Kids Planet Jack Straws Lane Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children thrive in all ways possible at this inspiring nursery.

Their complete sense of security and belonging are clearly evident. This is a direct result of the total commitment staff show to making the nursery experience the best it can possibly be for all children. Staff create an environment where children feel totally at home.

They treat all children as individuals, taking full account of each child's personality, needs and circumstances. Where children need reassurance and cuddles, they receive this. When children need encouragement and gentle persuasion, they receive this too.

Staff are extremel...y in tune with what each child needs to feel very safe and welcome. Children's behaviour is exemplary. They fully understand what is expected of them and cooperate very happily with these expectations.

Children benefit from an exciting curriculum that is delivered with great skill by the knowledgeable staff. There is a strong focus on outdoor learning for all ages. The way staff use this approach enhances, and in no way compromises, children's learning across a broad curriculum.

Staff are very confident about children's capabilities. They provide an environment that gives children lots of challenges to develop their stamina, coordination and balance. With the expert guidance of staff, children develop an extremely strong set of physical skills.

Children have no idea just how wide a range of skills and knowledge they are gaining. What they do know is that they are having lots of fun.

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

Staff teach in ways that enthral and capture children's interest exceptionally well.

They make learning memorable. This leads to children showing excellent recall of all the things they have done and learned. For example, children in the pre-school room talk in great detail of trips to museums and libraries and everything they saw and did there.

They remember what they have cooked over open fires, clearly explaining the recipes they followed and what they had to do to stay safe.Children become excellent problem-solvers. This was illustrated when a group of children worked together to create a series of bridges.

They considered the available resources, how to move them and how to make the structure stable. Staff made excellent decisions about the levels of support children needed to achieve their objective. These exciting experiences are threaded through children's time at nursery and help them develop into very resourceful and resilient learners.

The attention to detail staff show in how they plan for children's learning leads to excellent outcomes. For example, staff know that for children to be able to reach their creative potential they need to be taught how to use tools and equipment that enable them to do so. Children learn how to use paintbrushes, water-pots and easels so they have the skills they need to take inspiration from their surroundings to create their own paintings.

From a very young age, children learn to manage risks for themselves. Babies learn to manoeuvre around obstacles and toddlers learn to explore safely. Older children fully understand how to keep themselves safe in the woodland area.

They confidently talk about where they can play and where they must not go. They are fully involved in risk assessing the area each morning. Because staff teach children so well how to stay safe, they can give children a lot of autonomy to explore independently.

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive all the support they need to get the most out of their time at nursery. The manager uses any additional funding to ensure this is the case. Staff who work with such children are skilled, confident and caring in doing so.

They help close gaps in children's learning and also excel at their particular talents.Children's care needs are met to the same high standards as their learning needs. The care and kindness staff show babies and toddlers leads to these young children showing exceptionally high levels of well-being.

Older children are extremely independent. They ensure the outdoor dining table is clean and ready and wash their hands without being reminded.The manager works tirelessly to support and motivate the staff team.

Parents cannot speak highly enough of the nursery and the support they and their children receive. Staff speak equally as highly of their experience of working at the nursery. This all helps create a very happy nursery experience for children, their families and staff.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager ensures all staff have the knowledge they need to recognise and respond to signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm or neglect. Staff know how to respond to any such concerns, including how to escalate beyond the provider if necessary.

Staff understand their role in keeping children safe during their time at nursery and know how to share any concerns about a colleague's conduct if the need to do so ever arose. Staff are aware of the risks to children of being exposed to radical ideologies or domestic violence. Leaders follow robust recruitment procedures to ensure those employed to work with children are suitable to do so.