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Early years · Early years inspection (EIF)

Kiddies Kingdom

Inspected 27 Feb 2025 · published 25 Mar 2025 · URN EY553772

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Summary

Requires improvement

Ann Austen

What we read, and from where

Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.

  • Group verified

    Kiddies Kingdom (MR) Ltd

  • Group reference verified

    RP553771

  • Inspection date verified

    27 Feb 2025

  • Inspectors verified

    Ann Austen

  • Behaviour and attitudes verified

    Requires improvement

  • Leadership and management verified

    Requires improvement

  • Overall effectiveness verified

    Requires improvement

  • Personal development verified

    Requires improvement

  • Previous overall verified

    Good

  • Quality of education verified

    Requires improvement

  • Postcode verified

    LU4 8JZ

  • Name on report verified

    Kiddies Kingdom

  • URN verified

    EY553772

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of the report

Deep dive

What this report says

In plain English

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Grade profile

Hollow rings show the previous inspection, 2021.

  • OverallRequires improvement
  • Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
  • Leadership and managementRequires improvement
  • Personal developmentRequires improvement
  • Quality of educationRequires improvement

6% of comparable inspections in the last three years were graded Requires improvement (17,905 inspections).

Tone of the report

How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.

−14Mixedmore positive than 9% of reports of this type graded Requires improvement
OutstandingGoodRIInadequate

Reads more critically than most reports of this type graded Requires improvement.

Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.

Praiseconsistentlypositiveeffectiveenjoysuccessfullyeffectivelyindependent
Criticismnot alwaysrequires improvementnot consistentlylackvariablelimitednot effectivelynot secure knowledge

How the report reads, start to finish

Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.

FindingsWhat needs to improveSafeguardingAbout the inspection positive critical
  • Findings529w−26
  • Safeguarding87w+67
  • What needs to improve193w−45

Strengths

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No standout praise found.

Concerns

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Next steps

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What the report dwells on

Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.

Anatomy of the report

How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.

Pages
7
Words of findings
775
about usual (typical 857)
Reading level
Hard
Flesch 39, typical 53
Average sentence
14 words
Next steps
8
typical 8
Hedged sentences
7%
“some”, “not always”, “most”…

Where the words go

Findings 40%Safeguarding 7%What needs to improve 15%About the inspection 39%

Full report text

Inspection of Kiddies Kingdom Kiddies Kingdom, 1a, Maidenhall Road, Luton, Bedfordshire LU4 8JZ

p.1

Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

p.1

The provision requires improvement

Overall, the implementation of the curriculum and quality of teaching requires improvement. The interactions between the staff and children are variable. For example, planned activities are sometimes rushed, resulting in limited opportunities for children to participate, and less experienced staff are unsure how to progress children's learning. Additionally, staff do not consistently respond to each child's spontaneous interests as they play.

p.2

The provision requires improvement

Nevertheless, children demonstrate that they enjoy their time at the nursery. Staff provide activities and a range of accessible materials to support children's creative development. Children immerse their fingers in paint and proceed to finger paint butterfly pictures. Staff demonstrate how to make sandcastles. Children copy, demonstrating their hand-eye coordination skills as they use the spade to fill buckets and sand moulds with sand. They smile, demonstrating pride in their achievements. Staff encourage children to play cooperatively with their friends and to share experiences. For example, children pretend to prepare food for a picnic together. Overall, children understand what is expected of them and behave well.

p.2

need to do better?

n The management team appropriately evaluates aspects of the nursery and identify areas for improvement. The nursery has recently been redecorated. New equipment and resources have been purchased and children's access to resources enhanced. This supports a welcoming environment for children and their families. Additionally, further improvements are planned. For example, artificial grass in the outdoor area is being replaced. n The provider has not ensured that the manager is available and able to consistently support and lead the staff team. Therefore, staff lack guidance, and this has lowered their morale. Additionally, there has been a period of recent staff change and recruitment. Therefore, at the time of the inspection the impact of the newly appointed staff cannot yet be measured. n Staff complete daily risk assessments to minimise hazards to children. Staff form bonds with the children and demonstrate an understanding of their stage of

p.2

need to do better?

development, personality and interests. However, curriculum intentions are not always effectively implemented, and some staff do not have a secure knowledge of how to engage children, to build on what children know and can already do to help progress their learning. Additional funding, to support children in receipt of early years pupil premium, has been used to purchase additional resources to enhance their development. n The management team successfully makes relevant referrals, working in partnership with external agencies and the children's parents. However, arrangements for supporting children with identified needs, during their time at

p.2

need to do better?

27 February 2025 the nursery, are not always effective. Staff do not always provide experiences to engage the children and enable them to make progress in their development alongside their peers. n Staff provide opportunities to support children's communication skills, including children who speak English as an additional language. Staff support children to learn rhymes and share books with them. Translation is also effectively used to support children's development of the English language. n Staff encourage children to take responsibility and become independent. Children help to tidy away the resources, learn to put on their outdoor clothing and pour their own drink. Children eagerly use the tongs, demonstrating their coordination skills, as they select from the healthy food options, such as carrots, bread sticks and apple. Staff also use snack and mealtimes to reinforce appropriate hygiene routines and good table manners.

p.2

need to do better?

n Management and staff develop positive relationships with parents. They spend time talking to parents and getting to know children's care needs and stage of development before they attend. For example, they obtain information regarding children's medical needs, dietary requirements and interests. This helps to ease the transition from home into the nursery's care. Information is regularly shared with parents about their child's progress and care. n Staff provide opportunities for children to explore the local community. They take children to local shops to purchase fruit and vegetables and walk to the park. This provides opportunities for children to access more challenging play equipment. Additionally, staff support children to appreciate and respect the diversity of others. For example, children make Chinese lanterns and are encouraged to sample boiled vegetables and noodles in celebration of Chinese

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

Due date

27 February 2025 improve and embed the implementation of the curriculum, including staff's interactions with the children, to ensure all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive consistently meaningful learning experiences that build on what they already know and can do 30/04/2025

p.3

Due date

ensure effective staffing, and particularly leadership arrangements, this refers to ensuring the manager is able to fulfil their roles and responsibilities. 31/03/2025

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY553772 Local authority Luton Inspection number 10390998 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.5

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 52 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Kiddies Kingdom (MR) Ltd

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 01582 585037 Date of previous inspection 9 November 2021

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Kiddies Kingdom re-registered in 2017. The setting employs seven members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The setting opens from Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are from 8.45am until 3.15pm. The provider offers government funded places for childcare and receives specific funding for disadvantaged children.

p.5

Inspection activities

n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery to understand how the early years curriculum is organised. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observation of a music and movement activity. n The manager and staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The provider, manager, staff and children engaged in discussions with the inspector at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working at the nursery. n The inspector took account of the views of parents by speaking to them.

p.6

Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

p.6

Inspection activities

27 February 2025 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.6

Inspection activities

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p.7

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.7

Inspection activities

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p.7

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7

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