Tynemouth Nursery at Battle Hill

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children benefit from superb relationships with staff at this very inclusive and friendly nursery. They form close bonds with staff, who are caring, conscientious and kind. Staff plan excellent support for children's personal, social and emotional development. Young children take turns as they roll balls and play peekaboo. They learn to share resources as they explore with soil and straw. Staff provide plenty of praise and encouragement to children. They are clear about what children are being praised for, so they can easily identify and celebrate their achievements.

Children are very happy, settled and secure. They grow rapidly in their independence. Staff have high expectations of the children in their care. They support young children to try and pour their own drinks and to zip up their coats, ready to go out and play. Staff encourage children to serve their own meals. Children learn how to use cutlery appropriately and build their confidence and knowledge about portion size.

Staff plan outstanding opportunities for children to explore using all of their senses. Babies and younger children make marks with sticks in sand. They explore displays of different-textured flooring with their fingers, such as rubber, artificial grass and carpet. Children mix sand and water and explore with real fruit and vegetables in the play kitchen. They investigate a range of materials as they explore with everyday objects, such as wooden spoons, hairbrushes and metal trays.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

• The highly qualified staff team model new skills and provide clear instructions to help embed and extend children's learning. Their intent for children to progress through different stages of learning and development is clear. For example, children move rapidly from using a spoon to a fork, then to a knife and fork with the support of skilled staff. Staff thoughtfully plan support for children to move on quickly from a high chair to a low chair, until eventually they learn how to sit safely on chairs without arm support.
• Staff provide excellent support for children's developing communication and language skills. They ask children questions as they play, leaving plenty of time for them to respond. Staff repeat children's words back to them to show children their contributions are valued and understood.
• Staff plan exciting and stimulating activities that help instil in children a love of books and storytelling. They help stories come to life, as they recreate scenes from favourite stories using natural materials and small-world resources. Staff roll large sheets of paper across the floor for children to paint their favourite characters on.
• There is excellent support for children's physical development. Staff plan challenging activities to build children's strength, flexibility and balance. Children take part in football sessions and music and movement. They enjoy fresh air as they stretch on a climbing frame and balance on planks, tyres and crates in the nursery's enclosed garden.
• The nursery has appointed a member of staff as a physical activity and nutritional coordinator, to help support children to lead healthy lifestyles. The coordinator helps to plan experiences for children to be active. She works with the nursery chef who provides hot, home-cooked meals that are balanced and nutritious.
• Staff invite musicians and performers into the nursery to help teach children exciting, challenging and diverse skills. For example, children learn circus skills and how to play steel drums. They learn about the natural world as they pick pumpkins from a local farm. Children observe chicks hatching from eggs they have been caring for.
• Staff provide excellent support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The nursery's special educational needs coordinator has achieved a qualification in this area and is fully committed to her role.
• Parents speak very highly of the setting. They say that the nursery is 'very inclusive' and that staff are 'passionate and kind'. Parents praise the excellent systems for communication and say they cannot fault the level of care their children receive.
• The manager and staff are very reflective. Staff evaluate the experiences of children well and the manager gathers parents' views. The manager acts on suggestions and demonstrates a very positive attitude towards continuous improvement.
• The dedicated staff work together very well as a team. The very experienced manager supports staff to take on new responsibilities. She provides ample training opportunities in order to help them expand their skills and knowledge.
• The manager receives excellent support from the nursery's wider management team. The manager and her staff are passionate about their work and the outcomes for children in their care.