Emeralds Little Gems Daycare - Stanley Centre

Inspection of Emeralds Little Gems Daycare - Stanley Centre Stanley Childrens Centre, Clifford Road, Stanley DH9 0AB

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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

The manager and staff place children's learning at the heart of everything they do. The curriculum has a clear focus, particularly on children's speech and language development, and is sequenced well, overall. All children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress in their learning. Staff plan a wealth of experiences to support children's communication skills, including one-to-one sessions for children who require them. For example, staff use a song bag with animal puppets and encourage children to join in with associated rhymes and songs. Children nod their heads in response to the singing and concentrate well throughout. Staff use effective strategies, such as counting up to three, so that children know when the singing will begin.

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The provision is good

Children develop a very strong understanding of the expectations and boundaries in the nursery. Staff use imaginative activities to help children to learn and understand the 'golden rules'. This is illustrated when staff use 'Mr Potato Head' with the children to explain about the importance of using 'kind hands' and 'listening ears' as they play and learn together. Children are very aware of the routines of the nursery. They demonstrate this when they leave group time to access the outdoor area and line up at the door before they go out.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children's speech and language development superbly. They model language, speak very clearly to children and use other effective strategies, including communication boards, to help children to build their vocabulary. Funding, such as early years pupil premium, is used to enhance children's language skills further. Experiences, including going on outings and visits in the local area, are planned. n Overall, staff have a good understanding of how to support children's early literacy skills. They provide activities in the outdoor area, such as painting with sticks and paint on the fence. However, some activities planned by staff do not fully support children's age and stage of development. For example, children are encouraged to copy over a script in order to write their name, before they are developmentally ready for this type of learning. n Children develop positive attitudes towards their learning. They persevere even

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need to do better?

when tasks become difficult. For instance, during a group activity when children made fruit kebabs, children persisted with a safety knife and managed to cut through the skin of an orange. They were really pleased with their efforts when they managed to cut a slice. They then removed the flesh and gave it to their friends. n Children with SEND are supported very well in the nursery. A wide range of professionals work alongside staff to implement effective strategies to support

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need to do better?

3 July 2024 children's learning. Funding is used very well and is targeted towards individual children's needs to support them to make progress. n Children's independence is promoted well throughout the nursery. For instance, staff support children to pour their own drinks at snack time and to wash their hands before eating or handling food. Children show they are proud of their efforts and have beaming smiles when they achieve the task. n Overall, children engage very well in their learning. Staff plan effective activities that support children to develop the skills and knowledge they will need when they start school. However, some activities, particularly those delivered at group time, are not sufficiently planned to engage all children. This has an impact on the progress some children make. n Staff feel very supported by the manager. They are provided with good opportunities to progress professionally and enjoy the challenge of meeting their

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need to do better?

own targets. Innovative measures to improve staff's skills are in place. For example, staff have opportunities to visit local SEND provision to observe practice and learn new strategies to support the children in the nursery. Following this, staff now place photos of the children on their chairs so children know which chair is theirs. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents who provided their views for the inspection talked positively about how well their children are supported. Their comments included 'staff go above and beyond' to support their children. Parents take an active part in their children's learning and enjoy activities, including looking after the nursery bear when children bring this home.

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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 strengthen staff knowledge further of all the developmental stages children go through before they are ready to hold a pencil with a correct grip n ensure group-time activities are planned appropriately to engage all children and enhance their learning further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY549486 Local authority Durham Inspection number 10351492 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 46 Number of children on roll 78 Name of registered person Emeralds Little Gems Daycare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0120 7280 022 Date of previous inspection 13 September 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Emeralds Little Gems Daycare - Stanley Centre registered in 2017 and is located in Stanley, County Durham. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. 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 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 inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke to/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 SEND. 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.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector carried out a joint observations of a group activity with the manager. n Parents shared their views on the nursery with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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 July 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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