Kids 1st - Darlington

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children thrive at this exceptional setting.

They are provided with a rich, stimulating learning environment which excites and motivates them. Children behave extremely well as they play alongside each other. Older children know and understand the rules of the setting.

For example, they remind each other to wear safety helmets when riding on bicycles. Staff have very high expectations of children and support their development by encouraging them to always attempt new things and develop a 'can-do' attitude to learning. For example, staff challenge children to move water from one area to another.

Children... relish the opportunity to use their thinking skills as they work out how to complete the task. Children delight in sharing their experiences from home. This is demonstrated as young children act out a bus journey they have experienced.

Staff enthuse and motivate children by encouraging their imaginative skills. Children relish sitting on the seats and singing 'The wheels on the bus'. Staff expertly ask questions and weave in new vocabulary such as 'conductor'.

This helps to develop children's communication skills. Staff place a very high priority on children's emotional development. Babies develop incredibly close and trusting relationships with the extremely caring and attentive staff.

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

Partnership working with parents is outstanding and a key strength of the setting. The open-door policy operated for parents works extremely well. Parents are involved in children's initial assessments with the key person, ensuring starting points for the child's learning are accurate.

Furthermore, detailed information about children's achievements is shared regularly with parents, ensuring they are fully informed and involved in their child's learning. Parents speak extremely highly of the staff team and the superb service they receive.Children's understanding of diversity and difference is superbly promoted as they paint and draw self-portraits.

Staff discuss what makes them special and unique. Furthermore, they celebrate festivals and special events from around the world and access resources that reflect positive images of people from different cultures. This ensures that children learn to value aspects of their own lives and the diverse society in which they live.

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported extremely well. Staff have established highly effective partnership working with other professionals, such as health visitors and local schools. They share a wealth of invaluable information, which helps to provide a highly consistent approach to children's care and learning.

Additional funding is used well to support vulnerable children.The quality of teaching is exceptional. The well-qualified staff have a superb understanding of how young children learn.

They plan highly stimulating activities in a safe, vibrant and highly challenging learning environment. Staff use every opportunity to extend and support children's language skills. For example, children talk enthusiastically as they explore vegetables and discuss growth and decay.

The members of the leadership team are inspirational. They are passionate and committed in their drive to continuously improve the setting. The manager has an exceptional knowledge of her role and individual responsibilities.

A high emphasis is placed on staff well-being. Regular supervisions, high-quality coaching and access to counselling services ensure that the staff are supported extraordinarily well.Children benefit from superbly planned adult-led activities that encourage physical development.

For example, children develop their small-muscle skills as they dig for potatoes and use their large muscles as they play hopscotch in the garden. Young children have incredible fun while enjoying sensory experiences with paint or making marks in the sand and flour.Children behaviour is exemplary.

They demonstrate positive behaviour at all times and show exceptionally high levels of cooperation and respect for one another. Children thrive on the positive praise and encouragement from staff. Older children are able to resolve their own conflicts and negotiate a solution to their problems.

Children are keen to have a go and understand when to take risks and when to stand back. They embrace challenge and are thrilled by their efforts.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

As the designated lead for safeguarding, the manager has a first-rate understanding of her role. She is confident of procedures to follow in the event an allegation being made against herself or a member of her team. All staff have an exemplary understanding of safeguarding procedures and in-depth knowledge of how to report concerns about children's welfare.

Staff also demonstrate an excellent knowledge of wider safeguarding issues, including the 'Prevent' duty legislation. Superb recruitment and vetting procedures are in place. New staff and students complete a robust induction process to help ensure that they are suitable to work with children.

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