Clever Cloggs Childcare

Calm relationships and child-led play define Clever Cloggs Childcare. This 58-place nursery operates from four rooms in an annex in the grounds of Welling School, caring for children from three months to five years. It was judged Good in November 2022, with Good judgements across education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

The strongest evidence is in the detail. The youngest children found reassurance in familiar adults, while older children sustained their attention as an airport role-play idea spread into other areas. An expansive outdoor space carried learning beyond physical play into mark-making, treasure maps, planting and bird feeders.

Rooms and Ages

Four rooms were in use in November 2022. Their individual names and age bands remain unresolved; the registered age span is three months to five years.

Learning and Named Experiences

The Early Years Foundation Stage shaped the curriculum: play, routines and adult interaction built communication, physical development, relationships and the knowledge children needed for their next step. In November 2022, staff shaped that curriculum around children's interests. An airport role-play area prompted imaginative play and conversation, and staff followed the idea when children carried it elsewhere.

Children were highly engaged, and staff observed progress and planned next steps effectively. Adult-child exchanges nevertheless needed to become more consistently responsive and purposeful. That remains an important point for families.

Outdoor and Community Life

The expansive outside space supported every area of learning at the time of inspection. Growing produce and map-based play showed how outdoor learning reached beyond physical exercise. For children who learn best outside, the space functioned as another classroom rather than simply a place to run.

Relationships and Communication

In November 2022, the youngest children became comfortable in the setting readily and treated familiar adults as a secure base for exploration. Staff knew children well, praised effort and encouraged resilience. Their play showed emerging cooperation and an increasing ability to handle minor disputes without adult intervention. Parents also valued communication about progress, while managers sought their feedback.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Inspectors reported that timely support enabled children with special educational needs and/or disabilities to take part in learning. Staff embedded diversity and inclusion in daily practice. Current SENCO arrangements, individual planning and work with outside specialists will matter to families seeking specific support.

Safeguarding arrangements were effective at that inspection. At that visit, staff were prepared to recognise concerns and take the required action.

Balanced meals, healthy eating, exercise and oral health featured in children's experience in 2022. Children also helped to set tables and peel apples. The inspection nevertheless found that handwashing before snack preparation and independence in self-care were not promoted consistently, making current hygiene routines an important decision point.

Sessions and Attendance

The current booking model remains unresolved because branch material did not establish bookable patterns. Written details should set out session types and any minimum attendance.

Getting There

The registered address is Welling School, Berwick Road, Welling, DA16 1LB. The nursery occupies an annex in the school grounds. The route through the school grounds is a practical consideration at busy times.

Funding and Paid Extras

A current nursery-specific written quotation needs to explain how any funded entitlement is delivered before costs can be compared.

• Room placement. Four rooms were observed, but their individual names and age bands remain unresolved. Ask which room your child would start in and what triggers a move.
• Conversation and independence. Inspectors asked the nursery to sharpen questioning, listening, hygiene habits and self-care support. Ask what has changed since November 2022 and watch how adults give children time to answer and do things for themselves.
• Booking and funding. The opening window is known, but bookable patterns, funded-entitlement delivery and extras are not. Obtain the complete current offer and charges in writing.
• Site practicalities. The annex is within Welling School's grounds. Test the journey and route through the site at your likely drop-off time.

Clever Cloggs Childcare's clearest strengths are secure relationships, responsive play and an outdoor area used for purposeful learning. The 2022 inspection gives specific reassurance about safeguarding, inclusion and children's engagement, while also identifying precise improvements around adult conversation, hygiene and independence.

It is potentially well suited to families seeking care across a broad weekday opening window and to children who thrive through child-led indoor and outdoor play. Morning, afternoon, half-day or other attendance patterns cannot be assumed from the broad opening window.