Positive Steps Day Nursery

We offer ‘30 hours childcare for working parents’ in partnership with other childcare in our area.

We are a private day nursery. We provide quality care and education to children aged birth to five years.

We offer a maximum of 58 places to children at any one time: 18 of these places to children aged 0-2 years and the remaining 40 places to children aged 2-5 years.

Our nursery is divided into three rooms:

  • the cuddly cubs 0-2 years
  • little bears 2-3 years
  • pre-school room 3-5 years

All children share access to an enclosed outdoor learning environment.

Free pre-school education is available for children aged 3 years and over. This entitles your child to three hours free education per day or 15 hours per week over a minimum of two days (this may incur a charde for lunch) for 38 weeks of the year, although the majority of children using this do stay with for additional sessions. 

We currently offer funded hours within the 2 year old room for children who are eligible, up to a maximum of 15 hours per week. 

To find out more about help with childcare costs please visit www.durham.gov.uk/childcarecosts

When is it on?

Time of day
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Session information
Monday to Thursday 8.00am - 5.45pm
Friday 8.00am - 5.15pm
7.45am - 8.00am early bird session is an additional cost, pre- booking only

Who to contact

Contact name
Denise McAvinnie
Contact position
Manager
Telephone
0191 518 5540
0191 518 8360
0191 518 8361
E-mail
denise.mcavinnie@eastdurham.ac.uk

Where to go

Name
East Durham College
Address
Willerby Grove
Peterlee
County Durham
Postcode
SR8 2RN

Other details

Age range
1 month - 5 years

Availability

Childcare availability
Closed bank holidays
Term time
School holidays
Free 3/4 yr places
Yes
Free 2 yr places
Yes
Will be providing 30 hours
Yes

Special provisions

Wheelchair access
Yes - Low level door entry buzzers and openers. Ground floor.
Cultural provisions
Yes
Special diets
Yes - We have experience with children who have dairy/lactose intolerances, nut and other food allergies.
Special needs access
Yes
Special needs experience
Hearing Difficulties
Premature Babies
Allergies
Language impairment
Severe dietary needs
Deaf
Special educational needs
Low muscle tone
Developmental Delay
Learning difficulties
Speech Delay
Aspergers syndrome
Speech and language problems
Autism
Asthma
Autistic spectrum

Vacancy details

Immediate vacancies?
Yes
Other information
Vacancies in all rooms - baby room places depend on what days are available. (Updated 17 August 2023)

Other details

School drop off/collection
Last Ofsted inspection grade
Good
Ofsted report
View the latest Ofsted inspection report

Local Offer

Local Offer description

We are committed to providing quality care and education for all children.  We work in partnership with parents/carers and other agencies in meeting individual children’s needs.  

We ensure that our physical environment is suitable for access for all children and adults where ever possible.  We are committed to providing a broad and balanced curriculum that is differentiated to meet individual needs and abilities of all children ensuring an inclusive approach.

Our SENCOs attend at least one days training per year and regular cluster meetings, drop in sessions and SENCO business meetings to update current practice and receive relevant information. 

Contact name
Joanne Churlish, Leanne Hawkes and Tracey Brennan
Contact telephone
0191 518 8360
Contact email
denise.mcavinnie@eastdurham.ac.uk

How does the early year's provision identify and assess children with special educational needs and disabilities?

How does the early year's provision identify and assess children with special educational needs and disabilities?

We have a policy in place which clearly identifies how we provide for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

We recognise that some children may have additional needs and are committed to the inclusion of all children.

We use the early years outcomes as an aid to help understand the outcomes children should be working towards and assess if the child is developing at expected levels.

Staff maintain accurate and up to date files on all their key children.

Where a child’s progress is below expected levels, we would review all the information about the child’s learning and development from within our nursery and at home.

Parents/carers will be consulted at the first opportunity and will be asked  to contribute to observations and discuss any concerns they may have about their child. If required, support plans will be put in place working together with parents.

The nursery liaise with the local authorities to seek appropriate advice.

Some additional funding may be claimed from the Local Authority to support children with Special Educational Needs.

How will the curriculum be matched to meet children's developmental needs?

How will the curriculum be matched to meet children's developmental needs?

Planning is carried out monthly and weekly to ensure they deliver a broad and balanced curriculum for all children differentiating activities to suit the stages of all children.

What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the early years setting?

What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the early years setting?

We have built up good working partnership with other professionals including One Point, EDA - Equality and Inclusion Team, Health Visitors, Sensory support workers, Educational Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Pysiotherapists and the local speech and language team.

We have links with local childrens centres, who we can go to for advice and services for families

What training have the staff supporting children with SEND had, or are having?

What training have the staff supporting children with SEND had, or are having?
  • SEND reforms training
  • Cochlear implant training
  • Speech and language training and strategies to support childrens language development
  • Report writing
  • Supporting children with medical conditions
  • Autism training
  • Elklan training

How accessible is the early years setting environment? (indoors/outdoors)

How accessible is the early years setting environment? (indoors/outdoors)

All areas are fully accessible. We are based within a college on the ground floor.

How will the early years provision prepare and support my child(ren's) transition to their next educational establishment?

How will the early years provision prepare and support my child(ren's) transition to their next educational establishment?

We have a Transition Policy in place.  Children will be supported when leaving to go to other settings or joining us from other settings.  We will liaise with other setting via teams, telephone or email to help gather information to support the child's learning.

Disclaimer

Durham County Council's Families Information Service does not promote nor endorse the services advertised on this website. Anyone seeking to use/access such services does so at their own risk and may make all appropriate enquiries about fitness for purpose and suitability to meet their needs.

Journey planner

Address: Willerby Grove  Peterlee  County Durham

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