A NURSERY rated 'inadequate' last year has turned its fortunes around in a recent inspection. 

Kids Come First, on Bradford Road in Cleckheaton, was given the lowest rating in June last year, but following an Ofsted inspection in December now has the 'good' rating. 

The education watchdog found the staff had worked hard to address previous weaknesses.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Staff and student at Kids Come First nursery. Image: Kids Come First Staff and student at Kids Come First nursery. Image: Kids Come First (Image: UGC)

Inspectors found children were happy in the nursery and felt the staff were supportive and encouraging, understanding the needs of each child.

The report said: “Children arrive excited and eager to explore the well-planned learning environment.

“They build close attachments and relationships with staff, who are warm, welcoming and friendly. Staff act as positive role models to children with their kind and nurturing approach.”

Children at the nursery are given the opportunity to see and understand the wider world through trips to local war memorials and walks around the local community.

Staff took students on the bus and took them to visit a local farm, said the report.

The report said: "Children develop good literacy skills and a love for reading. Older children excitedly role-play different scenes from familiar stories as they go on a bear hunt."

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Kitchen play area at Cleckheaton nursery. Image: Kids Come FirstKitchen play area at Cleckheaton nursery. Image: Kids Come First (Image: UGC)

It added: “Staff skilfully support children's language development, overall.

“For example, staff working with babies encourage them to babble and make sounds to develop their emerging communication skills. Staff provide a narrative during children's play and encourage them to talk about what they are doing.”

Ofsted said the nursery should ensure staff working with younger children "consistently maintain the good implementation of the curriculum throughout the day" and "ensure the noise levels in the two to three-year-old room are consistently managed, so that children can hear more clearly and make the best possible progress in their language development".

Cathy Sewell-Wilson, Owner of Kids Come First, said: “I’m absolutely over the moon.

“I’m extremely proud of the whole team.

“The staff turned something negative into something so positive, every single one of them pulled together.

“When we got the inadequate rating, we spoke to parents, highlighted all the points and why we got it, and we answered their questions and it’s strengthened out bond with them.

“The parents were supportive of the staff all the way through and the local authority, Kirklees, was fantastic in supporting us.”

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