The Barn at Riverbank

Inspection of The Barn at Riverbank Spring Riverbank Centre, Gilmour Street, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees TS17 6PF

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

The welcoming and friendly atmosphere, which greets children as they arrive at the nursery, helps children to separate easily from parents. Older children hurry to remove their coats and hang up their bags. Babies readily hold out their arms towards their key person. This shows that children feel exceptionally safe and secure in the nursery.

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The provision is good

Children have a positive attitude to their learning. For example, older children learn to squeeze oranges and lemons. They position the fruit on the juicer, press and twist their wrists. As children watch the juice appear, their faces light up with pride in their achievements. They delight in the very genuine praise they receive from staff and other children.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy the opportunities that the exceptionally well-resourced outdoor environment offers. Children of all ages independently explore their environment with interest and confidence. Older children use their imagination to show their understanding of keeping themselves safe. As children ride bicycles, they pretend to reach traffic lights. They talk about waiting until the light turns green before moving away. Younger children practise their balancing skills as they move themselves across different slopes and levels. They work out to hold on with their arms before lifting their legs onto a higher step.

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The provision is good

Staff are exceptionally caring and nurturing. For example, when babies show they are tired, staff cuddle them in closely. They use comforting tones of voice as they soothe children to sleep.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children's learning very well. They use observations of children at play to make ongoing assessments of children's development. Consequently, they understand children's interests and development needs. For example, staff put furniture in place to enable babies, who are learning to stand, to be able to pull themselves upright. n Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is a key feature of the nursery. The management team and staff work in close partnership with parents and a wide range of other professionals. This ensures that children and their families get the relevant support for their individual needs. n Staff place a high emphasis on developing children's communication and language skills. They know to speak slowly to children and to give children time to think and answer questions. Staff talk to children about what they are doing and introduce new words into children's play. For example, children concentrate

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need to do better?

2 December 2022 intently as staff encourage them to smell 'cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg'. Children excitedly talk about these as being 'the smells of Christmas'. n Parents speak very highly of the nursery. They praise the management team and staff for going 'above and beyond' in the support given to parents. Parents feel fully included in their children's learning. They appreciate the home-from- home environment the nursery offers and the progress children are making in their development. n Staff promote children's love of books exceptionally well. They use different tones of voice and encourage children to ask questions about the stories they are reading. Children visit the nearby library where they take part in songs, rhymes and stories. This enables children to build relationships with adults and children outside of their immediate family and friends. n The management team and staff ensure that additional funding, such as early

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need to do better?

years pupil premium, is used effectively to promote the well-being and learning of children. For example, staff follow children's interests and purchase role-play items. This helps children to feel settled and confident in the nursery. n Staff are proud to work in this nursery. Managers and staff work together as a tight-knit team. Their high aspirations for children to achieve to the best of their abilities is at the centre of everything they do. This is reflected in the enthusiasm for learning that is shown by children of all ages. n Overall, children behave very well. Older children happily share resources as they invite other children into their play. Staff skilfully support younger children to learn to share. However, some parts of the daily routines are not organised as well as possible, to fully support children's learning. For example, children can become bored and distracted when waiting for snack and lunch.

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need to do better?

n Older children know to wash their hands before eating. Staff teach younger children to dry their hands properly after washing with soap and water. However, some hygiene practices, such as ensuring children only touch food they are going to eat, are not always consistent across the nursery.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good understanding of the procedures to follow to ensure the welfare of children in their care. The management team ensures all staff attend regular safeguarding training and are kept up to date with current safeguarding legislation. Staff know there is a whistle-blowing policy in place and understand what to do should they have concerns about the conduct of a colleague. Rigorous and robust recruitment procedures are in place. Thorough performance management systems help the manager to identify any training needs and review the quality of practice.

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should:

2 December 2022 n review some parts of the daily routines to maximise learning for all children n enhance staff's practice to ensure children develop a greater understanding of keeping themselves healthy.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2604558 Local authority Stockton-on-Tees Inspection number 10251654 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 62 Name of registered person The Barn Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01642 587781 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Barn at Riverbank registered in 2020 and is situated in Thornaby, near Stockton-on-Tees. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, 13 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens all year round, from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. 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 and inspector carried out a learning walk. This helped the inspector to understand how they organise the early years provision and the curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact of this on children's learning. n A joint observation was carried out with the manager. n The inspector spoke with children, parents and staff during the inspection. She also took into account written feedback from parents. n The inspector looked at various documents, including those related to the suitability and qualifications of staff and records of children's learning.

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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

2 December 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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