Kids Planet Halifax

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Leaders and managers ensure that children benefit from a curriculum that helps them to make excellent progress from their starting points. Learning is thoughtfully sequenced to ensure that it builds on children's existing skills and knowledge. For example, babies learn to feed themselves with spoons and move on to using a knife and fork. They start to learn what is expected of them as they help to tidy away their toys. As children develop their independence and move through the nursery, they take on important responsibilities. They become nursery helpers and eventually become nursery council members where they take part in decisions that affect them.

Throughout children's journey in the nursery, staff consistently support children to develop their communication and language skills. Staff get down on the floor with babies. They repeat the single key words that they want children to learn. As children develop, staff plan small-group activities that help children to develop and extend their vocabulary. For example, children listen to familiar stories and recall key points and characters. Staff work closely with parents and are very knowledgeable about the best ways to support children.

Children of all ages are thoroughly engaged in their learning. This is because staff provide activities and resources that children are interested in. Staff are skilled at using these interests to introduce the concepts and skills that they want children to learn next. Children show high levels of concentration and engagement. They make rapid progress from their starting points.

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

• Children have many opportunities to develop their physical skills. Furniture is thoughtfully placed to allow babies to pull themselves up and then walk with assistance. Children develop their fine motor skills as they use pipettes and tweezers. They complete circuits with different exercises and tasks that develop a broad range of muscles and skills. Staff help them to learn to throw and to catch a ball.
• Recent training for staff to support them to help children to develop their mathematical skills is seen in action. Staff introduce concepts around number, shape and colour into everyday activities. They help children to make comparisons between size, shape and measure. When children have already grasped these concepts, they introduce simple addition, adding one more to two. Children learn a wide range of mathematical concepts and knowledge.
• Staff ask children thought-provoking questions to encourage them to think critically and independently. For example, children experiment with coloured paints. They mix them together and staff ask them what they think will happen.
• Children predict the results and then test out their theories.
• Staff help children to understand what is expected of them. They consistently reinforce the 'five listening skills'. Children know and are familiar with these. Staff praise good behaviour, for example when children share or are helpful. As a result, children's behaviour is consistently exceptional across all age groups.
• Leaders ensure that children are provided with a rich set of experiences that build their individual characters. For example, they visit care homes where they sing, share stories and bake with the residents. Children make a positive contribution to their community.
• Children become members of the nursery council. They help to identify issues or come up with ideas. For example, they have recently planned a celebration afternoon and designed posters to tell parents about the security of the nursery. Children are involved in risk assessments as they consider risks in the outdoor area and learn about hazards and safety.
• Staff know children well and support children's individual needs. Staff ensure that they plan purposeful interventions that help all children to make excellent progress from their starting points.
• Partnership with parents is a key strength of the nursery. Parents come into the nursery and play and learn together alongside their children. Staff share key information about oral health, toilet training and online safety. This contributes towards the progress that children make as they continue learning at home.
• Managers evaluate practice on a regular basis. They provide specific feedback for staff and model good practice. This ensures that staff are continuously developing their skills. The learning and support that children receive is consistent regardless of which room they are in. Support for staff well-being is prioritised. Staff feel well supported by leaders and feel safe and content in their roles.