Sunflowers Nursery

Inspection of Sunflowers Nursery Winchester House, Baxter Road, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear SR5 4LW

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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

Leaders are perceptive to children's individual circumstances and life experiences. Their vision is shaped by a clear priority to ensure children's happiness and well- being. This approach helps children to settle quickly into nursery and to develop their confidence and a strong sense of security and belonging. Children are keen and interested learners, who engage well in the wide range of activities on offer.

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The provision is good

The curriculum allows children plenty of choice in their activities. Staff's good teaching skills help to ensure that all children are challenged and supported to learn during their play. Babies and toddlers thrive in a relaxed environment, where they happily play and explore. Curious and inquisitive, they work out ways to build with planks and fit tubes inside one another. Older children benefit from activities that are closely matched to their interests. For example, they make bird feeders and search for bugs under rocks and logs in the garden.

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The provision is good

Staff are sensitive to the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on some children's learning and well-being. They have extended the range of activities to help children to develop pre-writing skills, having observed lower than expected achievements in this area. Staff have developed a 'well-being room', where children can take time out if they feel a little overwhelmed and are supported by staff to share and understand their feelings.

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need to do better?

n Staff focus closely on children's personal, social and emotional development. This helps children to learn about relationships and how to manage their feelings. Young children consider others. For example, they take turns to catch pretend fish with a magnetic rod. Older children involve others in their play, excitedly showing their friends the bugs that they find. n Children who are not reaching age-related expectations in their learning are supported well. Staff are swift to work closely with parents and other professionals, sharing focused plans to help children to catch up in their learning. This helps to ensure that all children are supported to make the progress that they are capable of. n Parents talk about the 'peace of mind' they feel, knowing that their children are safe and well cared for. They commend the nursery for working closely with other community groups to support the whole family.

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need to do better?

n The manager is passionate and dedicated, and staff share her enthusiasm. Staff benefit from effective support and supervision sessions. This helps staff to enhance their good teaching skills and to develop confidence. It also contributes to their high morale and excellent capacity for ongoing improvement. n Children behave well. They develop good manners, such as when sharing meals

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need to do better?

17 May 2023 at the table with their friends. Children follow staff's clear instructions and understand the reasons for rules and boundaries in the nursery. n Staff teach children about how to stay healthy. Babies learn to brush their teeth, and older children discuss the benefits of nutritious food during mealtimes. Staff teach children the importance of protecting their skin in the sun. n Staff know children well and tailor activities to match their learning preferences. For example, children who are active learners show very good problem-solving skills while making a den from sticks and fabric. At times, however, staff's intentions for children's learning are broad and do not always consider what children most need to learn next. That said, all children are supported well to learn and remember more. n Children have excellent opportunities to develop their large physical skills. Babies step up, down and over carefully planned resources, which staff provide to

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need to do better?

challenge them to move in a range of ways. Staff help older children to identify and manage risks, and they learn to keep themselves safe. For example, older children climb and balance on the climbing frame and negotiate muddy banks and tree roots in the garden. They show very good balance, coordination and strength. n Overall, staff support children's language development well. Some staff model new words, such as 'cocoon' and 'chrysalis', when sharing books with children, helping children to extend their vocabulary. However, this is not consistent. Furthermore, some strategies, such as the use of simple signs that are intended to support children's communication, are not used consistently.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and staff are very aware of the potential risks to children in the nursery and the wider community. They know how to identify signs that a child may be at risk from harm or abuse and how to report concerns about a child's welfare. Staff support parents to keep their children safe, for example, by providing information about protecting children from the dangers of online activities. They keep children safe in the nursery. Staff quickly identify and remove broken toys. Leaders scrutinise records of accidents to ensure that any changes to the environment or equipment needed to ensure children's safety are made quickly.

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should:

n strengthen the intent of activities to fully consider individual children's priorities for learning and help them to make even better progress n use the strategies to support children's language development more consistently across the nursery to enhance all children's communication.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY277082 Local authority Sunderland Inspection number 10280738 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 46 Number of children on roll 32

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Name of registered person

Sunderland North Community Business Centre Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 0191 537 3231 Date of previous inspection 1 September 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Sunflowers Nursery registered in 2004 and is located in Sunderland. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. 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 nursery has received since the COVID- 19 pandemic. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and staff and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the nursery. n The manager showed the inspector around the premises. She talked about the curriculum and the way the nursery is organised. n The inspector observed staff's teaching and assessed the impact this has on children's learning and development. n The manager and chief executive met with the inspector to discuss leadership and management matters. The inspector looked at relevant documents provided, including evidence of the suitability checks carried out on staff. n The inspector completed a joint observation of an activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. She also spoke to a number of parents and took account of their

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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

17 May 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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