Kids Planet Winnington

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff know children exceedingly well and have fantastically high expectations of what they can achieve. The carefully constructed, ambitious and sequential curriculum supports children to become extremely competent learners. Children truly flourish at this vibrant and fully inclusive nursery. Staff are tremendously dedicated in ensuring children are given the best possible start in their education. The quality of their interactions effortlessly ignites children's passion for learning. As a result, children are highly motivated to engage in the array of experiences available. All children make excellent progress and are wonderfully prepared for the next stage in their learning.

Staff have an excellent knowledge of how children learn and how to implement the curriculum. Children's social skills exceed expectations for their age. They show an abundance of kindness, concern and respect for their friends as they play harmoniously together. For example, children test their ideas and problem solve collaboratively as they create ramps for balls to travel down. They listen attentively to one another's suggestions and apologise when the ball gets stuck. Children follow simple rules and quietly remind one another as needed. They skilfully use timers and visual timetables to assist their understanding of routines and expectations further.

Outstanding partnership work with local schools has driven a focus on developing children's emotional intelligence. Children are encouraged to identify and talk about their feelings. They use 'my turn' cards to aid their understanding when working in a group and are supported by sensitive staff who gently explain the concepts of winning, losing and turn taking. This culminates in children being able to self-regulate superbly. Their happiness and enjoyment in attending this remarkable nursery is clearly evident.

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

• Leaders and staff are passionate about children's individual uniqueness and recognise that no two children are the same. As such, bespoke settling-in sessions and enhanced transition arrangements truly reflect children's individual needs. Children are exceptionally well prepared for nursery life and are able to continue their learning with confidence and enthusiasm.
• Leaders are acutely aware of the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The development of children's communication and language skills remains a focus. Children make wonderful progress in this area of their learning due to the outstanding interactions of staff. For example, staff devise 'word flowers' to highlight expected language during activities. They provide an excellent commentary as children play and ensure children have ample time to respond to their thought-provoking questions. Children show the inspectors around the nursery, demonstrating their confident and highly skilful communication skills.
• Children's fondness of literacy is abundantly clear. This is because staff promote an extremely positive love of stories at every opportunity. Staff read with enthusiasm and encourage children to predict what they think will happen next. Children re-enact their favourite tales, such as 'we're going on a bear hunt' using props. They thoroughly enjoy 'squelching' through mud and 'swishing' through long grass, in turn developing their imaginative skills. Children select their own stories and seek out staff and friends to share them with. Cosy spaces promote countless opportunities for children to handle and engage with books.
• Children demonstrate impressive self-care and independence skills. Babies and toddlers adeptly serve themselves lasagne at lunchtime and competently pour their own drinks. Pre-school children relish the responsibility of setting the table for lunch. They calculate how many children there are and give out plates and cutlery. When children accidently spill their water, they immediately begin wiping it with a cloth. Young children assist with tidying away resources and sweeping up any spilt sand with little or no prompting from the staff team.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are superbly supported. Staff are knowledgeable and very proactive in ensuring all children and their families receive the support they need in order to make excellent progress from their starting points. Their well-considered interventions and meticulous approach to working with other agencies means children very swiftly receive the support they need to excel.
• Staff partnerships with parents are tremendous. Arrangements to involve parents in their child's learning are robust and highly successful. For example, parent workshops on subjects such as weaning, behaviour and becoming ready for school are offered. Stay and play sessions and social events that highlight the importance of health and well-being are held throughout the week to ensure that all parents can attend. Furthermore, these wonderful opportunities are extended to the local community. This highlights leader's relentless drive to promote inclusion and equal opportunity.
• Inspirational leadership motivates the dedicated staff team. There is an unrelenting focus on the professional development of all staff which includes dedicated training packages for those inspiring to become leaders. There are innovative opportunities that support staff to develop their knowledge and skills to the highest level and disseminate this outstanding practice to others. Staff well-being is paramount. They report high levels of job satisfaction and comment on the extremely supportive nature of the leadership team. Consequently, children are cared for in an overwhelmingly positive and nurturing environment.