Hippitots Limited

Inspection of Hippitots Limited Hippitots, The Tarka Centre, Commercial Road West, Coxhoe, Durham, County Durham DH6 4HJ

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children thrive in this family-orientated nursery. Babies benefit from a small home- from-home environment, where staff focus on babies' individual care and learning needs. For example, staff gather detailed information from parents when they arrive. If babies arrive tired, they adapt their routine to provide opportunities for extended sleep. Children are very happy in the nursery. Older children thoroughly enjoy making 'cement' and building a museum outside. Two-year-old children demonstrate they are happy as they talk confidently to staff as they turn a cardboard box into a bus. Parents comment that their children are very happy in the nursery. Children behave well. They are polite and well mannered. At mealtimes, children say please and thank you. Three-year-old children politely ask older children for help with the masking tape. They remember to thank children for their help.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for children's achievement. Older children learn to write their name in preparation for school. They demonstrate an in-depth understanding of books, including an understanding that text is read from left to right and from top to bottom. Children are safe in the setting. Staff ensure that all children have suntan lotion on before going outside. Older children learn to negotiate stairs safely as they go out to play in the garden.

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need to do better?

n Staff have thought carefully about the order in which children develop skills. An example of this is at lunchtime, when there is a clear progression throughout the nursery in the skills that children develop. For instance, babies begin to feed themselves with a spoon while older children serve themselves meals. n Children are, generally, engaged in their learning. Older children thoroughly enjoy building their village. They concentrate well as they build a doctor's surgery and pizza shops from blocks. They explore how effective masking tape is at holding blocks together. Staff support children's learning effectively. They give suggestions about how they can extend play and ask thought-provoking questions for children to express their thoughts and ideas. n Staff know children well and plan activities to support their interests. During the inspection, staff build on two-year-old children's interest in treasure. They bury

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need to do better?

treasure and explore it together to help children develop concentration. n Children concentrate well, overall. For example, two-year-old children are deeply engaged as they explore the feel of sand. They watch intently as it flows through the holes of plant pots. However, there are occasions, particularly during large-group time activities, when a small number of children lose concentration. n Staff work well with a range of professionals. They have very strong working

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need to do better?

23 June 2022 relationships with schools to support children as they move on to reception classes. They talk to schools before and after children move to ensure they prepare children effectively, building on any suggestions for the next year. They liaise with professionals from health to identify ways that they can best support children and their families. n Staff have a well-thought-out curriculum. They know what they want children to learn, and plan activities to develop this further. They adapt the activities to support the different learning needs of individual children. For example, pre- school staff give younger children suggestions about what they can use in the construction area, while other children follow their own ideas. n Staff say that they are very well supported. They access a range of training to strengthen their knowledge further. They feel the team is open, welcoming and supportive. This means that they share good practice with each other and ask

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need to do better?

for advice to strengthen practice further. However, although the managers spend time in rooms to monitor staff practice, this is not yet sufficiently thorough enough. They do not identify and swiftly address the minor inconsistencies in staff practice. n Children learn how they can keep themselves healthy. For example, they have plenty of fresh air and enjoy healthy, balanced meals. Staff teach children the importance of washing their hands before eating and after playing outside. They talk about how they can keep themselves safe in the sun.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff have a good understanding of the signs and symptoms that may indicate that a child is subjected to abuse. They know who to contact if they have concerns about a children's welfare. The manager and provider ensure that staff access a wide range of training relating to safeguarding, including child exploitation. There are good procedures in place to keep children safe. For example, all doors and gates are secure. Staff are able to check who is at the gate or door before allowing access.

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should:

n strengthen supervision sessions and monitoring procedures to swiftly identify and address the minor inconsistencies in staff practice n help children to maintain high levels of engagement throughout the routines, particularly during group activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY233891 Local authority Durham Inspection number 10117611 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 48 Number of children on roll 73 Name of registered person Hippitots Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0191 3773759 Date of previous inspection 18 June 2014

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Information about this early years setting

Hippitots Limited registered in 2002. It is situated in the centre of Coxhoe. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, 11 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one with early years professional status. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, all year round, from 8am 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 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 showed the inspector around the nursery. She discussed with the inspector how the curriculum and the experiences for children are planned. The inspector viewed the inside and outside areas used by the nursery. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. The early years professional and the inspector evaluated an activity together. n The inspector looked at a sample of the nursery's documents, including evidence of training and the suitability of staff. n The manager explained how she manages the nursery and discussed safeguarding with the inspector. n Parents spoke to the inspector to provide their views on the nursery.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector spoke to children and staff as part of the inspection.

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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

23 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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