Little Gems of The Sea

Inspection of Little Gems of The Sea Star of the Sea Primary School, Seatonville Road, WHITLEY BAY, Tyne and Wear NE25 9EG

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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 thrive in this caring nursery, where children and families are treated as one big family. Staff recognise that every child is special in their own right and the ethos of the nursery builds on this. Children are very happy in the nursery. They develop a good relationship with their key person and other staff. For example, three-year-old children thoroughly enjoy playing with shaving foam. They laugh and giggle as they clap hands together to cover their key person with foam. Parents say their children are very happy in the nursery. They feel that staff are very caring and approachable. Children are safe in the nursery. Staff supervise them well as they move around the nursery or go outside into the yard.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for children's learning. For example, they place a strong focus on developing children's literacy skills. Children develop a love of books. Older children enjoy picking books for staff to read. Staff read stories with good expression. Children listen with enthusiasm. Older children talk about the illustrations and join with key words and phrases. Children behave well. They respond quickly when staff remind them of their expectations. This is evident when they quickly get down off chairs when staff remind them.

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need to do better?

n Staff have thought carefully about the organisation of the learning environment. This is set up to support the seven areas of learning. Staff have a clear understanding of what they want children to learn, which underpins the organisation. For example, staff working with babies put out books and pictures of farm animals, as well as a farm, to support children to learn animal noises. n Staff working with babies have a good understanding of how they learn. They have a good understanding of children's interests and stage of development. For example, they use stacking beakers to help babies to develop their grasp and coordination. This helps babies to make good progress. n Staff teach children how to keep themselves healthy. For example, they consistently remind children to wash their hands after going to the toilet or blowing their noses. All children, including babies, wash their hands before eating. Staff provide healthy meals and snacks, such as fruit and milk. Children

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need to do better?

enjoy time outside as they use the school yard to run off energy. n Staff support children's communication and language effectively. There is a strong emphasis on singing and books in the nursery. From an early age, children join in with the actions and refrains of well-known songs. Staff introduce songs as they play alongside children and children confidently join in. Toddlers sit on their key person's knee and use puppets to join in with songs. This helps to support their language development. n Staff have a good attitude to working in partnership with parents and the local

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need to do better?

21 December 2022 school. They talk about what children are doing and find out information about how they can support children further. For example, staff are currently building on children's learning in the adjacent nursery and helping older children to develop their early writing skills. n The nursery staff have a good attitude to professional development. They attend a range of training to strengthen their practice further. For example, staff have recently evaluated their practice following training on aspects of behaviour, such as biting. This has had a positive impact and has reduced incidents in the nursery. n Staff have a clear routine, which children know and follow. For example, children anticipate snack time or story time. However, there are some aspects of the routine, such as group times, which do not support children to concentrate. For example, older children are sometimes distracted by younger children singing at

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need to do better?

group time. This impacts on their concentration. n Staff have a range of equipment to develop children's physical skills, such as slides and scooters. However, staff have not yet thought enough about the order in which children develop their skills in physical development. The curriculum is not sufficiently well sequenced to ensure that children continue to develop their skills in this area. For example, staff have not thought about how they can provide sufficient challenge for older children.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and her staff have a strong understanding of how they can keep children safe. The manager and provider ensure that staff undertake a range of training to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. Staff talk confidently about the signs that suggest a child may be at risk of abuse. They know who to contact if they had a concern about a child. The manager and staff check the area thoroughly to make sure that children are safe. For example, they lock doors into the setting to prevent unauthorised people entering. Staff supervise children carefully, for instance, outside to ensure that they are safe.

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should:

n ensure that children are able to maintain high levels of concentration, particularly at group times n review the curriculum for physical development to make sure that older children's skills continue to develop.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY407920 Local authority North Tyneside Inspection number 10263757 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 24 Number of children on roll 36 Name of registered person McEntee, Gemma Louise

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reference number

Telephone number 07500 116 133 Date of previous inspection 11 May 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Little Gems of The Sea registered in 2010 and is located in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The nursery opens all year round from 7.30am to 5.30pm on Monday and Friday, and from 7.30am to 6pm on Tuesday to Thursday, except for Christmas and bank holidays. 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 showed the inspector around the nursery and explained how the curriculum is organised. n The inspector spoke to children and staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The manager evaluated an activity with the inspector. n The inspector observed children playing and evaluated the impact of staff's interactions on children's learning. n Parents spoke to the inspector and shared their views on the nursery. n The manager and the provider shared how they manage the nursery and keep children safe. n The inspector viewed a range of documents, including those relating to staff's suitability.

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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

21 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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