Kentish Express Ashford & District
Nursery’s ‘outstanding’ report
A nursery has successfully weathered the coronavirus crisis to receive a glowing report from inspectors.
Little Pickles in Smallhythe Road outside Tenterden was visited by Ofsted in June and now a report has rated it ‘outstanding’ in all areas.
The nursery was opened by owners Katie and Andy Holmes in September 2018 and it offers early-years education to children aged from three months to five years.
“Children are incredibly confident, independent and happy,” the report says. “They are enthralled by extremely interesting and challenging learning experiences.
“For example, children create their own wooden structures using real tools, such as a drill. Children are enthusiastic about their models and beam with pride as they show their friends, excitedly telling them ‘look at my robot I built’.”
Inspectors praised staff for establishing “inspirational and trusting relationships with children” and keeping parents “fully involved in their children’s learning”.
The nursery - which employs 19 members of staff - is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 6pm and receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.
“When I decided I wanted to open my very own nursery the vision was to provide a ‘homefrom-home environment’ where all children could ‘take root, blossom and bear fruit’,” Katie, a former High Halden Primary School teacher, said.
“The pandemic proved to be a challenge as we hadn’t been established for long. However, despite this, we managed to remain open throughout the lockdown.”