Kids Planet Patterdale Lodge

Inclusion: Expected standard

Leaders strive to ensure that all children receive equal opportunities and narrow gaps for those who are most disadvantaged. Leaders and staff understand the challenges faced by families who access the setting. Some children are in receipt of additional funding, and leaders work closely with parents and key workers to decide how to spend this money. This careful and considered approach to funding means that the most disadvantaged children are provided with every opportunity to succeed in their learning journey. Leaders provide a food bank in the reception area of the nursery for all families to access if needed. This illustrates their commitment to equality and inclusion.

Typically, children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) benefit from appropriate support to overcome any barriers to their learning. Generally, staff implement bespoke care plans for children with SEND, to ensure that the care and learning provided are tailored to children's specific needs. This individualised approach illustrates the drive for an inclusive service that meets everyone's different needs.

Staff value the input and expertise from a range of wider professionals. They make swift referrals to external specialists when needed, to ensure children receive the support they need in a timely way. All children are supported to thrive because their needs are understood and met.

Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard

The curriculum is thoughtfully sequenced. Children's learning is based on a secure foundation of prior knowledge. The youngest children learn basic skills before moving on to increased complexity and challenge in their programme of learning. There are subtle adaptations, in the environment and teaching, to meet children's different ages and stages of learning.

Generally, staff are great role models for children. They play alongside children, and their participation helps to guide and extend children's learning. To illustrate, staff show children how to roll dough using their hands and different tools. Children copy staff to complete this task, showing that staff interactions impact positively on outcomes for children. Staff role model language to extend children's emerging communication skills. For instance, when playing with dough, they introduce new descriptive words to extend children's developing vocabulary. Typically, staff involvement and participation in children's play extends children's learning.

Staff observe children and are aware of any gaps in their knowledge and skills. They subsequently plan activities that are generally well focused to narrow these gaps. Typically, staff plan interesting activities with clear learning intentions. However, sometimes, staff lose sight of this clear focus, and teaching becomes too complicated as they move from one task to another in quick succession. This confuses children because they do not know where to focus their attention, and their learning lacks depth.

Achievement: Expected standard

All children generally progress well across all areas of learning, and, when the time comes, they are prepared for the next stage in their learning. Children communicate with increasing confidence. They ask questions as they play, extending their vocabulary and knowledge of sentence structure. Children kick footballs at targets, increasing their large movement and physical coordination. They make marks with paintbrushes, refining their early writing skills. Children are presented with plenty of opportunities to enjoy and explore books. From the youngest babies, right through to the eldest children, everyone enjoys stories and books. This is a great foundation for their future literacy progression. Children learn about nature and the world around them in practical and hands-on ways. They wear suitable coats and enthusiastically play in the rain. They learn about different weather systems, including precipitation and evaporation, during this exciting and fun experience. Children use chalks outside. They solve problems and develop their critical thinking skills, as they predict whose marks will wash away in the heavy rain first.

Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: Expected standard

Staff make learning fun, and children enjoy their time spent here. Children show a positive attitude towards their learning because they are curious and eager to join in. Behaviour throughout the nursery is typically calm and children are composed. They follow instructions the first time and are helpful when asked to complete tasks. Staff use visual timetables for some children and verbal instructions for others. This means all children understand what is expected of them, and, in turn, they are cooperative and behave well.

Attendance is a shared responsibility between staff and leaders. Staff diligently record children's attendance daily and if children are unexpectedly absent, they alert leaders, who follow this up with parents. Attendance is high because there is a collective understanding of the value and importance of punctuality and regular attendance.

Children share positive and reassuring relationships with staff, who are gentle and nurturing in their interactions. Babies sometimes become unsettled when there are changes to routines throughout the day. Staff do not intervene quickly enough during these times to enable children to continue their daily routines without some emotional interruption.

Children's welfare and wellbeing: Strong standard

Children learn about their emotions through play. A recently refurbished sensory room provides an incredibly serene and calm space for children to relax. Having opportunities to be still in this tranquil atmosphere helps children to become attuned to how they feel and promotes emotional maturity.

Staff understand that healthy children thrive, and they foster children's physical wellbeing through all aspects of their practice. To illustrate, fresh fruit is available in a 'smoothie station' located in the reception area of the nursery. Children choose fruit and take recipes home to make nutritious treats with family members. This successfully creates children's positive attitude towards healthy eating from a very early age. Staff incorporate rigorous exercise into their daily curriculum and children enjoy fresh air in all weathers. Support for children's physical health is exemplary.

Children show that they feel safe, demonstrated through their high levels of confidence and impressive self-esteem. Staff rigorously check the environment for possible hazards throughout the day. Children's personal welfare and safety is given the upmost priority.

Leadership and governance: Strong standard

Leaders have an extremely clear vision for the setting. Their ambition, aspiration and drive are exemplary. They know exactly where they excel and have an acutely targeted plan in place to make worthwhile improvements. Staff share this remarkable aspiration, and, collectively, the whole team strives towards excellence. A strong leadership team promotes sustained quality and continual improvements to benefit all children and families. There are still some areas of practice that will benefit from further improvement. However, leaders have already identified these gaps and taken immediate action. The rigour of self-evaluation and urgency of improvement is remarkable. Subsequently, the leadership and governance is worthy of high praise.

Partnerships with parents are superb. Leaders and staff alike understand that parents are children's primary carers and foster a truly collaborative approach to children's care and learning. Toothbrushes and weaning guidance are provided in 'home learning bags' to support parents with key development milestones. Parents welcome this practical help and provide high accolades for the first-rate support they receive.

There is a culture of continual professional development within this nursery. Leaders ensure that staff access highly-targeted and useful training. This helps staff to continually improve their knowledge and skills in the most impactful way. Staff report that they find this supportive professional development incredibly motivating, and, in turn, work very hard because they feel valued and happy.