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A nursery has been praised for creating a safe and supportive learning environment where children feel secure and happy.
Bubbly Gems Nursery, located in Sunderland, received positive feedback in its latest Ofsted inspection, achieving the 'expected standard' across all six categories.
Ofsted inspectors highlighted the nursery’s strong approach to safeguarding, noting that leaders “fulfil their specific responsibilities and have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed."
The report stated: "Children are made safer and feel safe."
Inspectors found that children are developing the right skills for their next stage of learning, with opportunities to write some numbers and letters as they draw and talk about their parents at work, and for children who are disadvantaged or have other barriers to learning to develop their sensory interests.
Ofsted said: "Overall, children make suitable progress.
"This is supported by typically effective interactions from staff, who provide suitable experiences for all children and support their learning across all areas of the curriculum."
The nursery’s approach to supporting emotional development and social skills was also highlighted, with staff described as caring role models who promote good behaviour and manners.
Children are said to form close friendships, show respect for others, and demonstrate growing independence.
Ofsted said: "All children are generally happy and settled in this welcoming nursery.
"Typically, the attentive staff support children’s emotional needs well.
"Children form close bonds with the designated key person, and the staff team creates an enjoyable family atmosphere."
Parents also offered positive feedback, describing staff as approachable and praising the level of communication about their children’s interests and wellbeing.
Since the last inspection, leaders have developed a curriculum with clear learning intentions and have introduced regular community activities, including daily walks, to support children’s health and understanding of the world around them.
Staff were commended for their targeted support of children who speak English as an additional language and for promoting independence through consistent routines.
However, the report did identify a compliance issue, noting that leaders failed to notify Ofsted of a change in company directorship, which meant required suitability checks could not be completed on a new director.
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Ofsted said: "The provider removed the unchecked director and has improved her knowledge of suitability and notifications.
"This means children are no longer at risk, and there is no impact on children’s learning and development, and safety or welfare."
Overall, the nursery was found to provide adequate assurance of children’s welfare, with staff consistently meeting care needs in a calm and nurturing environment.