Kids Love Nature Kindergarten at Avon Heath

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

The emphasis on outdoor play and learning in nature enables children to flourish at this nursery. They are highly motivated to learn and demonstrate high levels of confidence and self-reliance.

While the indoor environment is extremely inviting and engaging, children also benefit significantly from the range of outstanding learning opportunities outdoors. They are proud to talk about the nursery's chickens who give them eggs. Children and staff accompany the park rangers on 'explorer sessions' into the adjacent country park.

From the bird hide, children identify and name birds at the feeder, explaining that, 'Th...ey eat different seeds because they have different shaped beaks'. Children learn how the forest and heathland are managed to encourage the inspects, birds and animals. They help to find the pine saplings and cut them with a lopper.

Children feel safe here, taking on responsibilities in their nursery and helping to grow vegetables for the lunches that they assist with preparing. Indoors, children examine the shapes and textures of an old wasps' nest. They look at the hexagonal chambers and use pictures to compare wasps and bees.

Children love working with the nursery's resident artist to create pictures of wildlife and plants. Children are kind and caring individuals who respect others and eagerly take turns.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

The manager and provider are passionate about providing high-quality care and education for children and work tirelessly to maintain and improve this outstanding provision.

All staff share their passion and implement a curriculum that is highly effective in supporting children's emotional well-being and development across all areas of learning.Children develop a love of nature and the natural world through the nursery's innovative planning and implementation of the curriculum. Staff put children's mental health and security at the heart of everything they do, nurturing a caring and supportive environment where children flourish.

The focus on teaching children about the natural world and sustainability is key to this provision, to help children respect nature and to care for the planet.Management has developed 'principles of learning' that are implemented across all Kids Love Nature provisions. This enables staff to assess their practice and continually improve and develop what they do.

Management and staff constantly strive to provide the very best quality of care and education for children.The quality of teaching is impressive. Staff skilfully guide children by asking questions, encouraging them to explore concepts and building on what they already know and can do.

All staff prioritise children's emotional security to help them to recognise and appropriately express their emotions. Staff fully understand that this skill enables children to develop the ability to listen to others, develop empathy and improve the quality of relationships throughout their lives. Children's behaviour is exemplary.

Parents state that staff provide an excellent level of communication. They are fully informed of their child's development and the next steps in their learning. Family days at the nursery are well attended and here, parents have good opportunities to experience a day at the nursery, exploring the adjacent heathlands and finding out how their children learn.

The provider and other management staff hold 'parent talks' two or three times each year to explain the ethos of the nursery and to provide support to parents for issues such as sibling rivalry, toilet training or fussy eating.Staff feel extremely well supported by the management team. They relish excellent opportunities to extend their continued professional development.

For example, staff have attended training to enable them to support children's mental health and emotional well-being. Managers recognise that the staff are their most valuable resource and provide excellent support for their professional and personal well-being.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The provider ensures that all staff complete safeguarding training on a regular basis to maintain their knowledge and understanding of keeping children safe. Staff are clear that children's safety as paramount. They are confident in knowing how to recognise and report any concerns they may have about a child's safety without hesitation.

Staff teach children about their own safety as soon as they start at the nursery. This enables children to assess and manage risks independently. They confidently use real tools, such as hammers and nails, to build the wooden constructions in the outdoor space, clamber up the steep banks with confidence, and use the rope swings sensibly, but with enthusiasm.