New Life Day Care

A sensory garden, an allotment and support for the whole family shaped New Life Day Care's character at its May 2022 inspection. Based at New Life Family Centre in Billingham, it has capacity for 90 children. At its 31 May 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated it Outstanding and found that personalised learning helped children make excellent progress.

That judgement describes a particular point in time. In May 2022, the children attending ranged from 0 to 11; the practical arrangements and daily experiences below also relate to that period.

In May 2022, language development ran through activities for babies and older children alike. Babies made sounds in response to adults talking to them. Staff repeated words during puddle play and introduced more demanding vocabulary to preschool children. This made conversation part of ordinary play rather than a separate exercise.

The early years foundation stage brings learning, development and care together: here, activities connected physical exploration with language and mathematical ideas. In May 2022, children aimed hose pipes at a wall target and considered how moving back would affect their aim. Babies reached for bubbles, combining movement with anticipation.

Outdoor space had several purposes. In May 2022, the sensory garden offered herbs and contrasting textures, while the allotment gave children opportunities to grow produce. A memory garden had been created with families and staff. These spaces connected exploration, practical tasks and shared remembrance.

At the May 2022 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding arrangements and strong support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including individual targets and work with other agencies. These findings sit alongside the educational judgement, rather than replacing the detail of children's care.

In May 2022, a sensory room offered a quieter space, while babies could use coracle cots when they needed sleep or rest. Displays called wow walls and proud clouds recognised achievements. Staff helped children put feelings into words, and group therapy sessions supported children and parents affected by experiences such as bereavement.

Support extended beyond the nursery day. In May 2022, a family support officer offered guidance on breastfeeding, attachment and toilet training. A creche gave struggling parents a break, and leaders had helped families with food packs and household equipment. During pandemic restrictions, contact had included weekly telephone calls, home visits and learning resources.

The address is New Life Family Centre, Low Grange Avenue, Billingham, TS23 3EQ.

In May 2022, the nursery operated throughout the year, Monday to Friday, with session times of 8am to 6pm. It provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. These are dated arrangements, useful for understanding the service assessed at that visit.

• A dated assessment. The Outstanding judgement dates to May 2022. For a visit, one useful question is: how do today's attendance arrangements and family support compare with those described here?
• Support beyond childcare. In May 2022, the creche, family guidance and practical assistance formed part of the setting's work. Families weighing this nursery should consider whether that broader approach matches the support they want alongside childcare.

New Life Day Care suits families who value practical exploration and an active relationship between nursery and home. Its May 2022 account combines gardening, language-rich play and concrete help for families. The strongest reason to consider it is that combination: children's learning and family circumstances were addressed together.