Kids R Kids Day Nursery

Banana skins became plant food at Kids R Kids Day Nursery: in June 2023, children cut them into small pieces after snack time, combining hand control with an introduction to how plants grow. That practical, everyday approach gives this Catford nursery its character. Learning was woven into ordinary routines as well as planned activities.

At its June 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, with children settling successfully and developing confidence through close relationships with staff. The improvement point concerned outdoor learning: the gardens needed to support a broader spread of learning opportunities.

Today, the nursery accepts children from 3 months to 5 years and has 39 places in total. Baby Room, Toddler Room and Pre-School Room provide separate spaces for different stages. Full-day nursery care sits alongside out-of-school services, giving the setting a wider role for families with older children too.

Rooms and Ages

Baby Room combines subdued lighting with pastel colours, sensory toys and opportunities to practise movement; Toddler Room has interactive toys, soft cushions and furniture sized for children; Pre-School Room brings together books, toys and reading corners. These are useful differences for parents comparing the physical surroundings their child will use, rather than treating the nursery as one undifferentiated play space.

The room arrangements also offer different ways to engage. Babies have resources for sensory exploration, while books and reading corners give preschool children somewhere to spend time with stories. The toddler space combines accessible furniture with toys children can explore directly.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for learning through play and exploration. Activities are planned around it, making play part of the educational day rather than simply a way to occupy children.

In June 2023, staff used their knowledge of children's interests and observations of their play to decide what to introduce next. Craft activities, songs, stories and messy play included both adult-led experiences and choices made by children. That balance allowed children to follow an interest while staff introduced further opportunities.

Writing grew from children's curiosity, too. In June 2023, older children who wanted to express ideas on paper had access to mark-making activities. The banana-skin activity offered another practical route into learning: using scissors exercised small hand movements, while adding the pieces to plants connected the task with growing things.

Outdoor and Community Life

In June 2023, children used two outdoor spaces, including a wildlife garden. Indoors, defined activity areas supported different aspects of learning, but the outdoor spaces offered less breadth. The improvement request was to extend learning outside, especially for children who preferred being outdoors. For families who place garden time high on their list, the educational use of those spaces deserves as much attention as their existence.

Relationships and Communication

In June 2023, key-person relationships were built through time spent getting to know each child. Staff also brought younger and older children together when attendance was lower at the beginning and end of the day. Older children included babies gently in their play, giving mixed-age time a clear social purpose.

Independence appeared in small routines. In June 2023, children collected aprons before messy activities, washed their hands and helped themselves to water from a dispenser. They also volunteered to help staff move chairs or bring another table. These examples show what practising self-care and contributing to a shared space looked like in the nursery day.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

The application form invites families to explain additional needs, identify professionals already involved and flag concerns about speech. It also asks about medical conditions, intolerances and allergies. This gives parents a route to supply relevant information at the application stage; it should not be mistaken for a promise about a particular support package.

In June 2023, food for meals and snack times was made at the nursery, with menus designed for nutritional balance. Adults joined children at meals, making eating together an opportunity to practise manners and social routines.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 8-10 Allerford Road, Catford, London SE6 3DD. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6.30pm on weekdays, with year-round operation excluding bank holidays. Full-day nursery care serves the early-years age range, while the separate after school club starts at 3.30pm.

Applications can be submitted through the nursery's online form. Email enquiries go to admin@kidsrkids.co.uk. The application terms say that time spent on the waiting list does not influence allocation, so an earlier application should not be treated as priority over another family.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered. The nursery advertises free 15 hours to 30 hours for children ages 2 and 3, and its application form also describes an additional 15 funded hours for some 3 and 4 year olds, totalling 30 per week. Extended-hours offers depend on confirmation of eligibility.

Private nursery care is also offered. Families should obtain current prices in a written quotation. The funding decision and the practical attendance arrangement are separate considerations: an eligible entitlement still needs to fit the care pattern a family intends to use.

• Outdoor learning. The June 2023 improvement point concerned the breadth of learning outside. On a visit, ask what children can now do in the gardens across different areas of learning.
• Youngest children's day. Baby Room has sensory resources and gentle lighting. Ask how rest, feeds and individual routines are organised within that space.
• Funding and the quotation. Extended funded hours depend on eligibility confirmation. Ask for one written breakdown covering the intended attendance pattern, meals and non-food consumables.
• Breakfast-club timing. Breakfast-club times differ between a 7.30am start and an 8am to 8.30am window. Confirm which arrangement applies before booking.

Kids R Kids suits families seeking full-day nursery care for babies through to preschool age, while its separate after-school provision also serves families arranging care beyond the school day. The room environments provide concrete points of comparison, from Baby Room's sensory toys to Pre-School Room's reading corners.

The June 2023 picture was strongest in everyday relationships and practical independence. Outdoor learning was the clear qualification. Parents choosing this nursery should give the gardens' educational use the same attention as its indoor rooms.