Bridges Nursery and Out Of School Club

Inspection of Bridges Nursery and Out Of School Club Windmill House, St. Cuthberts Road, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear NE8 2EL

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children thoroughly enjoy their time in this welcoming and inclusive environment. Staff greet children with warm interactions and smiles. This helps children to settle quickly, and they show a real eagerness to start their day. Children's behaviour is good. They share, take turns and use their manners with gentle reminders from staff. Staff act as excellent role models. They listen intently to what children have to say and treat them with respect. Children receive an abundance of encouragement and praise, which helps to boost their self-esteem and confidence in their abilities.

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The provision is good

Babies are content and enjoy lots of cuddles from the kind and caring staff. Toddlers relish the challenge of finding toy creatures underneath the bubbly water. They excitedly call out, 'I've found one.' Pre-school children use a variety of resources which help to develop their small-muscle skills and coordination. For example, they have fun while they manipulate dough and concentrate when they use scissors during small craft activities. They identify colours and know what colours they can create if they mix them. Although parents no longer come inside the nursery, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff make sure that they keep them informed. They spend time each day sharing updates and news.

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need to do better?

n The management team provides strong leadership to the well-established and knowledgeable staff team. They all show a real commitment to providing children with the very best opportunities. The manager and staff use their knowledge to plan a selection of exciting and engaging activities across the curriculum. Staff make accurate assessments of children's achievements. Consequently, they know children well and understand their developmental needs and interests. n The manager identifies staff's training needs and professional development opportunities and uses their skills and expertise well across the setting. Staff's well-being is given the highest regard. This results in the team working extremely well together. n Staff's support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is a real strength of the setting. The special educational needs coordinators have a wealth of knowledge and expertise, which they use to determine very quickly if

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need to do better?

there are any gaps in children's learning. They are proactive with the support they offer to parents and gain any additional support from other agencies without delay. This means that children benefit very quickly from targeted support. n The manager has made good use of funding to improve the provision for children who need it. For example, weekly trips to the library provide children

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need to do better?

10 June 2022 with opportunities to develop an awareness of their community and promote a love of books. Equally, weekly visits from a football coach help to enhance children's confidence, self-esteem and physical skills. n Staff promote children's independence well. They encourage children to make choices in their play and they support them to manage personal care needs effectively. This results in children being confident to manage toileting, toothbrushing and handwashing routines. However, on occasions, the daily routines, particularly around lunchtime, do not fully support children to be prepared to finish what they are doing before having to tidy away. n Children enjoy their time outdoors. There is a buzz of activity and lots of lively chatter as children invite their friends to play. They work out their rules together during play. Children develop their smaller physical skills as they use various

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need to do better?

containers to scoop the water and sand into buckets. They develop their larger muscles as they run up and down in the space and slide down the climbing frame. n All children benefit from meals that are healthy and well balanced. Staff ensure that mealtimes are very sociable, and children have ample opportunity to converse with their friends. However, for babies in high chairs, staff do not always sit at their level while feeding them, so their experience is not of the same high quality as for older children. n The manager and staff focus intently on developing children's speech and literacy skills. They frequently use enjoyable songs, rhymes and stories to engage children. Children learn from their clear speech and the repetition of sounds. Staff read stories with enthusiasm, and children snuggle up to them and listen carefully. Staff engage children in meaningful conversations and introduce new words. This helps to support children's communication and language skills.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The management team and staff prioritise safety and well-being at the nursery. All staff know the potential signs that may mean a child is at risk. They can identify when there is a concern about a child's welfare and know what action to take to safeguard them. Staff complete regular training and staff meetings where they can discuss child protection. These contribute to their secure and up-to-date knowledge of how to keep children safe. Staff are vigilant about children's safety and carry out daily checks to ensure the premises and outdoor area are safe. Robust recruitment procedures are followed to help ensure the suitability of those employed to work with children.

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should:

10 June 2022 n review mealtime arrangements for babies who use high chairs so that staff are able to sit at their level and give babies their full attention when talking to them n focus more precisely on preparing children for changes in the daily routine to enable them to complete their chosen tasks before having to tidy away.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 502848 Local authority Gateshead Inspection number 10244165 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 137 Number of children on roll 153 Name of registered person The Bridges Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01914773233 Date of previous inspection 19 December 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Bridges Nursery and Out of School Club registered in 2001. It is situated in Gateshead. The setting employs 20 members of staff. Of these, one holds early years professional status, 17 hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 2 to level 6, and two members of staff are unqualified. The setting opens from 7.30am to 6pm on Monday to Friday, all year round. 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 The inspector carried out a learning walk with the manager and discussed how the curriculum is delivered. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. She spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager. 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 with 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

10 June 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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