Castle Nurseries at Rye Hill

Inspection of Castle Nurseries at Rye Hill Rye Hill Nursery, Colby Court, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear NE4 6HL

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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 enjoy their time at the warm, welcoming and inclusive nursery and have plenty of fun. They delight in a wealth of opportunities to explore natural materials, for example spaghetti mixed with jelly, using all of their senses. Babies are gleeful and try to blow bubbles when playing with soapy water. Staff supervise children closely to ensure that they are safe while they explore and investigate the environment. They change and add resources as children learn and develop. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language, make good progress.

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The provision is good

There are strong bonds between staff and children. Caring staff tailor settling-in arrangements to suit individual children and families. Children's emotional well- being is prioritised. Staff know children very well and use this information to provide a range of activities to prepare for the next stage of children's learning. For example, staff use signs and pictures to help children understand what to expect next in their daily routines. In the baby room, very young children help to gather together toys, while older children learn to put these in the correct places. Children are settled, happy and confident. They behave well relative to their ages and respond positively to boundaries set by staff.

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need to do better?

n The manager and her deputy are dedicated to providing high-quality support for families. They continuously reflect, with their committed staff team, on ways to make improvements to children's experiences. For example, the manager plans to strengthen the teaching of mathematics even further. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents value the help of staff to promote children's learning and development at home, for instance, when toilet training. They welcome advice, such as on weaning and oral health. n Managers prioritise the development of children's communication and language skills throughout the nursery. Staff provide a running commentary for children's play and give children time to think and answer questions. They introduce new vocabulary and phrases, such as 'X marks the spot', during activities about pirates. n Children learn to care for themselves. They wash their hands before eating and

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need to do better?

put on their coats and shoes. They help their friends, for instance, by pouring water for them to drink. However, during some routines, such as lunchtime, older children are not fully involved in tasks they could easily take part in, and they become distracted. In addition, opportunities to extend children's social skills are sometimes missed. n Managers and staff work closely in partnership with other professionals to identify and address any gaps in children's learning. They are proactive in

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need to do better?

21 March 2023 seeking early help for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, so that they make good progress from their starting points. n Children enjoy running vigorously in open spaces outdoors. They benefit from regular fresh air and exercise. Indoors, babies and young children climb on soft blocks. This supports their good physical development. However, the outdoor curriculum is less well developed than for indoors. For example, on occasion, staff do not build and extend on children's learning during activities outside. n Children practise early literacy skills as they listen to songs and share books with adults in cosy storytelling dens. They show an interest in the printed word when they follow clues to hunt down the box of treasure. There are many opportunities for children to make marks, such as making a large 'X' to indicate where to find treasure on their maps. n Managers work hard to support staff well-being. They listen and encourage

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need to do better?

experienced staff to share their knowledge with each other. In addition, there are formal arrangements for purposeful supervision. n Children learn about the similarities and differences between themselves and others. One example of this is when they visited Chinatown and sampled food during Chinese New Year celebrations. Staff use meaningful words in children's home languages to help them feel a sense of belonging at the nursery. n Managers organise visits by, for example, members of the local fire brigade and dentists. This helps children find out about people who help them. Children learn about their wider community, such as when they visit local museums.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The managers and staff have a robust understanding of their roles in safeguarding all children in their care. All staff regularly and thoroughly update their knowledge of child protection through wide-ranging training. The manager and her deputy are confident of what actions to take should there be concerns about a child's welfare. They follow safer recruitment procedures and take steps to ensure the ongoing suitability of staff. Staff know what procedures to follow if there are any concerns about a child or another adult. They are vigilant in assessing any risks in the environment and activities to keep children from harm.

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should:

n consider ways to enhance some routines, such as lunchtime, to strengthen children's social skills and independence further n review and enrich planning for the outdoor curriculum, so that all children, particularly those who prefer to learn outside, benefit fully.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY222442 Local authority Newcastle upon Tyne Inspection number 10280405 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 50 Number of children on roll 95 Name of registered person Newcastle City Council

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reference number

Telephone number 0191 2731618 Date of previous inspection 18 August 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Castle Nurseries at Rye Hill registered in 2003 and is located in Newcastle Upon Tyne. The nursery employs 13 members of childcare staff. Nearly all staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including two staff who hold early years professional status and/or qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, 45 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 8am 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 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 inspector observed the quality of activities indoors and outside and assessed the impact of this on children's learning and development. n The inspector spoke with managers, staff, children and parents at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observation. n The inspector reviewed some documents, such as evidence of the suitability of staff and policies and procedures.

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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 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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