Spring - Highfield

Inspection of Spring - Highfield Whinfield Way, Rowlands Gill NE39 1EH

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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 are confident and happy during their time in the inviting nursery. Staff demonstrate a good knowledge of their curriculum and how they support children to enjoy learning. There is a strong focus on developing children's independence from being babies. Staff in the under two's room focus on teaching children to feed themselves using a spoon. Older children pour themselves drinks and serve their own food. They learn how to put on their shoes and coats. This is all part of getting children ready to start school.

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The provision is good

Children are keen to join in with the interesting activities that staff carefully plan for them. For example, staff teach children about different vegetables. Children persevere as they attempt to cut up the vegetables in the home corner. Staff demonstrate how to safely use a knife. Children learn to take account of each other and show care and consideration. For instance, children pass a sharper knife to their peers when they see them struggle with a plastic knife. There is a lovely calm atmosphere throughout the nursery. Children follow rules and boundaries and behave well. From a very young age staff teach them the importance of sharing.

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need to do better?

n Management have been successful in implementing the new curriculum since January this year. The curriculum constantly evolves to meet the needs of the children that attend. There is a strong focus on developing children's communication and language. Any additional funding is spent well to meet children's needs. For example, one-to-one support is provided where needed. The provider has invested funding in staff training that is aimed at children who need help with talking and understanding words. This helps staff to bridge any gaps in children's communication and language development. n Self-evaluation is a key strength of the nursery. Management and staff continually evaluate what works well and what can be done better. For example, they identified that children's fine motor skills were not developing as well as they should. Staff have developed their knowledge and understanding through training that links to early mark-marking strategies, indoors and outdoors. They

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need to do better?

have then implemented their new knowledge when working with children. n The nursery has worked hard to develop an exceptional partnership with parents. They seek parents' views through questionnaires and act to address anything that parents think they can do better. For example, they now update parents weekly on what children have enjoyed doing in nursery. Parents speak positively about how they are kept up to date each day through the online application that is used. They like that they can do their own observations and share these with staff. Staff also let them know how their children are progressing and what they can do at home to extend their learning.

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need to do better?

10 July 2024 n Children enjoy time in the outdoor areas. Children over two years old can choose when they would like to play outside. They practise their physical abilities and problem-solving skills. For instance, in the water tray they work out how much water they need in a jug to make a toy boat float down a ramp. However, children currently do not have access to outings in the local environment, where they can explore and learn about the community. n Staff promote children's communication and language well. They use lots of repetition of words with children during their play. They use words linked to size with children under the age of two years, such as big and small. In the two- to five-year-old room, staff do experiments with the children. They ask children what things smell like and what do they think will happen when the bicarbonate of soda is mixed with vinegar. Children are excited when they realise that it

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need to do better?

makes bubbles. n Staff promote mathematics into everything they do with children. For instance, children count how many spoons of bicarbonate of soda they need. With children under two years of age, staff model counting as they count how many pieces of ice there are in a tray when it breaks up. Children develop mathematical understanding that is appropriate for their age.

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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 develop opportunities for children to explore and learn about the local environment.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY539476 Local authority Gateshead Inspection number 10346902 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 36 Number of children on roll 60 Name of registered person Action For Children Developments Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01207 545604 Date of previous inspection 14 August 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Spring - Highfield registered in 2016. The nursery employs 11 members of childcare staff. Ten staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or higher. 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 manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager carried out a joint observation with the inspector. n The manager spoke with the inspector about the leadership and management of the nursery. n Parents shared their views through verbal and written feedback. The inspector took these views into account.

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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

10 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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