Kids Come First

Family photo books, story play and journeys beyond the nursery shaped the December 2022 inspection's picture of Kids Come First. In December 2022, babies and toddlers used pictures of familiar people for comfort, while older children acted out stories and explored their wider surroundings.

At its December 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and reported good progress for children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Kids Come First has capacity for 73 children aged from 4 to 60 months in Cleckheaton.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: play, conversation and everyday routines contribute to learning alongside planned activities.

In December 2022, older children brought familiar stories to life through a pretend bear hunt. Babies and younger children had a cosy storytelling space, and staff encouraged early communication through sounds and conversation during play. These examples connect books and language with activities children can join in themselves.

Community experiences extended that learning. In December 2022, babies explored the neighbourhood on walks, children visited a farm to learn about survival needs, and bus trips took them to a war memorial. Indoor and outdoor physical activity also formed part of the day.

Two weaknesses mattered for younger children: learning sometimes lost momentum between outdoor play and meals, and noise in the room for children aged two to three made staff harder to hear. Both were improvement priorities in December 2022.

In December 2022, staff gathered information about children's interests and home routines before planning their care. Photo books showing important people helped babies and toddlers cope with separation. Familiarity was a practical settling tool.

Parents and professionals shared information with staff in December 2022 to coordinate individual care and learning. Mealtime routines encouraged hygiene and independence, with children developing skills for moving between rooms and eventually to school. Children also ate balanced meals. Staff received supervision and met to discuss their practice.

The address is Kids Come First, Bradford Road, Cleckheaton, BD19 3PN. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year except bank holidays.

In December 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That dated participation should be kept separate from a family's current funding arrangements.

• Learning between activities. In December 2022, younger children's learning sometimes faltered after outdoor play and before meals, interrupting other children's activities too. On a visit, ask how those transitions now work and how staff manage noise so younger children can hear conversation clearly.
• Language and noise. In December 2022, sound levels in the room for children aged two to three interfered with hearing staff. For a child developing speech, the balance between lively play and audible conversation deserves attention.

Kids Come First suits families seeking year-round weekday care, with an inspection-era picture of personal settling support, story-based play and community outings. The December 2022 Good judgement sits alongside specific concerns about younger children's transitions and room noise. Those practical details matter more to a family's choice than the grade alone.