Kiddi Caru Nursery

A secure veranda for babies and sensory play with rosemary and mint give Kiddi Caru Nursery’s August 2021 account its character: children learning through things they can see, touch and describe. This Exeter nursery has capacity for 114 children at Matford Green Business Park, EX2 8LB.

At its 20 August 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall, with Outstanding behaviour and attitudes, and found safeguarding effective and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities effective in helping them participate and progress. Those judgements belong to that visit.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children’s learning and care, bringing communication, physical development and early mathematical understanding into everyday play.

In August 2021, babies watched their surroundings from a secure veranda while staff supplied words for what caught their attention. For two- and three-year-olds, scented foam and aromatic leaves provided material for conversations about texture and smell. Older children explored shape and counting through dough, connecting practical activity with mathematical language.

Stories also travelled into play that August. Children invented their own animal stories and remembered ingredients used to make dough. These examples show how conversation could connect an immediate activity with something children had encountered earlier.

In August 2021, key persons used children’s interests to plan subsequent learning. Families received photographs and development updates online, alongside packs for learning at home. That gave parents concrete activities and information to carry between nursery and home.

Room transitions had a practical bridge at that visit: children could spend time with staff and children from other rooms, including siblings. A room was also set aside for prospective starters and their parents during pandemic restrictions; this was a dated settling arrangement.

Independence was part of daily care in August 2021. Children practised handwashing, poured drinks and served food using tongs. Staff linked food choices with the energy children needed for activity, making mealtimes an opportunity to practise everyday skills.

The nursery’s address is Matford Green Business Park, Exeter, EX2 8LB. Its capacity of 114 is a whole-setting figure, rather than a room size or an indication of vacancies.

In August 2021, opening hours ran from 7.30am until 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, across 51 weeks, with bank holidays excluded. At that time, the nursery received early-education funding for children aged two, three and four. These are inspection-era arrangements.

• Extending children’s thinking. The August 2021 inspection identified a need for staff to help children articulate ideas and tackle problems more effectively. The useful distinction is between keeping conversation going and using it to deepen learning.
• Attendance planning. The August 2021 opening window covered a lengthy day. Which current booking pattern and funded-hours charge arrangements would fit your family?

Based on its August 2021 inspection, Kiddi Caru will appeal to families who value sensory exploration, learning through conversation and opportunities for children to practise everyday skills. Babies’ veranda observations and older children’s dough activities make the learning tangible. The improvement point adds balance: extending children’s thinking needed more attention. For families choosing this Exeter setting, that dated picture is a useful starting point for judging its fit.