Kids Planet Hale

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children thrive and thoroughly enjoy their time at this inclusive and extremely well-organised nursery. They continuously demonstrate that they feel valued and safe, and have an excellent sense of belonging in the caring environment. The views of children matter deeply to staff.

For example, the children's committee meet to discuss changes they would like to see in the nursery. They also vote on important aspects of nursery life, such as naming the chicks they have observed hatch and are now caring for. Staff have extremely high expectations for all children.

They have a profound understanding of how young child...ren learn and develop, and successfully plan precisely what children need to learn next. All children make rapid and sustained progress from the time they start to attend the nursery. Children are extremely confident and behave exceptionally well.

They support each other to overcome any challenges and to solve problems as they play. For example, older children share their ideas, negotiate, and test their theories when trying to make a bridge that will successfully hold a heavy toy car. Children are encouraged to think critically and enjoy using their imaginations.

For example, toddlers express their joy as they explore a wonderful range of sensory experiences while recreating scenes from their favourite storybook outside. They eagerly step in water, soil and shaving foam and think of words to describe the different textures.

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

Leaders and managers are uncompromising in their vision.

They share their passion with a dedicated and highly motivated staff team. Managers monitor the roles of each member of staff meticulously. They provide an impressive variety of coaching, mentoring and supervision opportunities for all staff.

The highly-skilled staff share their unique range of skills and learn from each other. This helps to ensure that teaching is of the highest quality.All children are confident, curious and deeply engaged in the wealth of activities provided.

Staff make exceptional use of children's interests to engage and motivate them in their learning. Children as young as nine months of age demonstrate superb levels of understanding and concentration. For example, they look at picture books and taste the fruits that the character in the story eats.

Staff ignite children's love of literacy. An immensely popular storybook loan scheme means that children have a continual source of new stories to share with their parents at home.Children develop an excellent awareness of their health and well-being.

For example, they eagerly demonstrate how germs react to the use of soap using water, pepper and liquid soap. They discuss how the 'germs' dislike soap and 'run away' when the soap is applied. Children confidently explain why it is important for them to wash their hands properly before eating their lunch.

Staff ensure that stringent hygiene procedures are robustly followed.Staff provide an impressive and creative range of opportunities for children to develop their reading, writing and mathematical skills. For example, children become absorbed in opportunities to practise their writing skills.

They skilfully write their own labels and enjoy making marks in the sand. Older children count and calculate during their play. Babies and toddlers enthusiastically join in number rhymes and learn to recognise simple shapes.

Children are superbly supported to recognise and value the similarities and differences between themselves and others. For example, staff sensitively encourage children to talk about differences in hair and skin colour between themselves and their friends. They are fascinated as they use different-coloured stockings and place them over their arms, observing how this changes the colour of their skin.

Children remark that their skin colour may be different, but their feelings are the same.Parents are skilfully assisted to contribute to their child's learning at home. Staff provide detailed information about each child's achievements and next steps in learning.

Parents speak extremely highly of the caring and knowledgeable staff team. They value opportunities to attend a range of workshops on topics such as children's first aid and sensory play in the well-equipped sensory room.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff have a very good understanding of the signs that may indicate a child may be at risk of harm, including from radical and extreme views. Managers and staff have an excellent understanding of child protection issues. They are familiar with the procedure to take prompt and efficient action should they have any concerns about children's welfare.

Staff include children when checking the environment for risks and teach them how to manage risk. Children are mindful of their own and each other's safety. For example, they remind each other of the importance of handling scissors correctly as they cut herbs.