Your Co-op Little Pioneers Nursery & Pre-school Seaham

Inspection of Your Co-op Little Pioneers Nursery & Pre-school Seaham North Terrace, Seaham, County Durham SR7 7EU

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision requires improvement

Overall, children receive care and education that meets their needs. Babies show that they feel secure in the care of staff as they open out their arms for reassuring hugs and comfort. They smile as staff talk to them during creative activities, such as when babies use their senses to explore paint and dough. Generally, children listen and respond to instructions given. However, some children lose interest in their play and require support to manage their feelings and behaviours. This is particularly evident around transitions during the day, such as mealtimes. Although there are some behaviour support plans in place, staff do not provide children with a consistent approach about the expectations of behaviour.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff complete observations and assessments of children's learning and share this information with parents, such as through the required progress check at age two. Teachers are invited into the setting and pre-school staff share information about children before they start school. Staff understand what they want children to learn. However, there is a variation regarding the quality of interactions. For instance, some staff offer learning that is not developmentally appropriate for young children, such as encouraging very young children to learn how to write before they reach pre-school. Despite this, children develop the basic skills they need for school and their next stage in learning.

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need to do better?

n Managers complete regular supervision sessions and help to promote staff well- being. There are suitable evaluation procedures in place. For instance, pre- school staff encourage children to share their ideas and suggestions and have developed a 'pre-school council' to help to capture children's views. However, there have been a number of changes to the management and staff team. Senior managers recognise there are emerging weaknesses in practice and have implemented an action plan. This includes identifying appropriate training plans for staff to help to enhance the quality of their interactions. However, this has not yet been implemented into practice. n Staff share information with parents through an online platform. This includes photographs of children playing and care practice routines. Managers are considering ways to develop further ways to help to provide a continued approach to children's learning and development. For instance, they have

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need to do better?

created a new lending library for parents and children to take books home to share together. n Children have regular access to outdoor play and are physically active in their play. Young children climb steps and laugh before they slide down the other side. Staff offer regular praise and encouragement to children as children repeat this. This helps to promote their self-esteem. Older children learn how to use

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need to do better?

3 August 2023 appropriate cutlery to cut their own fruit and serve themselves during mealtimes. They choose from a variety of healthy options. Staff support children to follow hygiene practices. This helps to develop children's understanding of how to lead a healthy lifestyle. n Children sufficiently engage in stories, songs and rhymes. Older children demonstrate suitable communication and language skills. For instance, they sit together in large groups and listen to stories read by staff about aeroplanes and talk about their experiences of going on holiday. Staff use some strategies to engage children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. For instance, they use sound recording buttons and engage children in 'ready, steady, go' games. Furthermore, they use puppets and encourage children to listen and copy sounds. n Children are confident. They greet visitors with an eagerness and talk to them

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need to do better?

about their day. Children form friendship groups and seek out others to share their experiences. For instance, they dress up using bandages and talk to each other about feeling better after a trip to the doctor's. This demonstrates children's imaginative skills.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff show that they are aware of the setting's safeguarding policies and procedures. They complete safeguarding training before they start working with children and ensure they understand the steps to follow in the event of a concern about the welfare of a child. Managers follow safe recruitment practices and review the ongoing suitability of staff. This helps to ensure that those working with children are safe to do so. Staff are aware of whistle-blowing procedures and managers understand their responsibility to notify relevant authorities in a timely manner in the event of an allegation against a member of staff.

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Due date

develop a consistent approach to supporting children to understand how to manage their feelings and behaviour 31/08/2023

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Due date

review the setting's curriculum to ensure it is appropriately ambitious for all children 31/08/2023

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Due date

3 August 2023 improve the quality of interactions between staff and children to help them to identify what children need to learn next. 31/08/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2696265 Local authority Durham Inspection number 10304144 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 65 Number of children on roll 103 Name of registered person The Midcounties Co-Operative Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01915816911 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Your Co-op Little Pioneers Nursery & Pre-school Seaham registered in 2022. The nursery is open Monday to Friday all year round, excluding bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6pm. There are currently 21 members of staff employed to work with children. Of these, 18 hold appropriate qualifications at level 3 or above, including one at level 6. 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 deputy manager, manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the

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Inspection activities

manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting 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

3 August 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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