Top Of The Tots

Inspection of Top Of The Tots 3 Grange Road West, Jarrow NE32 3JA

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

There is a lovely atmosphere in this welcoming nursery as children play and learn together. Children are supported to feel settled and secure when they arrive. Staff are always available for a cuddle or to provide encouragement and reassurance to children. There is a strong emphasis on helping children to understand their emotions. When children say they are feeling sad, staff ask their friends what they could do to help them to feel happy again. Children are helpful and show consideration towards others. They beam with pride when staff praise them for this. Managers explain that teaching children respect and kindness is at the heart of the nursery.

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The provision is good

The learning environment is stimulating and provides children with a wealth of interesting things to do. Children can freely access a wide range of different resources. These have been carefully selected to support children's learning and development. The painting area is popular, as children develop their mark-making skills and learn what happens when they mix different colours. They engage in imaginative play in the home corner and develop their finger muscles as they roll out and cut play dough. Although the outdoor area was not in use on the day of inspection, children benefited from fresh air and exercise as they walked to a local park. Here, they giggled with delight as they played games together and developed their physical skills on the equipment. Throughout the day, children are supported to make progress from their starting points as staff join them in their play. These interactions build on each individual child's knowledge and skills effectively.

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need to do better?

n The managers have implemented significant improvements since the last inspection. They have welcomed support from the local authority and continue to review and evaluate their practice. The staff feel valued and are able to contribute their ideas to enhance the nursery even more. n The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of the children who attend. Managers have a strong understanding of the children's families and of the local community. They use this knowledge to plan opportunities for children to develop the knowledge and skills they need to equip them for future learning. Links with local schools help support children to be ready to move on. n Communication and language development is central to the nursery's curriculum. Although no babies were present on the day of inspection, staff speak knowledgeably about how they support the youngest children's early speech. As children progress, they learn a wealth of new vocabulary as they play. Staff give

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need to do better?

children plenty of time to respond to questions. Where children are not making as much progress as they should, staff put in place additional support and liaise with other professionals, if required.

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need to do better?

4 September 2025 n Mealtimes are highly sociable as children and staff eat together. Managers have recently made changes to the snacks provided, introducing a lovely variety of healthy options. Staff encourage children to try different foods. They thoroughly enjoy the crunchy vegetables, especially as they have just been engaged in an activity where dinosaurs have eaten the same food. n The activities led by staff are carefully planned and often focus on encouraging children to build their confidence as they interact with each other. Children learn to take turns as they create their own bus and decide where they are going and what they need to take with them. Quieter children become fully engaged as they are given important roles, such as the driver. n Songs, rhymes and stories are generally used effectively throughout the day. Children become engrossed as staff read to them and ask them about the story.

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need to do better?

However, staff do not always take advantage of opportunities to develop children's mathematical vocabulary when reading or singing. Furthermore, daily routines such as snack time are not always used to explore mathematics through counting, shape recognition and comparing sizes. n Parental feedback is very positive. Parents value the care their children receive and report that managers are always available to talk to them about their children. They welcome advice on matters such as toilet training. The daily diaries that staff fill in are valued by parents. Here, they find out about their children's learning, so they know what staff are working on. This helps parents to know how to support their children further at home. n Record keeping systems are in place that meet requirements. Managers collect appropriate information about each child when they start attending. However, sometimes, records are not organised as efficiently or consistently as they could

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need to do better?

be. Managers have already identified ways this can be improved so that information is comprehensive and more easily accessible.

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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 enhance the mathematics curriculum by including more opportunities for children to develop their knowledge and understanding as part of their play and daily routines n review and refine record keeping systems so that these are maintained consistently and information can be accessed more readily to support children's care and development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2772778 Local authority South Tyneside Inspection number 10412402 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 17 Name of registered person Top of the Tots Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07523915281 Date of previous inspection 3 April 2025

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Information about this early years setting

Top Of The Tots registered in 2024. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery offers the government-funded places for childcare and receives specific funding for disadvantaged children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n Managers spoke to the inspector about children's learning and development, with a particular focus on communication and language. 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 Staff and children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed 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

4 September 2025 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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