent candles for a birthday cake they make with dough.

p.2

The provision is good

Children are confident and play happily, showing that they feel safe and at ease in nursery. Staff know children well and understand what they want them to learn. They provide appropriately challenging activities, that help children to learn more and remember more. Staff add a tyre to the climbing frame to encourage babies to further develop their physical skills. Toddlers learn new words quickly, joining in with familiar parts of songs and stories. Older children demonstrate excellent listening and attention skills, and follow instructions well. They enjoy pretending to be rabbits, moving in different ways to escape the 'farmer' during a group game. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities benefit from focused time with key adults. This helps to ensure that they benefit as fully as possible from the well-organised curriculum.

p.2

need to do better?

n Managers clearly articulate a curriculum that is centred around children's natural instincts to play, explore and investigate. Staff implement this well, providing appealing and exciting activities, that children are extremely keen to take part in. n Overall, staff ensure that the curriculum is broad and covers all areas of learning. Children's highly positive attitudes and eagerness to learn mean they benefit extremely well from staff's good quality teaching. However, staff do not always use opportunities that arise naturally during play and routines to develop children's mathematical understanding to the highest levels. n Teaching is consistently good and, at times, highly effective. However, at times, staff are not able to maintain their skilful interactions with children. Housekeeping duties sometimes distract their attention away from children and interrupt their good teaching. Despite this, children remain engaged in

p.2

need to do better?

purposeful play. n Staff are particularly skilled at supporting children's communication skills. They engage children in conversations and discussions, modelling new and rich language. Staff ask pertinent questions that encourage children to think, describe and share what they know. Children are highly articulate and confident speakers. n Children's health is well supported. They grow their own fruit and vegetables in the nursery garden. Staff and parents report that this has encouraged children

p.2

need to do better?

6 May 2022 to make healthier food choices and to try new foods. Staff help children to take part in regular exercise. For example, they enjoy regular running sessions, which they refer to as 'bouncing bridges'. n Staff teach children to have 'kind hearts, kind words and kind thoughts' during relaxation sessions. This contributes to the remarkable respect and consideration that children show to one another. n Daily routines, such as lunchtimes and transitions between rooms or activities, are very well organised. Staff's expectations and boundaries for children are extremely clear and consistent. Children's behaviour is exemplary. n Managers continue to build on their effective arrangements for coaching and mentoring staff. They involve staff in decision making and value their contributions. Staff morale is high. They discuss how much they enjoy their role and appreciate the high level of support which they receive from leaders.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff carry out independent research related to their role. For example, staff with a lead responsibility for behaviour management read articles about how to support children to resolve conflicts. They share their findings with colleagues, which helps to ensure that professional development has a positive impact across the nursery. n Key-person arrangements support children well. Key staff are allocated to care for children according to who naturally develops a relationship with them. This helps children to feel safe and secure. Parents report that communication from staff is excellent and that children 'idolise' their key person. n Staff encourage children to identify risks and teach them to keep themselves safe. For example, with support and reassurance, children climb on high structures outdoors. They carefully work out where to put their feet when balancing along the rungs of a ladder.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Managers' knowledge of safeguarding is secure and up to date. They ensure that staff understand their responsibilities to protect children, for example, through regular training and sharing information during meetings. Staff know how to identify children who may be at risk of harm or neglect. They know what to do if they are worried about a child's welfare. Managers have robust arrangements for recruitment to help ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Staff hold paediatric first-aid qualifications and deal with accidents effectively. Staff carry out regular checks on the premises and equipment to keep children safe in nursery.

p.3

should:

n extend opportunities for children to deepen their already very good

p.3

should:

6 May 2022 understanding of mathematics during play and routines to the highest levels n review staff's duties, particularly in the baby room, to minimise the disruptions to their quality interactions with children and raise teaching to outstanding levels.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY491369 Local authority Durham Inspection number 10216337 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.5

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 98 Number of children on roll 117 Name of registered person Shotley Bridge Nursery School Limited

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 01207 581700 Date of previous inspection 2 August 2016

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Shotley Bridge Nursery School Limited registered in August 2015 and is located in Consett, County Durham. The nursery employs 22 members of childcare staff. Of these, 18 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. Two staff hold a level 6 qualification and one is a qualified teacher. The nursery operates all year round from 7.30am until 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.5

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting has received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with managers and staff, and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the setting. n The manager showed the inspector around the nursery. She discussed how the nursery is organised and talked about the early years curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n Managers met with the inspector to discuss the leadership and management of the setting. The inspector looked at relevant documents provided, including evidence of the suitability checks carried out on staff and relevant policies and procedures. n The inspector completed a joint observation of an activity with the nursery manager. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. She also spoke to a number of parents and took account of their

p.6

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.

p.6

Inspection activities

6 May 2022 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.

p.6

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.7

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7