Positive Steps Day Nursery

A college-campus address gives Positive Steps Day Nursery a clear practical identity: childcare at East Durham College in Peterlee, open to families from the wider public as well as those studying there. This is an option for parents combining college attendance with caring for a young child, with access also open to parents who are not studying there.

The nursery has capacity for 58 children, with an accepted age range from birth to five. At its September 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall. The detail behind that judgement included book borrowing, outdoor exploration and opportunities for children to practise doing things for themselves.

Those daily-life examples belong to September 2022. They give parents useful points to explore alongside the current opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 7.30am to 6pm, and Friday from 7.30am to 5.30pm.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, linking play and everyday experiences with developing language, movement and independence. In September 2022, activities made these connections concrete: children experimented with bubbles and paint, while threading pretend fruit onto laces gave them a task requiring concentration and hand control.

Book Passport Scheme was the named reading initiative in September 2022, rewarding children for the books they explored during each term. A lending library let parents borrow books too, connecting nursery reading with home. Daily songs, rhymes and stories gave children opportunities to hear and use words. Books were part of the day, rather than an isolated activity.

In September 2022, everyday play also introduced counting and colour recognition. Children used pretend fruit in the mud kitchen and constructed brick towers; peeling fruit, handling dough and combining paints exercised smaller hand muscles. These examples show how learning could sit inside a practical task, with something to handle, build or change.

Outdoor and Community Life

An enclosed garden provided daily outdoor activity in September 2022. Children practised balancing, climbing and sliding using equipment indoors and outdoors, while long paper rolls encouraged younger children to stretch as they made marks. The physical experiences involved both larger movements and smaller, more controlled actions.

Nature walks included gathering leaves, giving children material to examine from the world around them. Waterproof clothing bought using additional funding supported outdoor play in different weather. For a parent who values time outside, the useful detail is the combination of a garden, movement and exploration, rather than outdoor access alone.

At the September 2022 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding arrangements and strong support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including individual support plans, work with health professionals and staff training relating to autism. These were dated findings about practice, rather than a blanket assurance about every child's experience today.

In September 2022, staff encouraged children to attempt tasks and recognised their effort. Independence took practical forms: children removed shoes and coats, washed their hands and put away aprons; older children helped themselves to lunch. Sharing and taking turns were also part of staff's work with children. Such routines gave children opportunities to practise useful skills throughout the day.

Parent communication in September 2022 covered activities and children's development. Staff also passed relevant information to the schools children subsequently attended, helping the next setting understand their learning. A relationship with college staff involved exchanging professional knowledge, adding another connection between the nursery and its campus setting.

Staff were experienced in September 2022, with meetings, observations and appraisals supporting their development. Meals at that time were balanced and nutritious, and staff used conversations about food to introduce healthy eating.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is East Durham College, Willerby Grove, Peterlee, SR8 2RN. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm from Monday to Thursday, with a 5.30pm finish on Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays and Christmas; the earlier Friday finish matters when matching childcare with work or study commitments.

For nursery enquiries, the direct telephone number is 0191 518 5540. In September 2022, funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four.

Getting There

The Peterlee Campus is just off the A19. Campus parking uses automatic number-plate recognition and is restricted to staff, people studying at the college and authorised visitors; visitors must register their vehicle at Reception within 20 minutes.

• Support during routines. In September 2022, staff deployment during everyday routines needed review to improve learning support. On a visit, explore how practitioners divide their attention during meals and other shared tasks.
• Visual guidance. The September 2022 improvement priorities included adding visual prompts for learning and behaviour. Ask how pictures or other visual cues now help children understand activities and expectations.
• Your attendance plan. Friday closes earlier than the other weekdays, and Christmas and bank holidays interrupt the year-round pattern. Discuss the booking arrangement and request a written quotation covering your intended hours, funding, meals and consumables before committing.

Positive Steps merits consideration for families seeking childcare on the Peterlee college campus, including parents studying there and families from the surrounding community. Its September 2022 daily-life examples give the review substance: a book-reward scheme linked to borrowing, outdoor exploration and practical independence. The decision rests on how today's arrangements fit the child's needs and the family's timetable, with the earlier Friday finish deserving attention.