Kiddie Kloud Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children behave well in this nursery. They are polite and use their manners without needing to be prompted. Children share and take turns with their friends. They are caring and considerate to each other. This is due to leaders and staff having high expectations for children. Staff support children's personal care needs well. They communicate effectively with all children. Therefore, children know what is happening now and next.

Children are confident and happily lead their own play. They have great fun exploring different dinosaurs. Children name the dinosaurs and delight in making different dinosaur noises. They bring diggers to the activity and fill these with leaves and dinosaur eggs. Staff comment on what children are doing and model play well. Children are ready for their next stage in learning.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders identified some gaps in children's personal, social and emotional development. Leaders and staff have put effective measures into place to support children and bridge these gaps. As a result, children are happy and settled in this nursery. They have good relationships with staff and often go to them for comforting cuddles. Children are safe and secure in this nursery.

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

• Leaders have a very clear idea of what they want children to learn next. Staff identify children's next steps in development and set up resources that capture children's interests. However, some staff do not always plan experiences that challenge and stimulate children's learning to the highest level. Therefore, some children do not develop high levels of involvement and engagement and move quickly between the different areas of provision.
• Staff support children to make good progress with their speech development. They take account of children's individual learning needs. Staff adapt the way they model new language to children to meet those needs. Older children enjoy sharing stories with staff. They are able to recall the key parts and confidently join in with the story. Children sing with confidence and use actions and signs. This supports children's communication and language skills.
• Children listen to staff and show them lots of respect. Children are starting to develop their independence skills. They make choices in their play. Staff have nursery rules in place. Children follow these with some encouragement from staff, such as walking inside.
• Children are learning some of the different ways to keep themselves healthy. They enjoy nutritious snacks and home-cooked meals. Children confidently have a go at feeding themselves. They get exercise and fresh air daily. Children enjoy going on walks and visiting the horses in the local field. Older children enjoy physical education sessions. These help to develop their balance and coordination skills.
• Leaders support staff's well-being and mental health effectively. Staff express that this enables them to support children's needs. They talk to children about their feelings. Children identify their emotions and regulate their behaviour well.
• Children learn about what makes them unique and celebrate their own cultures. They also learn about similarities and differences between themselves and others. This supports children to learn about the world around them.
• Staff keep their mandatory training up to date. Since the last inspection, leaders have made considerable improvements to the provision. They evaluate practice and identify areas for development. Leaders have plans to further train staff on how to continue to improve their quality of teaching. However, this has not yet been fully embedded.
• Leaders and staff work very well with parents and other professionals to implement tailored plans that support children's individual learning and medical needs. Consequently, children thrive in this nursery.
• Parents speak very highly of the nursery, leaders and staff. They are very pleased with how staff communicate with them about what they are working on with their children. Parents feel that this enables them to continue children's learning at home. They feel confident about talking with leaders and staff about their children's individual needs and say that staff meet these well.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• enhance planning further to provide children with even more challenging experiences that help them to develop high levels of involvement, interaction and engagement in activities
• strengthen training and coaching to further raise the quality of teaching and education to the highest standard.