Pixley Dell Nursery

Inspection of Pixley Dell Nursery 8 Coulson Street, Spennymoor, County Durham DL16 7RS

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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 thrive on the warm greetings they receive from staff, who they have strong emotional attachments to. Children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure. They enjoy playing together imaginatively. For example, children make staff a pretend birthday cake in the engaging kitchen area outdoors. Staff teach children how food items contribute to living a healthy lifestyle. For example, children grow tomatoes and carrots, which will be used for their snacks and lunches. Children show awe and wonder as they observe and talk about beans they have planted to make a beanstalk. Children are sociable and exhibit excellent behaviour.

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The provision is good

Children progress well in their learning. Staff provide them with wealth of challenging and motivating activities and outings. For example, they encourage children to explore scented play dough mixed with lemons and oranges. Staff take children on purposeful trips into the community, such as to the library and nature reserves. Young children concentrate intently as they explore water with flowers in it. Staff support children to develop their senses and talk about the scents. Children enjoy looking at their family books. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, gain a broad range of knowledge and skills for their future learning.

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need to do better?

n Children follow routines well and are well settled. They demonstrate excellent independence skills. For example, children from a young age wipe their noses independently and help themselves to water at the hydration stations. Older children peel and chop their own fruit and vegetables for snack. Staff encourage children to help with small tasks, such as setting up the plates and cups for lunch. This helps children to gain a sense of responsibility. Older children confidently serve themselves at lunchtime. n Staff provide opportunities for children to develop good communication and language skills. For example, staff ask children questions about their play and children respond appropriately. Children enjoy joining in with favourite stories. Staff repeat words and listen attentively to children as they contribute ideas to play. For example, older children pretend to call staff on their imitation mobile

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need to do better?

phones. n Staff deepen children's knowledge during activities. They plan exciting activities around a breadth of topics and children's interests. For example, children dig for dinosaurs and fossils in sand. Staff regularly assess all children's development. They closely monitor children's development who are in receipt of funding. Staff put plans into place to close any gaps in children's development and, overall, children make good progress. However, staff do not organise some group activities well enough to ensure that all children can fully engage and benefit

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need to do better?

9 May 2024 from the learning opportunities. n The manager evaluates the ongoing performance of the nursery. Staff attend regular supervision sessions and meetings, where they discuss and share information. Staff feel they receive good support and are given meaningful professional development opportunities. For example, staff in the baby room have completed training on safer sleeping. Staff in the nursery have also enhanced their knowledge of how to manage children's behaviour. n Staff help children to develop good mathematical skills. They encourage older children to use hooks to catch numbered plastic ducks in the water. Children paint numbers onto paper and count wooden blocks as they build towers. Children count footprints in sand, made by pretend dinosaurs. Staff support children well to develop skills for the next stage in their learning, such as school. n Children receive tailored settling-in sessions to ensure that they feel happy and

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need to do better?

secure from the start. Parents describe staff as 'friendly' and 'caring'. They comment that they are happy with the level of care their children receive. Staff have developed a lending library, which encourages parents to help support children's literacy skills at home. However, staff do not use opportunities fully to inform parents of ways they can support their children's individual next steps in learning at home. n Staff support children to develop very good health and well-being. They provide a home-made, healthy and nutritious menu. Staff plan opportunities for children to have regular exercise and all children learn about the importance of brushing their teeth. Children regularly discuss their feelings and staff remind children to be kind to each other and to share.

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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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should:

n consider more closely how to adapt group activities to ensure that all children can fully engage and benefit from the learning opportunities n provide parents with more support and advice to help guide their children's learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 508263 Local authority Durham Inspection number 10335149 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 43 Number of children on roll 56 Name of registered person Northumbrian Trust Day Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01388 816299 Date of previous inspection 6 June 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Pixley Dell Nursery registered in 2000 and is located in County Durham. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one member of staff who holds a qualification at level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for one week at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.30am 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 received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and managers and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The inspector held discussions with the manager and deputy manager about the design of the curriculum and how it is being implemented. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. She completed a joint observation with the nursery manager. n The inspector checked evidence of suitability and qualifications of staff working with children. She discussed the methods used for self-evaluation and the impact this has on the nursery. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed staff's practice and their engagement with children throughout 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

9 May 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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