Kids Planet Kettering

Inspection of Kids Planet Kettering 113 London Road, Kettering NN15 7PH

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children are happy and confident in this warm and friendly nursery. Staff greet children warmly as they arrive, helping them to feel safe and secure. Children are active learners, who eagerly explore the range of activities available. Staff's interactions with children are positive and meaningful. Staff join in with children as they play and engage them in rich back-and-forth conversations. Older children demonstrate high levels of well-being and confidence, as they excitedly recall past experiences, such as visiting a local fire station. Staff share books with children, pausing and talking about the pictures on the pages and encouraging children to comment and name what they see. This helps foster children's language development in a natural way.

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The provision is good

Staff help children to understand and follow nursery routines. When younger children are hesitant, such as during handwashing before meals, staff use imaginative strategies. This includes encouraging children to 'slither like snakes' to the sink. As a result, children are quickly re-engaged and respond positively to praise and encouragement.

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The provision is good

Physical development is well promoted, with frequent opportunities for fresh air and exercise. Outdoors, children navigate space and use their large muscles as they jump, climb and balance on tyres and planks. Staff plan music and movement sessions and children show delight as they move their bodies to the music and explore musical instruments.

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need to do better?

n Leaders have developed a well-sequenced curriculum that builds on children's existing skills and promotes continuous learning. The key-person system is effective, ensuring staff are familiar with key children's needs and tailor activities accordingly. Staff use ongoing assessments to track children's progress. To support transitions, settling-in sessions are offered when children move to new rooms, helping them to adjust to the next stage in their learning journey. n Leaders hold regular supervision meetings with staff, enabling continuous professional development and reflection of their practice. Staff feel supported by leaders, which contributes to high morale and staff retention. Robust recruitment and induction procedures are in place, and leaders ensure all staff undergo appropriate checks before working in the nursery. n Staff use assessment regularly to monitor children's learning and identify any

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need to do better?

signs of delay. They work closely with parents and outside agencies to ensure all children, including those with special educational needs or disabilities, make good progress from their starting points in learning. Additional funding is used effectively to provide tailored support, such as one-to-one assistance and extra

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need to do better?

15 July 2025 resources to meet children's individual needs. n Children's behaviour is very good. Staff are good role models and consistently use positive reinforcement. As a result, children listen to rules and follow the nursery routines. Staff promote a sense of responsibility by encouraging children to help tidy up before snack time, praising them for their efforts and boosting their self-esteem. n Staff are effective in promoting children's language and communication. They narrate children's play, introducing new words and using open-ended questions to prompt children's thinking. For children with emerging language skills, staff use early sign language, alongside words, to support their understanding. n Overall, staff encourage children to develop their independence. Children are encouraged to pour and serve their own food and drinks. Older children attend to their self-care needs, such as wiping their noses and faces. However,

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need to do better?

sometimes staff carry out these tasks for younger children. Before nap times, staff remind younger children to remove their shoes, but then perform this task for them. As a result, younger children are not given the same opportunity to develop their independence. n Staff weave mathematical concepts into children's play. They pause to prompt children's counting, encouraging them to name the next number. Staff prompt children's thinking. For example, when children say there are 'two flowers', staff address misconceptions and suggest they take another look together. This helps to develop children's understanding, as together they count lots more flowers. n Staff share information with parents through an app and keep them informed of their child's learning and development through daily discussions. The nursery holds stay-and-play sessions, offering parents the chance to see what their children are learning. Parents speak highly of the care and education their

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

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

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should:

n give younger children more chances to manage their own self-care tasks, such as removing shoes or wiping their own faces, to further support their growing independence.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2752562 Local authority North Northamptonshire Inspection number 10412238 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 73 Number of children on roll 76 Name of registered person Kids Planet Day Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01536 519926 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Kids Planet Kettering is located in Kettering, Northamptonshire and registered in 2023. The nursery employs 21 members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold early years qualifications at level 6, eight at level 3 and six at level 2. The nursery is open from 7.30am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. The nursery provides funded early education for children from nine months upwards.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector observed interactions between staff and children. n The inspector and manager carried out a joint observation of an activity. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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.

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Inspection activities

15 July 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.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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