Kidz Day Nursery Middleham

Water pipettes, boats and outdoor chalk give Kidz Day Nursery Middleham’s September 2021 account its character: children experimenting with movement, making marks and working out how to share a task. The practical detail matters more than a general promise of learning through play.

At its September 2021 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and praised support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The nursery has capacity for 15 children, with an age range of 3 to 60 months.

In September 2021, children used pipettes to create water patterns outside and squirted water at balls to move them. Others divided the jobs of pouring water through tubes and holding boats beneath them. These were opportunities to experiment together, with children making decisions about what to try next.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children’s learning, development and care. Here, the September 2021 examples connect that framework to everyday play: babies pushed trucks, while toddlers tackled the problem of getting pasta onto scoops.

Physical exploration also featured in September 2021. Babies worked out how to climb steps, and older children stepped through large tyres while keeping clear of one another. Chalk work on outdoor ground and wall boards gave children practice using their hands before later pencil work.

In September 2021, staff comforted babies who were uncertain about separating from their parents. Stories involved changes of voice, pauses and questions about pictures; babies also pretended to read to soft toys. Together, these examples show the small interactions that shaped children’s experience at that time.

Support for children with additional needs involved collaboration with other professionals in September 2021. Staff also taught handwashing and encouraged children to consider where ball play would be safe for others. Healthy snacks and cooked lunches were provided then.

School transition had a practical place in the September 2021 account, through close links with the local school. That is support for moving on, rather than an admissions advantage.

The address is Middleham C Of E Aided School, Park Lane, Middleham, Leyburn, DL8 4QX. Attendance at the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place; families still apply through the local authority admissions process.

Opening hours are 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery opens across the year, closing for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. Those hours give families a broad daily window around work and other commitments.

In September 2021, funded early education was offered for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

• Learning through mealtimes. In September 2021, staff did not consistently help children understand food choices and healthy eating. Families should weigh this alongside the provision of healthy food.
• Numbers and counting. Mathematical language was used inconsistently in September 2021, limiting some children’s understanding. This was a specific teaching priority, separate from the practical exploration described above.
• Planning attendance. The opening window runs from 7am to 6pm across the working week. At a visit, what booking patterns and funded-hour arrangements would fit your child’s attendance?

Kidz Day Nursery Middleham suits families seeking care across the working week and parents who value hands-on exploration. Its September 2021 account contains useful examples of children experimenting, practising physical skills and cooperating. The Good judgement belongs to that date, as do the priorities around healthy choices and counting. Those details give families a concrete starting point for judging the nursery against their child’s needs.