Yellow Wellies

Inspection of Yellow Wellies Avenue House, North Road, Durham DH1 4SG

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children are warmly greeted by kind, caring, supportive staff. A real strength of the nursery is how well all staff know each child and their family. Staff gather a wealth of information from parents, which helps to establish positive relationships from the very beginning. They take great care to create a welcoming, child-friendly and homely play environment. This helps children to feel safe and secure. The curriculum for communication and language development is seamlessly woven throughout the nursery. Staff recognise the importance of promoting language skills. From the baby room upwards, children hear a broad range of interesting vocabulary through a wide variety of commentary, stories and singing.

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The provision is good

Children benefit from the extensive outdoor area. For instance, children play cooperatively as they balance and climb across an obstacle course. Older children roll balls down drainpipes. The garden and forest area provides children with opportunities to discover nature. They find woodlice and slugs, and chase leaves that fall from trees. Children excitedly ask staff questions about the insects they find. This helps children to develop their understanding of nature and the wider world. Staff manage children's behaviour well and sensitively support them to understand what is acceptable. Children are kind and courteous to each other. They have a good understanding of what is expected of them at nursery.

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need to do better?

n Staff are excellent role models. Children's positive behaviour is promoted through praise and encouragement. Staff introduce expectations clearly and consistently to children. Older children provide support to younger children during play. For instance, when younger children struggle to fasten their role play clothes, older children help them. On the rare occasions that children have a disagreement, staff are on hand to support children to understand how to behave. This helps children to learn behavioural expectations. n The leadership team is ambitious and knowledgeable. It is passionate about providing high-quality childcare. Staff are encouraged to develop their own professional development. There is a strong culture of reflective practice and sharing new ideas. Staff benefit from regular supervision meetings. All new staff have experienced mentors to provide guidance and advice. The leadership team

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need to do better?

prioritises staff's well-being. Staff report they are happy and feel well supported. n Staff establish positive, professional working relationships with parents. They foster close relationships with parents and regularly update them on their child's progress. Parents speak very highly of the nursery. They comment that the nursery is 'fantastic' and the staff are 'wonderful and caring'. Parents appreciate the learning opportunities provided and the support to continue learning at home.

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need to do better?

5 September 2025 n Overall, the quality of teaching is good and occasionally outstanding. Staff plan interesting and exciting experiences that support all areas of learning. They demonstrate that they are familiar with the overall curriculum. However, at times, some staff do not always extend and challenge children's learning during activities. This means that children's learning is not always fully maximised. n Staff support children's early literacy skills. Children demonstrate great recall from stories that they have experienced. For example, toddlers recall 'The Colour Monster' and find their favourite monster in the book. Older children recall 'The Gruffalo' as they search for him in forest school. Babies repeat sounds and noises from the animals in 'Dear Zoo'. This helps to develop children's speaking and listening skills and encourages a love of books. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported.

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need to do better?

Staff identify gaps in learning and plan early intervention. They work closely with parents and other professionals and professional bodies, such as schools, health visitors and the local authority, to create individual support plans. n Children show increasing competence in completing tasks for themselves. For example, staff support younger children to feed themselves at lunchtime. Older children begin to self-serve and show great pride as they help to give out knives and forks at lunchtime. This helps to promote children's independence. n Staff promote children's physical development well. Older children skilfully ride on push-along vehicles and dig using small tools. They show resilience and determination as they dig up soil to make 'strawberry cakes' in the mud kitchen. Toddlers carefully weave sticks through leaves, and babies roll paint across paper. This helps to develop their large- and small-muscle skills in preparation

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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 support staff to recognise opportunities to further extend children's learning to help all children make even greater progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY360601 Local authority Durham Inspection number 10398609 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 52 Number of children on roll 63 Name of registered person Daypark Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 0191 384 1444 Date of previous inspection 1 November 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Yellow Wellies registered in 2007 and is located within Durham city centre. The nursery employs 18 members of childcare staff. Of these, 17 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6pm. The nursery provides government-funded early education for all eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The leaders and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n Parents provided the inspector with verbal and written feedback at the inspection. n The leaders and the inspector carried out a joint observation together. n The inspector spoke with the staff team during the inspection. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of the 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

5 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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