Kindred West Bridgford

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children develop warm trusting relationships with staff, who are kind and caring. For instance, babies cuddle with staff as they contentedly drink their milk and toddlers look to staff for reassurance. Children demonstrate they feel happy, safe and well cared for. They develop good levels of confidence and self-esteem and a willingness to try new activities. For instance, older children take steps along low-level wooden beams as they gain control in their physical abilities. Toddlers are confident to try new foods and particularly enjoy being creative. They experiment with play dough, adding natural resources to change the texture.

Children behave well. Pre-school children listen thoughtfully to each other's ideas as they discuss what they would like to play with. Babies watch their friends as they shake instruments. Children are aware of the rules and expectations of the nursery. They show high levels of motivation in their play and are valued by attentive staff. Children receive lots of opportunities to celebrate what makes them unique and learn about those who may be different from them. For example, they talk about where they live and learn new words to describe the type of house, they live in.

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

• Staff know their key children well and incorporate children's interests into activities. They plan activities following on from their assessments of what children know and can do. However, on occasion, staff do not support children to learn intended new skills. For example, planned activities to teach children why they need to clean their teeth do not focus on the proposed learning outcome.
• Children's communication and language is well supported. Babies pretend to hold a doll as they follow the actions in a rhyme about rocking babies. Toddlers are encouraged to answer simple questions with a sentence and pre-school children are confident when describing what they have drawn. As a result, children are making good progress in their communication skills in preparation for when they leave nursery.
• Children have lots of opportunities to be independent. For example, pre-school children serve their own snack and lunch. They pour their own drinks and tidy up when they have finished eating. This gives children a sense of pride and encourages them to take responsibility. Staff effectively prompt all children when the nursery routine is about to change. This gives children time to end their play and get ready for the next activity.
• Toddlers and older children form friendships and work collaboratively with each other. Pre-school children share their thoughts to make a shopping list together. Toddlers share resources and take turns to use ride on cars. However, some larger group activities are not particularly meaningful to children, which means they lose interest.
• Children learn to behave well and use their manners. They respond positively to reminders from staff, who teach them to think of others. For example, they remember it is their friends' birthday and ask if they can play games to celebrate.
• Children's physical health is promoted well through nutritious food, regular fresh air, and exercise. Staff provide ample opportunity for all children to be physically active. For example, babies are supported to develop the muscle control they need to be able to sit, through having time to play on their tummy. Pre-school children learn about the world around them as they fill their watering cans to water the vegetables they have planted. They look through the fence to watch horses in the field next door.
• Parents comment positively about their children's experiences at the setting. They are happy that their children have opportunities they do not get at home, such as access to outdoor play. Parents report that their children's communication skills have improved since attending the setting and they are developing confidence and making friends.
• Staff meet regularly with the manager for supervision meetings. This helps to support staff's practice, professional development and identify any additional training needs. Staff feel valued and enjoy working in the nursery, as the owner provides facilities to support their well-being.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to fully implement the curriculum to ensure all children are learning as much as they can
• review the organisation of larger group activities to ensure all children remain fully engaged and interested in their learning.