Kiddie Capers Childcare, Hurstpierpoint

Picture cards for choosing activities, fruit kebabs for practising coordination and books shared with babies give this community-hub nursery a recognisable character. At its October 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated Kiddie Capers Childcare, Hurstpierpoint Good overall, while identifying a need for better-matched challenge and more thinking time during conversations.

Based at Court Bushes Community Hub, the nursery has 30 places in total for children aged 0 to 60 months. The inspection examples offer a useful picture of its earlier daily life, rather than a description of today's routines.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: play, communication and growing independence belong together in the nursery day.

In October 2022, children made fruit kebabs, exploring flavours while practising the coordination needed to thread pieces onto sticks. Construction bricks became a birthday cake in shared imaginative play. These activities brought practical skills and conversation into the same experience.

Diwali celebrations that month included learning about Mehndi and making patterns with coloured rice, connecting creative activity with families' celebrations. Children also practised everyday independence through handwashing, putting on coats and using cutlery. Taking part extended beyond the activity itself: they helped tidy messy play and clean tables afterwards.

At the October 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and described support for children's communication, including work with parents and other professionals for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

In October 2022, the My choices board let children use picture cards to express which activity they wanted. This gave children experiencing language delay another way to communicate a decision. Babies shared books while being cuddled, with staff responding positively to their sounds; songs linked to play and children's chosen books also supported language experiences.

Oral-health role play that month helped children explore caring for their teeth. Staff supervision and professional development addressed the team's strengths and development needs, although interactions still needed refinement: adults sometimes supplied an answer before a child had time to formulate one.

The address is Court Bushes Community Hub, Willow Way, Hurstpierpoint, Hassocks, BN6 9TH. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas.

In October 2022, the nursery offered early education funding for two-, three- and four-year-olds. That dated participation should be distinguished from current funding arrangements when planning childcare costs.

• Challenge and conversation. In October 2022, activities did not consistently stretch children of differing abilities, and adults sometimes answered too quickly. On a visit, ask how staff now adapt activities and allow children time to respond.
• Settling a baby. Babies had close relationships with staff in October 2022. Ask how settling visits and key-person arrangements would work for your child today.

For families who value communication, practical independence and learning through everyday play, the October 2022 account offers concrete reasons to consider Kiddie Capers. Picture-card choices and shared books give those strengths substance. The same account also sets a clear test for a visit: how well staff balance supportive interaction with sufficient challenge and thinking time.