Henry's Hut

Inspection of Ponteland Childcare Henry's Hut, Callerton Lane, Ponteland, Newcastle upon Tyne NE20 9EY

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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

Staff think carefully how they can help children to settle in this safe, welcoming and nurturing nursery. They collect lots of information from parents about their children's development and care needs. This helps staff to meet children's needs from the start. Children are very happy in the nursery and have lovely relationships with staff. They run in happily, eager to start their day. Staff display photos of children and their families at a low-level as they enter, to help to reassure children.

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The provision is good

Staff want all children to be independent and lifelong learners, who are ready for school. They adapt activities to engage and motivate children. For example, children develop their coordination in a variety of ways in preparation for writing. Younger children make marks in coloured rice with sticks and manipulate dough. Older children squeeze paint in spray bottles onto the fence and use tweezers to pick up small pom-poms. Children behave exceptionally well. This is because staff have clear expectations for their behaviour and help them to resolve minor conflicts. They celebrate children's accomplishments on a 'wow wall' and give them specific praise. This helps children to learn what they have done well.

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need to do better?

n Staff plan a curriculum that takes account of what individual children need to learn next. This helps children to achieve well in their development. Staff use additional funding to widen children's experiences of the world further. For instance, children visit the local greengrocer's, and staff arranged for a farm to bring lambs into the nursery. n Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) very well. They work hard to make sure that all children are included. Staff use strategies, such as visual aids and signs, to help children with SEND communicate. They work closely with other settings which children also attend and external professionals, to ensure that they meet all children's needs. n Managers support staff well. They provide staff with regular advice and guidance to extend their practice. Staff are offered regular training, such as developing children's learning outdoors. The quality of interactions between staff and

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need to do better?

children is very good, and at times, outstanding. The manager has plans in place to provide focused training to staff to enhance their practice to reach an even higher level, such as to support children's communication and language development even further. n Children are articulate and keen to communicate. Staff engage them in lovely conversations and introduce new vocabulary to children. For instance, when children play in the water with sea creatures, staff introduce new words, such as 'octopus' and 'tentacles'. Children sing lots of songs throughout the day, excited

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need to do better?

12 July 2023 to choose a prop out the 'song bag'. n Staff plan whole-group times at transition times during the day. Older children listen with interest to a story about a monster starting school. They learn about feelings, such as being anxious, scared or nervous. However, on occasion, staff do not consistently take account of what younger children need to learn next during these activities, to engage them fully in their learning. n Children learn about the importance of healthy lifestyles. They have constant access to fresh air in the nursery's very stimulating outdoor area. Children learn about nature and nutritious food, such as when they plant and care for vegetables. They enjoy carefully peeling pea pods at snack time, and tasting the potatoes which they have grown. n Parents are extremely positive about the service which the nursery provides. They comment that staff provide support for the whole family and they are

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need to do better?

delighted with the progress their children make. Staff keep parents well informed about their children's learning. For instance, parents are invited into nursery for stay-and-play sessions and can access a lending library to choose books to read with their children at home. n Children develop a love of books. They sit in cosy areas or an outdoor tepee and listen to staff read animatedly. Staff encourage children to join in with familiar phrases and talk about the story. Children recall their favourite stories, such as 'Commotion in the Ocean', when playing in the water with sea animals. n Children are keen to have a go at all activities and show perseverance in their play. They concentrate when rolling balls down guttering, explore and investigate in the mud kitchen and demonstrate good imagination in their play. For instance, children are extremely proud of their 'flower cupcakes' which they have made with soil, stones and petals.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff place a priority of keeping children safe in the nursery. The premises are secure, and all internal doors have a key-code system. There is a password system in place for other family members collecting children. All staff are confident of how to identify children who may be suffering from abuse. They know about the wide range of types of abuse. Staff understand how to report any concerns they may have about a child's welfare, including allegations. Staff teach children how to keep themselves safe. For instance, children help to carry out risk assessment of the outdoor area before going out to play.

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should:

n implement the plans in place to provide staff with professional development to

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should:

12 July 2023 support children's communication and language development even further n plan whole-group activities, especially at times of transition, more carefully to engage younger children fully in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY462938 Local authority Northumberland Inspection number 10285433 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 52 Name of registered person Ponteland Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07790545178 Date of previous inspection 5 October 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Ponteland Childcare registered in 2013 and is located in Northumberland. The setting employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, five staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including three staff who hold qualifications at level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for two week's closure at Christmas. During term time, sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. During the school holidays, sessions are from 8am to 4pm. 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 received since the COVID-19 pandemic. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with staff and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the setting. n The manager and room lead discussed with the inspector how staff organise and plan the curriculum, environment and experiences for children during a learning walk. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The room lead and the inspector evaluated children's learning together during a planned activity outdoors. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager and the provider. She looked at relevant documentation, including evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke with staff, parents and children during the inspection.

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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

12 July 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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