Little Cygnets Childcare Ltd

Inspection of Little Cygnets Childcare Ltd North Tyneside Council, White Swan Centre, Citadel East, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NE12 6SS

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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

Relationships between children and staff are superb at this very welcoming and inclusive setting. Staff provide outstanding support for children's personal, social and emotional development. For example, they support children to display their own artwork on boards to help them express themselves and celebrate their own achievements. Staff gently remind children of the rules of the setting. For example, children know to have 'kind hands' and 'listening ears' and to use 'kind words'. Staff provide excellent support for children to take turns as they play circle games. Children happily share cutters and rollers as they explore with dough. Staff explain to children the reasons for behaviour and what they are being praised for. They support children to be helpful and use their manners. Behaviour is excellent.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are very happy, settled and secure. Managers check that children are settled and that new parents are happy through arrangements such as settling-in questionnaires. Parents say their children settle very quickly when starting at the setting. There is excellent support for children's growing independence. For example, children use 'self-help stations' to get their own tissues and clean their hands independently. Children are extremely enthusiastic and motivated to learn as they engage fully in the wide range of challenging and exciting activities and experiences.

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need to do better?

n Staff are very calm, respectful and kind. Where possible, children retain the same key person throughout their time at the setting and have the same key person as their siblings. This helps them to form strong bonds with staff and ensures staff know their children and families exceptionally well. n Staff have an excellent understanding of what children already know, understand and can do. They regularly capture children's current interests and experiences at home, and use this information expertly to help plan activities to embed and extend children's learning further. For example, information staff normally gather about children when they start at nursery is updated every holiday or after any period of absence. This means staff know precisely where children are in their development. n There is outstanding support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. All staff are trained in using techniques, including sign language.

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need to do better?

They use this to help support children's flourishing communication and language skills. Staff also use visual prompts for daily activities and timetables, to further support children's understanding. Great consideration is given to including all children on outings. For instance, a wagon is used to transport groups of children and ensures full entitlement to the curriculum. n Staff work very closely with partner professionals in education and health, who

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need to do better?

27 April 2022 are also involved in children's learning. They are dedicated and work hard to implement agreed strategies and activities. This helps to provide a consistent approach to support for children. n Staff plan outstanding support for children's physical development. Children develop their coordination as they prod, pat and pinch dough. They use a variety of tools such as wooden pegs, sticks and mallets. Babies develop their senses by exploring tactile objects, such as loofahs, brushes and sponges. n All children benefit from daily fresh air and exercise. Managers plan very well- balanced, nutritious meals. Staff provide parents with healthy lunch box ideas. Older children stretch and jump during daily 'wake up, shake up' sessions. This helps them to strengthen their muscles and develop their balance. n Children are highly motivated, enthusiastic and eager to learn. They have superb opportunities to learn about the wider world around them. For example, they go

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need to do better?

on trips planned by staff to the park and beach, where they enjoy taking photographs. Staff use these in displays at the setting. Children feed ducks at a local lake and enjoy storytelling sessions at the library. They buy fruit from local shops to eat back at the setting. n Feedback from parents is excellent. Parents say how happy their children are and praise the high rates of progress they make. Many praise the highly robust systems in place for communication. They say that they feel very well informed about their children's learning. n Leadership and management is outstanding. Managers are very well organised and provide excellent support for their staff team, including staff well-being. Managers are trained in support for mental health. There is a very strong focus on professional development. For example, each member of staff has an annual development plan to help focus improvements in practice.

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need to do better?

n Managers and staff are very reflective and think deeply about experiences for children. Very robust systems are in place for gathering the views of parents. For example, staff use focused questionnaires to gather parents' opinions about open days and regular 'meet and greet' events. Managers and staff are committed to their work and passionate about continuously improving the service they provide.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers have an excellent understanding of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding. Staff know what might concern them about a child's welfare and the procedures to follow in order to keep children safe. Managers and staff keep themselves up to date with changes in legislation and broader aspects of safeguarding through regular training events. All staff hold a current first-aid certificate. They have a very strong awareness of how to keep children safe and healthy. For example, staff teach children to walk rather than run inside so they do not trip or fall.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY492757 Local authority North Tyneside Inspection number 10213166 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 37 Number of children on roll 74 Name of registered person Little Cygnets Childcare Ltd.

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reference number

Telephone number 07961536540 Date of previous inspection 3 August 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Little Cygnets Childcare Ltd registered in 2015 and is situated in Killingworth, Newcastle upon Tyne. The nursery employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, nine hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 6pm, for 50 weeks of the year. It 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 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 Managers discussed with the inspector how the setting organises and plans the curriculum and experiences for children. The inspector viewed the inside and outside space used by the setting. 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 setting's documents. This included evidence of training and the suitability of staff. n The inspector held discussions with the managers and staff. She spoke to a number of parents to gather their views on the setting 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

27 April 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.

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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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