Little Tinklers

Inspection of Little Tinklers Nursery Ponteland Childrens Centre, Thornhill Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland NE20 9QB

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children make superb progress in this exceptional, vibrant nursery. They are incredibly happy, safe and secure, and arrive eager to explore and learn. Staff forge excellent relationships with children and their families. Children's behaviour throughout the nursery is exemplary. Staff are excellent role models and continually encourage children to use good manners, share, take turns and respect each other.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff plan unique opportunities to help all children make excellent progress in their learning. For instance, children have superb opportunities to learn about nature and wildlife. They observe the changes in the seasons and eagerly discuss how they 'harvest' the peas and potatoes they plant. Staff explain how birds need food during winter, and how they make 'vibrations' on the soil to make worms come to the surface. Babies thrive in a calm, stimulating environment, where their individual needs are met precisely. They have incredible fun, while exploring sensory experiences. For instance, babies explore ice and a variety of spoons and tongs. As they investigate the ice, they are given new words to describe it, such as 'crunchy', 'melting' and 'freezing'.

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The provision is outstanding

Young children learn about artists and contemporary art from their artist in residence. Children precisely cut material to make 'mosaic art'. They confidently discuss why the pieces fit together. This helps children to develop an excellent knowledge of the wider world around them. Children challenge themselves and experiment with objects. They launch boats down pipes and work out how to pour water down and move the pipes to make the boats travel faster. Staff expertly facilitate learning and ask questions, which enables children to think critically and motivates them to learn.

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need to do better?

n Children's behaviour is impeccable. They are extremely polite, show kindness and are respectful towards each other. Children help each other, without being prompted. For example, when older children need help to balance on a wooden obstacle course, their friends swiftly provide support and hold out their hands to help them balance. Staff share an abundance of positive language, including high levels of praise and encouragement. As a result, children display high levels of self-esteem and confidence. n Children's communication and language skills are supported to the highest level. Staff skilfully narrate children's play, consistently extending their ideas and introducing new vocabulary. All children are skilfully encouraged to listen to appropriately planned, high-quality stories. There are core books that children have embedded in their learning. Older children expertly recall their favourite

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need to do better?

14 February 2024 parts of the story and discuss specific parts of the book, such as the title page and author. Babies listen with awe and excitedly point to parts in the book as staff describe familiar stories. This helps to develop their growing love of books. n Partnerships with parents are highly effective. Parents are very eager to share highly positive feedback about the nursery. They describe staff as 'phenomenal' and 'amazing'. Parents describe how the nursery supports the 'whole family'. They are fully involved with their child's learning and development. Parents are given a wealth of information on how to continue to support their children's learning at home. n The leadership team are passionate, dedicated and committed. The manager has a detailed knowledge of the skills and strengths across the team and considers these carefully when deploying staff. A high emphasis is placed on staff's well-being. Staff describe the leadership team as 'extremely supportive'.

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need to do better?

Staff benefit from regular meetings and supervision sessions to support their practice. Incisive self-evaluation enables the nursery to continuously improve. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported extremely well. Excellent relationships with other professionals, such as portage and the local authority, help children receive timely and significant interventions to help reduce any gaps in their learning. Staff share a wealth of invaluable information, which helps to provide a highly consistent approach to children's care and learning. Additional funding is used well to support children to make the best possible progress. n Staff are inspirational teachers and have exceptional knowledge of child development and the skills children need for future learning. They know their key children exceptionally well. Staff continuously assess what children know and can do, planning precisely for their next steps in learning. The purposefully

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need to do better?

planned and sequenced curriculum ensures all children make excellent progress. An outdoor classroom situated in the garden further enhances children's learning and curiosity, including opportunities to explore large loose parts and an allotment.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY498372 Local authority Northumberland Inspection number 10311770 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 45 Number of children on roll 79 Name of registered person Little Tinklers Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01661822500 Date of previous inspection 10 April 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Little Tinklers Nursery registered in 2016 and is located in Ponteland, Newcastle- upon-Tyne. The nursery employs 19 members of childcare staff. Of these, 14 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including three with appropriate early years qualifications at level 6 and one with early years professional status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6.30pm. 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 began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The inspector spoke with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The manager carried out a joint observation of an activity with the inspector. n The manager, nominated individual and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The views of parents were taken account of during the inspection. 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 A meeting was held with the nursery manager and nominated individual. The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including children's details and

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Inspection activities

evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

14 February 2024 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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