Park Farm Day Nursery

Inspection of Park Farm Day Nursery 1 Pont Park, Berwick Hill, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE20 0JX

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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 happy, settled and carefree at this bespoke nursery. They develop secure relationships with staff, especially with their key person. Where children are new to the nursery, staff are quick to provide cuddles and reassurance. This helps children to feel safe and secure, which helps them to settle quickly.

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The provision is good

Leaders plan a curriculum that is focused on providing children with experiences they would not normally have. Children learn about nature and harvest as they explore natural resources. For example, toddlers crunch the autumn leaves in their hands and explore the different sounds and textures. Older children show excellent concentration skills as they print with a variety of vegetables. Staff encourage children to recall the names of the vegetables. Children eagerly name leeks and parsnips. They show great delight as they begin to mix different coloured paint, creating different patterns and effects.

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The provision is good

Children's behaviour is good. Staff are kind and attentive, and they speak respectfully to children. They are calm, nurturing and reassuring role models. Staff have high expectations for children and praise them for their efforts. Staff implement suitable strategies for children who may need additional support to focus. For example, some children require reminders about sitting for group activities. This helps children to learn what type of behaviour is expected.

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need to do better?

n The leaders and staff team have good relationships with families and promote effective partnership working. For instance, staff provide a wide range of information to families through parents' evenings, verbal discussions and an online platform. This helps parents to feel included in their children's learning. Parents say they are thrilled with the 'fantastic', 'supportive' and 'dedicated' staff. n Staff promote children's physical development well. Children access outdoor play regularly and benefit from time spent outside. Staff support children to learn how to ride bikes. Older children skilfully navigate the well-resourced outdoor area, climbing on large wooden apparatus. Younger children learn to climb and slide confidently. Babies are encouraged to crawl and practise their walking. This helps to develop their large-muscle skills. n The setting's curriculum is well developed and understood by staff. They have

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need to do better?

clear intentions for the overall learning that children will achieve while attending. Staff gather useful information from parents when children first start to help them know about children's prior learning and experiences. However, when planning learning opportunities, some staff do not provide enough focus on individual children's next steps for learning. This does not enable every child to consistently make the progress that they are capable of.

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need to do better?

12 September 2025 n The leadership team is ambitious and knowledgeable. Staff report good levels of well-being. They say they are happy and feel supported in their role. Performance management processes are in place and used by leaders to identify some relevant training opportunities for staff. However, targeted coaching and monitoring of staff's practice to ensure their teaching skills support children's learning at every opportunity are not yet embedded in practice. n Staff consistently promote children's independence and self-care. Young children put on their own shoes and coats before going outside. Staff support children to feed themselves at lunch, and older children begin to self-serve. Occasionally, toddlers wait a long time during the lunchtime routine as staff are busy elsewhere. This results in some children struggling with the length of time they are sat down as staff's positive interactions with them are reduced.

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need to do better?

n Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and inclusive practice are embedded in the curriculum. Children with SEND benefit from individual learning plans that are shared with all staff. In addition, staff work closely with external partners to ensure that children who need additional support make good progress towards their individual targets. n Children are well behaved, caring and considerate. They listen, follow instructions and are encouraged to share and take turns. Staff give children regular praise and clear explanations about their behaviour, such as 'good sharing'. This helps to develop children's confidence and self-esteem. n Staff prioritise promoting children's communication and language skills. Babies have plenty of time to vocalise. Staff regularly share books and sing with them. Babies and toddlers sing 'Old MacDonald Had a Farm'. Children are introduced to

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need to do better?

many new words to enrich their vocabulary. For instance, staff name musical instruments such as 'xylophone', helping to develop children's vocabulary.

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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 clarify how staff will ensure planned activities remain focused on what they want children to learn next n strengthen opportunities for training, coaching and monitoring of individual staff's teaching skills to improve their knowledge of how to consistently maximise children's learning experiences n review and develop mealtime arrangements for the toddler room, so that staff consistently support children's learning through high-quality interactions.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2693792 Local authority Northumberland Inspection number 10419363 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 98 Number of children on roll 133 Name of registered person Park Farm Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 0191 3800647 Date of previous inspection 21 September 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Park Farm Day Nursery registered in August 2022 and is based on a farm in Berwick Hill, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. The nursery provides full day care from 7.30am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round, except for one week at Christmas and public holidays. The nursery employs 30 members of staff to work directly with the children. Of these, four hold a relevant qualification at level 6. There are 16 staff members with a level 3 qualification and six staff are currently working towards level 3. The nursery provides funded early education for eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n Leaders joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector viewed the nursery and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and the inspector conducted a joint observation of an activity. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. 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

12 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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