Kids Planet Durham

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children demonstrate that they feel safe, content, and happy. Their needs are placed at the heart of this welcoming and inviting nursery. Children arrive eager to start their day, happily greeting their friends and staff. Staff warmly welcome children and parents, engaging them in friendly conversation. Children build close, meaningful relationships with staff, who know them well and respond to their needs with kindness and care.

Children demonstrate positive attitudes towards learning. Staff thoughtfully arrange resources to spark children's curiosity. For example, outdoors, children experiment with water, exploring concepts of volume by filling containers and pouring water through different tubes. They delight in discovering that sponges can absorb water. Older children are highly motivated and deeply engaged for extended periods.

Leaders and staff provide excellent support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They work in close partnership with external agencies, such as educational psychologists, to develop effective target plans tailored to each child's needs. Leaders make good use of additional funding to ensure that children with SEND benefit from targeted resources and support, including one-to-one interactions and access to a sensory room. As a result, children with SEND make strong progress in relation to their starting points.

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

• Leaders have developed a curriculum that supports children to gain the essential skills and knowledge they need for the future. Overall, staff have a strong understanding of their teaching approach and the purpose behind it. They use assessment and planning to create a range of engaging experiences that support children's learning. However, at times, staff focus their teaching on a broad area of learning, and do not fully consider children's individual next steps during experiences. This means teaching is not always tailored to what each child needs to learn next.
• Staff build excellent relationships with parents and keep them well informed and involved in their child's learning. Parents have access to an online platform where they can view photos and regular updates about their child. Leaders have created a purpose-built room for parents which helps them feel welcome and included. The nursery offers a wealth of resources, including advice on oral health, and books and activities for children to enjoy at home. Parents report that they are happy with all aspects of their children's care and education.
• Leaders are highly reflective and monitor all aspects of the nursery with a focus on achieving the best outcomes for children. They gather feedback from parents and staff, which informs their reflective practice. Leaders closely monitor staff performance and provide targeted training to enhance skills and knowledge. For example, recent training on behaviour management has enabled staff to adopt consistent strategies when supporting children's behaviour. Staff feel highly valued and have regular opportunities to discuss their well-being.
• Staff have high expectations for children's independence. The nursery environment is thoughtfully arranged to encourage children to explore and make choices independently. At mealtimes, children are supported to serve their own snacks and drinks, fostering self-reliance. Older children take pride in being 'helpers', setting up tables in preparation for meals. These experiences help prepare children well for the next stage of their education.
• Children behave well and display positive attitudes to their learning. They listen to the staff's guidance as they learn to share and take turns. Staff are positive role models and support children through gentle guidance and consistent praise, helping them to understand expectations. Children understand the daily routines well. For example, they know to go and wash their hands before they eat their meals.
• Staff understand the vital role that strong communication skills play in children's overall development. They actively join in with children's play, using conversation to build on children's ideas and extend their vocabulary. Children learn a 'word of the week', which is also shared with parents and carers to reinforce learning at home. Staff use a variety of strategies to support children who may find communication more challenging, including those who speak English as an additional language.
• Staff make excellent use of outdoor areas to spark children's curiosity about nature. For example, children plan, sketch and build insect houses. They show great respect as they carefully observe the insects they discover, gently placing them under leaves for safety. Staff enrich these experiences by introducing books about animals, insects and plants. Children grow their own herbs and vegetables, which are often included in the nutritious, balanced meals prepared by the nursery.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to consistently focus their teaching on children's individual next steps during all experiences.