Shotley Bridge Nursery School Limited

Philosophy: Managers clearly articulate a curriculum that is centred around children's natural instincts to play, explore and investigate.

Activities: Staff provide appealing and exciting activities, that children are extremely keen to take part in.

Skills , Knowledge and Behavior: Staff add a tyre to the climbing frame to encourage babies to further develop their physical skills. Toddlers learn new words quickly, joining in with familiar parts of songs and stories. Older children demonstrate excellent listening and attention skills, and follow instructions well.

Communication: Parents report that communication from staff is excellent and that children 'idolise' their key person.

Programs and Resources: Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities benefit from focused time with key adults.

Welcoming and Professional Staff: Children are confident and play happily, showing that they feel safe and at ease in nursery. Staff know children well and understand what they want them to learn.

Safeguarding Training: Managers ensure that staff understand their responsibilities to protect children, for example, through regular training and sharing information during meetings.

Play and Learning Integration: Children's highly positive attitudes and eagerness to learn mean they benefit extremely well from staff's good quality teaching.

Transition to Primary School: Key-person arrangements support children well. Key staff are allocated to care for children according to who naturally develops a relationship with them. This helps children to feel safe and secure.

Diversity Management: Staff encourage children to identify risks and teach them to keep themselves safe. For example, with support and reassurance, children climb on high structures outdoors. They carefully work out where to put their feet when balancing along the rungs of a ladder.

Child Safety Management: Staff carry out regular checks on the premises and equipment to keep children safe in nursery.

Children's Safety and Security: Children are confident and play happily, showing that they feel safe and at ease in nursery.

Happiness and Settling: Children are remarkably focused during their independent play. They work together with their friends, test out their own ideas and find new ways to do things.

Nutritional Menu: Children grow their own fruit and vegetables in the nursery garden. Staff and parents report that this has encouraged children to make healthier food choices and to try new foods.