Little Angels at Fenham Children's Centre

Outdoor areas give Fenham space for play and discovery. Little Angels at Fenham Children's Centre has capacity for 45 children, from birth to five, on Convent Road in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good at its October 2021 inspection. The detail behind that judgement matters more than the label: children prepared vegetables, negotiated pretend shopping trips and tested their balance on crates and planks. Those are dated examples, but they give parents a concrete picture of the learning assessed then.

The usual opening window is 7.45am to 5.45pm, Monday to Friday throughout the year, with early and late clubs on request.

Learning and Activities

The nursery follows the early years foundation stage. Here, the October 2021 examples included vegetable preparation to develop hand control, storytelling to encourage conversation and imaginative play built around familiar experiences.

In October 2021, older children assembled snack boxes using peppers, lettuce and spring onions. Cutting and tearing gave them practice with the finger movements needed for early writing. Pretend hairdressing supplied another opportunity to develop ideas: staff joined the play and talked with children about hairstyles.

Books prompted discussion, too. During October 2021, staff varied their voices when telling stories, paused for children to examine illustrations and invited questions. Conversation extended beyond books: children playing at washing dishes discussed the bags they would need for a shopping trip. Learning had recognisable everyday ingredients.

Outdoor and Community Life

A pumpkin hunt brought children of different ages together in October 2021. Handling pumpkins gave them experience of weight and movement, while an obstacle course made from planks and crates required careful steps and outstretched arms. These examples connect physical learning with practical challenges children could understand and attempt themselves.

At its October 2021 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities good, with staff involving parents and seeking professional help when learning needs emerged.

In October 2021, children sought comfort from staff across the nursery. Babies exchanged smiles with one another, shared play materials and communicated with adults through babbling. For parents of very young children, those observations make the account of relationships tangible: responsive interaction included babies communicating through babbling.

Home languages also had a place in October 2021. Staff learnt words from parents, connected vocabulary with objects and actions, and allowed children time to formulate a response. That gave families a practical role in supporting communication between home and nursery.

The current settling approach involves staff working with parents to help children make the move into nursery. That gives parents a role in this change in care.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7.45am to 5.45pm on weekdays throughout the year. An early club starts from 7am and a late club extends until 6.30pm, each available on request. Families needing either extension should treat the request condition as part of their planning.

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 0191 274 6316 or through the nursery's enquiry form.

Getting There

The address is Sacred Heart Primary School, Convent Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 9XZ; the nursery also identifies its location by Fenham Hall Drive. Attending the nursery does not guarantee a place at Sacred Heart Primary School.

Funding and Paid Extras

In October 2021, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four.

• Teaching development. In October 2021, staff training needed to give greater attention to children's learning and development. At a visit, ask how professional development now translates into activities for children of different ages.
• Learning through routines. October 2021 findings identified missed opportunities to develop learning during routines such as mealtimes. Ask for an example of how a meal now supports children's conversation or independence.
• Your baby's care. A guided look around lasts 30 minutes. How will your baby's sleep, feeding and settling routine be organised?

Fenham merits consideration for families who value outdoor space and parental involvement in settling. It suits parents whose schedules fit the usual weekday opening window, as well as those seeking requested early or late club extensions. The October 2021 account gives substance to its learning and relationships; the practical next step is to explore how staff development and learning during routines have progressed.