The Cleveland Unit

Inspection of The Cleveland Unit Hemlington Initiative Centre, Cass House Road, Hemlington, Middlesbrough TS8 9QW

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is outstanding

The Cleveland Unit is for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Every child receives personalised care, specifically focused on their individual and complex needs, including medical needs. The nursery has recently extended the admissions policy to include children that may benefit from short-term intensive assessments. The excellent and exceptionally stimulating provision is matched by the outstanding quality of teaching. All children are given a rich and varied range of learning experiences, specifically tailored to support and enhance their development. For example, staff know how to position non-ambulant children to ensure they are comfortable and safe, while enabling them to practise a range of movements. Staff stimulate children's eye control as they encourage them to reach out to their reflection in mirrors. Staff place fine fabric over the mirrors to inspire children to

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The provision is outstanding

use their muscles as they try to grasp the fabric.

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The provision is outstanding

The management team and staff are passionate about their work and absolutely dedicated to giving children the very best possible care and learning opportunities. Staff are especially nurturing and caring. They recognise when children need extra help and act immediately with support and guidance. For example, staff know when children put their hands over their ears to take them to a quiet space. This prevents children from becoming distressed and enhances their feeling of being safe and secure in the nursery.

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need to do better?

n All staff have high, but realistic, expectations of what every child can achieve, both immediately and in the longer term. This specifically includes children's personal and social development. For example, staff encourage children's awareness of other children and adults around them. They organise the environment so group activities and routines, such as lunch and snack, enable children, including those in specially adapted seats, to be together. n Partnership working with the wide variety of professionals associated with children and their families is exemplary. The management team and staff are involved in developing the very detailed care and education plans specific to each child's learning requirements. They reflect on a daily basis what children have learned and what is needed to enable further learning the following day. In this way, children's development is constantly monitored, extended and

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need to do better?

celebrated. n The praise staff give for children's achievements is evident in the delight on children's faces. This significantly contributes to children's enjoyment and enthusiasm for the activities they are engaged in. For example, some children have specifically developed massage sessions. Staff use different tactile

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need to do better?

9 December 2022 materials, movements and music to strengthen children's sensory development. This heightens children's awareness of their movements and enhances children's ability to regulate their actions. n Staff have embraced new technology to further support and boost children's development. For example, they use eye-gaze resources to teach children to use their eyes as a means of communicating. Children show enthusiasm as they try to imitate the different sounds they are hearing. Staff understand that when children bang their hands on the table it means they want to play the game again. n Children's independence and physical development are exceptionally well supported by experienced and knowledgeable staff. For example, staff reorganise the nursery furniture for children who are just beginning to take their first steps. This gives children the confidence to move through the spaces, secure in the knowledge they will not fall. Other children develop their core skills

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need to do better?

and balance as staff help them to sit upright and gently bounce on specially adapted equipment. n Staff are exceptionally skilled at enhancing children's communication techniques. For example, at snack time, they encourage children to point to the foods they wish to eat. They use pictures of foods to further encourage children's understanding of choice. Staff support some children to drink from beakers. They discuss how this enables children's facial muscles to develop, which, in time, will enable children to extend their range of sounds. n Parents are exceptionally complimentary about the nursery. They say the nursery is 'brilliant'. Parents are especially appreciative of the involvement of staff in their lives. They particularly value the help given by the nursery when meeting with other professionals. Parents relish the videos and photographs staff regularly share with them. n The nursery is led exceptionally well by an inspirational management team,

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need to do better?

which continually strives for excellence. Staff access a wealth of training to consistently enhance their knowledge. For example, staff are presently undergoing tracheotomy training. This will ensure that as many children as possible will have access to this exceptional nursery.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The management team and staff ensure children feel safe and secure in the nursery. They visit children in their homes prior to children beginning at the nursery. This means staff have a good understanding of children's individual needs and their development. Staff adapt the environment and ensure the correct equipment is in place for individual children. The management team ensure staff are fully trained on the use of equipment for the medical conditions of individual children. Staff confidently discuss the signs and symptoms of abuse and know who to contact if they have concerns about the welfare of a child. Robust recruitment procedures are in place to ensure only those suitable to work with children do so.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2611030 Local authority Middlesbrough Inspection number 10262829 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 12 Name of registered person Middlesbrough Borough Council

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reference number

Telephone number 01642728480 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Cleveland Unit registered in 2020. It is based in the Hemlington area of Middlesbrough. The unit employs eight members of staff. Of these, four hold qualifications at level 6, including one member of staff with qualified teacher status, two with level 4, one with level 3 and one unqualified. The unit opens Monday to Friday, from 9am to 3pm, term time only. 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 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 and assessed the impact of this on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with parents and staff during the inspection and interacted with children. 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

9 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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