Camelot Kids

Cooking, growing vegetables and taking meal ideas home give Camelot Kids a practical thread running through its April 2023 nursery life. This Eastbourne setting has capacity for 59 children, with an age range of 0 to 60 months.

At its April 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated Camelot Kids Good, found safeguarding effective and judged that children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, were progressing well. The strengths came with two clear priorities: protect uninterrupted play and make activities more suitable for younger children.

In April 2023, children explored herbs through smell, touch and cutting, then experimented with adding them to play dough. This connected sensory exploration with practical skills. Role play and art also gave children opportunities to make their own choices.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care, bringing learning and everyday wellbeing together. In April 2023, cooking food for lunch or tea, growing beans and tomatoes, and going shopping brought everyday experiences into that learning. Children could connect what they grew and prepared with what they ate.

There was a limitation for the youngest children: some planned activities demanded too much of them, reducing their interest and participation. Age-appropriate challenge matters as much as the activity itself.

In April 2023, children investigated real materials and combined different media in art activities. Alongside choosing their own imaginative play, children had opportunities to investigate what materials could do. The emphasis was on exploration and making choices, giving them an active part in the activity.

Food activities also extended into conversations about health. In April 2023, children discussed food groups and understood handwashing as a way to prevent germs spreading. Cooking and growing therefore connected practical tasks with everyday habits. Outings and shopping trips added experiences beyond the nursery, giving children opportunities to learn about their surroundings.

In April 2023, a calming sensory space gave children who struggled to settle somewhere to spend time with a staff member. Babies practised walking between adults they trusted, while picture clues and photo timetables helped children understand the day's sequence. These were concrete ways of making nursery life more manageable.

Home and nursery learning were connected, too. In April 2023, chef bags carried meal ideas home for families to cook together, and children borrowed books for shared reading. Staff discussed concerns with parents and worked with other professionals when children needed additional help.

Adults responded calmly to difficult feelings and recognised children's effort. These small interactions gave children room to express themselves while learning how to manage their behaviour.

In April 2023, staff tracked children's development and identified those who might need extra help promptly. Additional funding paid for support selected around children's needs, including resources, extra attendance or meals for disadvantaged children. This made support practical: it could change the materials a child used or the nursery time they received, alongside discussions with parents and other professionals.

Safeguarding practice in April 2023 included keeping safeguarding and first-aid training current, recruitment checks and discussions about support needed by children and families. Those discussions helped staff maintain consistency in care. Adults understood how to respond to welfare concerns, and both children and staff rehearsed evacuation in case of fire. The building was secure and equipment was maintained. These were concrete parts of the arrangements assessed at that visit.

Staff development also received attention in April 2023. The manager observed practice and prioritised continuing training, giving practitioners opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills. Staff also knew individual children well and monitored their development.

Camelot Kids is at 35 Lewes Road, Eastbourne, BN21 2BU. It opens Monday to Friday, from 7am to 7pm, all year.

In April 2023, the nursery received funding for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated participation statement, rather than a promise about a family's entitlement today.

• Time to finish playing. In April 2023, repeated morning transitions and waiting interrupted children's concentration. On a visit, ask how the morning now protects longer stretches of play.
• Activities for younger children. Some tasks were too demanding in April 2023. Ask to see how activities are adapted for babies and toddlers, alongside the calming sensory space used for settling.

Camelot Kids suits families who value practical learning and links between nursery activities and home life. Its April 2023 picture combines cooking, growing and shared reading with supportive adult relationships. The Good judgement is useful, but the two improvement priorities deserve equal attention: younger children's engagement and enough uninterrupted time to play.