Children 1st @ Newark Centre

Inspection of Children 1st @ Newark Centre Martin Foster House, Appletongate, Newark NG24 1JY

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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

All children, including those who speak English as an additional language, make good progress from their starting points in learning. Children are keen to explore and investigate in the well-resourced environment, indoors and outdoors. In the garden, pre-school children enjoy playing games with staff and their peers. They show good hand and eye coordination, when they take it in turns to throw balls into buckets. Staff encourage children to use counters to record how many balls they get into the buckets. This helps them to understand who has the most. Children are supported with their physical skills well. For instance, children in the baby room hold onto staff's hands to help them balance, promoting their safety when they begin to take their first steps. Children take a keen interest in books. They sit with staff to look at images on the pages and learn about different animals, such as a meerkat.

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The provision is good

Children show a positive attitude to learning and celebrate their own achievements. In the baby room, children clap their hands to praise themselves when they post wooden shapes into boxes. Children in the pre-school room smile and give visitors a 'high five' when they stack bricks on top of each other.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff focus the curriculum on supporting children's communication and language skills to help close gaps in their learning. For example, staff attend in-house training, where they extend their knowledge of how to support this aspect of learning. They sing songs with children, use repetitive words and talk to children when they play alongside them. This helps to encourage children's speaking skills. n The manager uses additional funding effectively to broaden children's experiences. For example, some children do not have opportunities to learn outdoors. So, she purchases toys such as binoculars for them to explore the world around them when they play in the garden. Children hold binoculars to their eyes, look at their friends through them and say, 'I can see you.' n Staff help children to develop a sense of belonging in the nursery. For example, children look for photos of themselves on place mats when they sit down for

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need to do better?

meals. They look for their photo on sleep mats, so they know which one is theirs. n Parents comment positively about their children's time in the nursery. They say that their children are learning something new every day. Parents appreciate the support staff give their children, such as to be independent. n Staff encourage children to complete tasks by themselves. For example, children serve themselves food at lunchtime, helping them to manage portion sizes. They pour their own drinks and use cutlery to feed themselves, promoting their self-

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need to do better?

13 March 2023 care skills. n Staff share information with parents about their children's learning. They give them suggestions about how they can continue to support their children's learning at home, such as their speaking skills. This helps to provide a united approach to supporting children's development. n Staff provide children in the pre-school room with regular opportunities to bake. Children listen to staff and follow instructions in a recipe. The nursery cook offers children a healthy range of snacks and meals. However, staff do not support all children to understand the importance of oral health. n Staff give children plenty of praise for their achievements, helping to raise their self-esteem. Children in the toddler room are supported by staff to share, such as when they use tools to use with play dough. Staff model using good manners and children copy, encouraging them to be polite. n The manager supports her staff through, for example, staff and supervision

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need to do better?

meetings. Staff say that they feel supported with their well-being and have opportunities to reflect on their interactions with children. However, occasionally, staff do not encourage children to build further on their learning. For example, when children in the baby room show how they can use rollers to make patterns and imprints on play dough, staff do not help them to build on their skills.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff know the signs and symptoms that may suggest a child is at risk of harm, abuse or radicalisation. They know where to report concerns about children's safety or if they are worried about a colleague's behaviour with children. The manager checks that staff's knowledge of safeguarding is current. Recruitment procedures are robust to ensure that staff are suitable in their roles. Staff carry out safety checks in the environment that helps to maintain safe and secure spaces for children to play. Staff help children to learn how they can keep themselves safe. For example, they remind children to hold onto a low-level banister when they walk down stairs.

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should:

n strengthen staff's knowledge of how to support all children to develop their understanding of the importance of oral health n help staff to strengthen their interactions with children to help build further on their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY481237 Local authority Nottinghamshire County Council Inspection number 10265057 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 68 Number of children on roll 115 Name of registered person Breedon House Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01636706949 Date of previous inspection 23 May 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Children 1st @ Newark Centre registered in 2014 and is situated in Newark, Lincolnshire. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 4, eight at level 3 and one at level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am 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 has 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 the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed how she implements the curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, both indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n Children spoke to the inspector throughout the inspection. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager and area manager. She reviewed relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector.

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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

13 March 2023 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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