Southlands Creche

Inspection of Southlands Creche St. Margarets C of E Junior School, Knutton Road, NEWCASTLE, Staffordshire ST5 0HU

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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 are well cared for in this nurturing and homely environment. They receive lots of cuddles and reassurance throughout their day. This helps them to build strong attachments with their key person. During play, children seek out staff members to share their experiences. For example, children express sheer delight in jumping in puddles and getting wet. They share their enjoyment with staff as they hold their hands beckoning them to join in.

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The provision is good

The setting boasts a wealth of outdoor learning opportunities for the children. Children go out on trips every day. They explore the local community and the wider world that we live in. While out on trips, the children follow instructions and learn how to keep themselves safe. The setting offers swimming lessons, yoga and dance. These experiences encourage healthy lifestyle choices and support children to develop their physical strength.

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The provision is good

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported. Staff use regular assessments to help identify when children need additional help. They are competent in making referrals and work well with external agencies. Parents are well informed and work very closely with the setting to help promote the best possible outcomes for children.

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need to do better?

n Children are happy and excited throughout their day. They thoroughly enjoy their learning environment. Children have a good range of age- and stage- appropriate activities to explore, both indoors and outdoors. Routines are well embedded. Children know to wash their hands before dinner time and do so independently. Children behave incredibly well, especially at dinner time. Younger children sit at the table and engage in singing familiar songs about farm animals while they wait for their dinner. Older children enjoy the responsibility of serving dinner to their friends. n Children enjoy a sensory activity based on a familiar book. Staff read the story as children explore the inviting resources on offer. Children explore the different textures and smells of herbs, chocolate, mud, water and cotton wool. Staff pause the story at different intervals to invite conversations from the children. For example, staff read 'We can't go through it, we can't go over it, we have

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need to do better?

to…' and children complete the sentence and declare 'go through it'. This shows children are familiar with the story and can use prior knowledge appropriately. However, during group activities, some children are easily distracted by other experiences on offer, quickly loose interest and move away. n Children laugh and giggle as they play with logs and dinosaurs. They stack up the small logs and make stands for the dinosaurs. Staff support learning by

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need to do better?

15 November 2022 handing over more logs to make a bigger tower. Children delight in watching the log towers fall as they place the dinosaurs on top. However, occasionally, staff miss opportunities to adapt their teaching and extend children's learning experiences even further. n Children develop confidence and self-esteem and are motivated to learn. They thoroughly enjoy completing jigsaw puzzles. They concentrate and work out how to manoeuvre each piece into the correct position. Once they complete jigsaws of a certain number, they are then challenged with jigsaws that have more pieces. Children are happy with their achievements and declare 'yes, I've done it'. They share their excitement with staff and visitors. n Parents are very happy with their children's learning and development and explain that they appreciate the varied trips that their children go on. They feel well supported by the staff and key persons to continue to promote their

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need to do better?

children's learning at home. Parents comment about their children thriving in this loving and caring environment. They say that the setting is very flexible and considers the needs of the parents as well as their children. n Leaders and managers are passionate about the care and service that they provide. Staff's well-being is paramount and they are offered a wide variety of experiences to boost morale, including yoga sessions and a counselling service. Staff report that they are happy and feel at home at the setting. This contributes to an extremely low turnover of staff.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff are competent in identifying the different signs and symptoms of abuse. They know who to contact if they are concerned about the welfare of a child in their care and how to report concerns if they are worried about the conduct of other staff members. Regular risk assessments are carried out and steps taken to ensure the premises remain safe and secure. The manager follows robust recruitment procedures, and ensures the ongoing suitability of the staff working at the setting.

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should:

n enhance the organisation of group activities and tasks to enable children to fully engage in experiences n support staff to raise their expectations and adapt their teaching to enrich experiences that continually build on children's learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 218489 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10233573 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 26 Number of children on roll 40 Name of registered person Southlands Nurseries Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01782 714465 Date of previous inspection 25 January 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Southlands Creche registered in 1991. The setting employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or 4, including one with early years professional status. The setting opens from Monday to Friday for 49 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7.35am until 5.45pm. The setting provides funded early education for two- and three-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 and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the manager about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager.

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Inspection activities

n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

15 November 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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