Kids Planet Clarence

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive at this outstanding nursery. Staff provide a carefully sequenced and meticulously planned curriculum. Highly knowledgeable staff implement the curriculum well, helping children to make exceptional progress from their individual starting points. Skilled staff ignite children's curiosity as they learn through a wide range of enticing activities. Staff promote children's confidence to make choices about their play and learning. They are always on hand to support them and discuss different options with them throughout their day. Children demonstrate exceptionally high levels of engagement in their learning. For example, they delight in supporting their friends to solve problems as they play together. Staff consistently encourage children to aim high and to set aspirational goals. Staff are superb role models and foster a culture of respect where children's voices and choices are highly valued.

Staff promote children's personal skills exceptionally well. They teach children to become independent from the earliest age. For instance, babies drink from open cups proficiently. Staff skilfully support children to manage their emotions. They create areas where children can vent their frustrations, followed by breathing exercises to promote calm and regulation. Staff support all children to behave incredibly well. Children's individual interests are promoted superbly. Their personalities are nurtured from the outset through the highly effective key-person system. Children form strong bonds with staff which outlast their time at the nursery. Staff celebrate children's efforts and achievements from the outset. For instance, 'proud cloud' boards mark babies' first steps and words. Children leaving for school enjoy a graduation festival to celebrate their time and achievements at nursery. Children develop high self-esteem and become confident learners.

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

• The provider demonstrates passion for their role and cascades this to staff through their continual enthusiasm. Staff are dedicated to enhancing their knowledge and skills through the wide array of targeted training offered by the provider. They are keen have their practice critiqued by their colleagues and to share what they learn with the team. This helps staff to provide the highest quality teaching and experience for all children.
• Children excel in their language and literacy skills as a result of highly effective teaching strategies and interactions. For instance, babies demonstrate well-developed speech and children confidently begin to read and write at an early age. Staff support the most capable children to continue to make exceptional progress by implementing additional focused support.
• Staff demonstrate a robust understanding of how to sequence children's learning as they intuitively build on what children know and can do. Staff have a deep understanding of how children learn and they choose the best approaches to suit each child. Staff identify gaps in children's learning early and intervene swiftly to help close gaps quickly. This supports all children to make excellent progress.
• Staff help children to prepare well for transitions between the nursery rooms and on to school. Staff complete a thorough handover process so that children's new key staff know them well from the outset. Staff teach children the skills they will need as they move on. They take children on visits to their new schools and encourage their confidence as they dress up in school uniforms. As a result, children settle quickly in their new room and are excited about their transition to school.
• The provider promotes children's physical development superbly. Children learn specific physical skills through sports and movement classes. For example, babies develop their core muscles and learn about how their bodies move in yoga sessions. Outings to the beach and woodland areas help children learn to manage different terrain as they run around in open spaces. Children understand the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle. They develop a love of the outdoors and of exercise.
• Outings provide rich opportunities where staff promote children's interest in the world around them. Staff teach children to manage risk and to evaluate their surroundings as they travel in the local area on trams. They find out about different generations as they build relationships with older people during trips with staff to a local care home. Children learn about their community, the local area and the wider world.
• Staff plan innovative ways to help children find out about other cultures. For instance, the nursery bear visits interesting places, such as Japan, with children and their families. Children tell their friends about their travels. Staff help children to write postcards from places they learn about. They visit the post box to send them to their families. Staff teach children about varied family dynamics. Children begin to understand our diverse world and are very well prepared for life in modern Britain.
• Relationships with parents are strong and supportive. Parents are integral to the regular reviewing of the provision. Their suggestions are valued and acted on, such as recent changes made to the outdoor area. Parents praise staff's excellent communication. Staff promote parents as partners in their children's education and offer a wide range of take-home resources to help children continue their learning at home. This enhances the consistency of children's care and experiences.