Ovingham & District Under 5s

Inspection of Ovingham & District Under 5s Portakabin, Ovingham First School, Ovingham, Northumberland NE42 6DE

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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 have fun and are eager to learn at this friendly and welcoming setting. They form strong bonds with staff, who are caring and kind. Staff know children well and plan a wide range of activities that excite and interest them. There is a strong focus on children playing outdoors and exploring nature. Children benefit from fresh air and exercise daily in the nursery garden and woodland area. Staff place an emphasis on children's personal, social and emotional development. They encourage children's efforts and praise their achievements. This helps to raise children's confidence and self-esteem. Staff support children to relax, such as through mindfulness sessions and by practising breathing techniques.

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The provision is good

Children are happy, settled and secure. They register themselves into the setting. This helps to give them a sense of ownership and belonging. Children learn to share, take turns and play cooperatively as they explore in the water tray with funnels, colanders, pinecones and acorns. Staff support children's growing independence well. Children learn to wash their hands, put on their coats and boots, and pour their own drinks. At mealtimes, children act as helpers. Staff model good manners and encourage children to try new foods. Menus are balanced and nutritious and staff talk to children about healthy eating.

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need to do better?

n There are strong systems in place for assessing children's learning. Staff use this information to identify any areas where children may need additional support. They regularly share their observations of children's development with parents. n Children have rich opportunities to learn about life outside the setting. They go on nature walks and visit the local church where they take part in a 'teddy bear trail'. Children travel by train with staff to visit a post office. They take part in singing at a local care home, where they enjoy meeting older people. n Overall, staff plan good support for children's communication and language development. Children hear lots of language as staff chat to them about their play and share stories and songs. However, the manager recognises the need to review the structure of group times to maximise support for children's listening skills. n Staff support children's physical development well. Children learn to climb, run,

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need to do better?

throw, balance and spin during outdoor play. They have great fun and learn to move in a range of ways as they take part in music and movement sessions. n Children benefit from rich opportunities to develop their coordination and different ways of using their hands. They fill and empty containers with sand and water. Children explore with dough and make marks with stamps, chalks and crayons. n Children engage fully in their play and show focus and concentration as they

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need to do better?

12 December 2023 happily make envelopes for Christmas cards. However, they are sometimes distracted during story time as staff do not always check that children are ready to listen and learn. n Staff have experience of supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They have attended training on how to support children with SEND, which has had a positive impact on their practice. n Staff work closely with teachers at the neighbouring school. This helps them to help to develop consistent support for children as they move on to the next stage of their learning. n Parents speak highly of the setting. They praise the manager and staff team, who they say are supportive, friendly and approachable. Parents comment positively on the variety of activities on offer for their children. They say they feel well informed and that their children are settled, happy and love coming to the setting.

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need to do better?

n The experienced manager provides strong support to her staff team, in terms of their professional development and well-being. She observes staff's practice and supports them to develop their skills through constructive feedback, meetings and appraisals. n The dedicated and experienced team of staff work very well together. They reflect continuously on experiences for children and have a positive attitude towards continuous improvement. The manager and staff are passionate about their work and are committed to providing a home-from-home experience for the children in their care.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager has a strong understanding of her role and responsibilities in relation to keeping children safe. This includes a range of aspects of safeguarding. All staff complete training in safeguarding and first aid. The manager and staff know what might concern them about a child in terms of safeguarding. They know who to contact and the processes to take to help to keep children safe. Staff support children to learn how to keep themselves safe. For example, they teach children to use scissors carefully and how to safely negotiate space outside, as they push toy wheelbarrows and roll large tyres.

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should:

n review the structure of group times, to better support children's learning and focus n explore ways to help to settle children at story time, in order to prepare them to be ready to listen and learn.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 301809 Local authority Northumberland Inspection number 10317054 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 18 Number of children on roll 16 Name of registered person Ovingham & District Under 5s Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01661 833347 Date of previous inspection 18 May 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Ovingham & District Under 5s registered in 1999 and is located on Northumberland. The nursery employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, four staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one member of staff at level 7. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, during term time. Sessions are from 8.45am until 3pm. 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 setting 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 setting. n The manager discussed with the inspector how staff organise and plan the curriculum and experiences for children. The inspector viewed the inside and outside space used by the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities and assessed the impact on children's learning. The manager and the inspector evaluated an activity together. n The inspector looked at a sample of the setting's documents. This included evidence of training and suitability of staff. n The inspector held discussions with the manager and staff. She took into account the views of parents.

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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 December 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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