Kettering Childcare

Seed planting, serving lunch and using a self-care station put independence into practice at Kettering Childcare in June 2021. These were concrete opportunities for children to do things for themselves. At its June 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective.

Based in The Time Complex in Kettering, the nursery has 47 places in total for children aged 24 to 60 months. Its inspection strengths centred on practical learning and relationships, with two clear improvements required: protecting outdoor activity from interruptions and making small-group work more inclusive.

In June 2021, the early years foundation stage took practical shape through planting, physical play and sensory exploration. Children watered seeds, practised catching balls and built with large construction materials, connecting learning with things they could handle and try.

Sensory activities included squeezing citrus fruit and investigating sand and shaving foam. A colour experiment used pens, kitchen paper and water to explore how colours spread and change. These examples gave children something concrete to investigate and discuss.

The outdoor play area supported physical activity and learning about nature. However, in June 2021, the route used by arriving families interrupted preschool children's outdoor activities, requiring them to stop and move inside. Small-group discussions and stories also sometimes lost children's attention because planning did not support everyone taking part.

At the June 2021 inspection, Ofsted found that individual support helped children with SEND participate in activities, while staff supervision and explanations helped children understand safe behaviour. This linked adult support with participation and everyday safety.

In June 2021, practitioners used information from parents about children's home experiences when planning activities. Families received updates about care routines and what their children had been doing, and staff explained the learning value of messy and water play. That gave parents a connection between nursery activities and their child's day.

Independence extended to personal care: in June 2021, children used a mirror at the self-care station, brushed their hair and wiped their noses. Preschool children served lunch using spoons and tongs. Staff also helped children practise sharing, taking turns and managing feelings, while supervision and professional development supported practitioners' work.

The address is Ground Floor, The Time Complex, School Lane, Kettering, NN16 0DH.

In June 2021, session times ran from 8am until 4pm, Monday to Friday, and the nursery operated for 51 weeks of the year. It also provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four at that time.

• Outdoor continuity. In June 2021, arriving families crossed the outdoor play area and interrupted preschool activities. On a visit, ask how that route now works alongside outdoor learning.
• Small-group participation. Planning in June 2021 sometimes left children distracted or disengaged. Ask how discussions and stories are adapted so each child can participate.

Kettering Childcare merits consideration by families seeking care for children aged 24 to 60 months who value practical exploration and developing independence. The June 2021 examples give that character substance, from seed planting to serving lunch. The dated Good judgement is balanced by specific concerns about outdoor continuity and group planning; those practical details matter when weighing the nursery's fit.