Kids Academy - Holt Park

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children flourish in this outstanding nursery. The enthusiastic staff implement a highly effective key-person system for all children. Staff are nurturing, which promotes strong bonds and helps children to feel secure in the nursery. Children quickly develop confidence and an eagerness to learn. Staff strive to provide children with lots of wonderfully enriching experiences. For instance, children enjoy visits to local wildlife centres, farms, building sites and parks. They sing to older people at the local leisure centre. Children giggle with delight as a dance teacher comes to nursery to deliver a fun-filled class. Children enthusiastically 'wiggle' and 'woosh' to the music. These new experiences offer children the opportunity to develop their social skills and an understanding of the world around them.

Staff know children remarkably well. They use regular assessments to identify any gaps in children's learning. Staff act on concerns quickly to make sure that no child is left behind. They tailor individual plans for children to build on what they already know and can do. Children who are moving on to school are extremely well prepared for this next stage in their learning. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported very well. Staff make prompt referrals when they identify any concerns to enable children to have access to the support they need. Staff work closely with families and other professionals. All children make excellent progress in relation to their starting points in development.

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

• Children behave exceptionally well. They follow the rules in the nursery, with very few reminders about what is expected, and display high levels of self-control. Staff promote good manners from the earliest age. For example, staff in the baby room use signing to communicate 'please' and 'thank you' to babies. Children are kind and polite, and they patiently take turns. This means that the day runs smoothly, and children are deeply engaged in their play.
• Children undoubtedly have a voice in this setting, with respectful relationships at the heart of staff's practice. Staff ask children their opinions and wishes. For example, they sensitively ask children if they would like help before stepping in to support them when they are struggling with a task. Children have the freedom to make choices about their day. They are independent and have a strong sense of belonging.
• Children's communication and language skills are promoted superbly by staff. They introduce signing to babies and continue to use it throughout the nursery. Older children are wonderfully articulate and hold interesting conversations with each other and staff about their experiences. They use impressive words, such as 'submarine' and 'hydration'. Staff introduce new vocabulary, such as 'anchor'. Children develop communication skills that promote inclusion and prepare them for their future learning.
• Staff place great importance on children developing a love of reading. Leaders provide a library for children to borrow books to take home. Babies show immense pleasure in looking at books with staff, lifting the flaps on the pages. Older children recall their favourite stories. For instance, they talk about the 'evil pea' character from 'Supertato' at lunchtime and draw the 'Gruffalo' with his 'poisonous wart on the end of his nose'. Children learn important literacy skills in preparation for their next stages of education.
• Staff place high importance on children's physical health. They encourage them to frequently drink water. Staff encourage children to wear sun hats outside, and they teach them about the importance of dental health. Children learn how to keep themselves safe and healthy. They demonstrate this as they remind the inspector to be careful, as the wet floor sign is out, and the floor may be slippery.
• Partnerships with parents are exceptional. Parents are extremely complimentary of the staff and praise their caring attitudes. They feel involved in their child's journey through the nursery. Staff frequently communicate with them about their children's progress and how they can support their learning at home. Leaders pride themselves on recognising that to achieve the best outcomes for children, parents often need support too.
• The experienced manager places a high value on her relationships with staff, children and parents. She regularly spends time in the nursery rooms and adopts an open-door policy in her office. This provides the manager with an excellent oversight of the setting. It also helps her to identify weaknesses in practice and swiftly implement plans for improvement. This ensures the continuous delivery of high-quality care and education for children.