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Smart Kids Childcare

Ofsted: Good
(Apr 2022)
·
3.6(14 parent reviews)
·Bhailok Square, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 8DY · Lancashire
Number of places
106 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Apr 2022
Local authority
Lancashire

About this day nursery

Smart Kids Childcare, situated in Preston (PR2 8DY), is a purpose-built nursery that has been providing childcare since 2010 after a full renovation of a previously derelict building. The nursery prides itself on maintaining high standards, as evidenced by positive parental feedback and the installation of CCTV in all rooms and corridors, ensuring the safety and security of children, staff, and parents.

The facility is thoughtfully designed with dedicated rooms for different age groups: the Baby Room for ages 0-24 months, the Two's Room for 24-36 months, the Three's Room for 36-48 months, and the Pre-School Room, also for 36-48 months. All rooms offer direct access to areas of core provision like Messy Play, Small World, and Book Corner, fostering both planned activities and child-led exploration.

Children also have access to outdoor areas, and the building includes a Drama Room for weekly sessions and productions. Smart Kids Childcare received the prestigious 'Millie's Mark' in 2021, recognizing its commitment to Paediatric First Aid training for all staff working directly with children.

Our ethos

Our approach to learning and teaching is through child centered play and education. Child-led play is a key element for early learning and fun-filled days, supporting a growing child and their ideas and built to support their growing independence and extend their learning.

What it's like

Children arrive full of smiles and are excited to see the staff and their friends, settling quickly into meaningful play and activities. They display high levels of self-confidence and self-esteem, with older children confidently greeting new people and talking about their experiences, and babies forming strong bonds with staff for comfort and reassurance. Children of all ages love books, from snuggling with staff for stories to independently choosing and sharing books with friends, demonstrating understanding and respect.

Purpose-built facilityCCTV securityMillie's Mark accreditedChild-centered playDedicated age-</th> rooms

Pricing & funding

The nursery charges flat rates across all age groups from 3 months to 4 years. Parents can choose between full-week, full-day, and five-hour half-day sessions. A registration fee and deposit apply.

Good to know

  • A non-refundable registration fee is required.
  • A deposit is required, which is credited towards fees.
  • Identical rates apply across all age groups from 3 months to 4 years.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, all year round, from 7.30am to 6pm, except for the period between Christmas and New Year.

Term time / All Year

All Year

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Smart Kids Childcare

Last inspected 12 April 2022 · Donna Birch

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Children arrive full of smiles and are excited to see the staff and their friends, settling quickly into meaningful play and activities. They display high levels of self-confidence and self-esteem, with older children confidently greeting new people and talking about their experiences, and babies forming strong bonds with staff for comfort and reassurance. Children of all ages love books, from snuggling with staff for stories to independently choosing and sharing books with friends, demonstrating understanding and respect.

Inspector highlights

  • The nursery management team is highly qualified and experienced, making positive changes since the last inspection.
  • Leaders and staff have high expectations for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
  • Staff place a sharp focus on helping children to develop good literacy skills, with activities tailored for different age groups.
  • Children develop well in mathematics, as staff seize opportunities to extend their understanding both indoors and outdoors.
  • Children are confident communicators, and they relish the opportunity to share their ‘chatterboxes’ with staff, visitors and their friends, demonstrating tolerance and respect.

Areas to develop

  • 1provide more opportunities during activities for children to explore their own thinking and ideas
  • 2embed staff coaching and supervision to help staff raise the quality of education to the highest levels.
Inspection #10216425 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Leaders and staff have high expectations for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff work closely with other agencies to design and implement targeted learning plans, which are regularly reviewed and support children's next steps well. All children make good progress from their starting points.

Outdoor space

Children take part in activities, such as dance and drama. As they scale the climbing equipment outside, staff remind them to hold on, and children then remind their friends to do the same.

Parent Reviews of Smart Kids Childcare

3.6
(14)
salma zaroog
7 years ago

Excellent nursery. Very friendly and caring staff. Rooms are very speacious and clean. There is a large Variety of activities for children with variable resources and as a parent I can see the effort staff make to ensure the children have a stimulating enviroment ( activities about space/ animals/ science experiments/ drama and swimming classes) I am very happy with the progress my children have made( they have been in babies room, 3s and preschool) . Staff were extremely helpful with toilet training. preschool children get very good teaching preparing them for school. Overall I Couldn’t have asked for better care for my precious ones.

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Rive 247
4 years ago

Over the course of a few years I’ve seen this nursery slip from a vibrant, communicative and well staffed nursery to near the polar opposite. Communications are rarely responded to by management/office staff, the staffing quality has majorly gone down hill with the best staff members leaving in short order. They have gone from outstanding to inadequate on the most recent OFSTED report. The most shocking part is the hygiene quality was specifically noted as being bad and this is during a pandemic! Disgusting. Will not be sending my other child here

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KS P
4 years ago

It is extremely sad to see what was once a great professional setting deplete into what is now rated as ‘inadequate’. To most parents that have had children there a while it was obvious this was inevitable. What is extremely worrying is that the management mainly the manager and her son can’t see it. Through all the changes of excellent quality staff leaving not once did they manage the situation like leaders. They hid the information until the staff had left or was leaving days before. Imagine how undervalued those staff would have felt who clearly propped up the nursery and made it outstanding. All the staff deserve a public acknowledgment. They are brilliant with the children, we are always greeted with big smiles on their face and take the time for us as parents. It’s only because of them that I continued to send my child there but now it’s obvious unless the management change the nursery is never changing. Those ladies deserve a medal for what they put up with. Though at times it’s obvious to see they are being treated poorly and actually scared to speak up because of the managers. It’s time the managers had a change of personality and learnt some basic humanitarian skills instead of treating parents and kids like money signs. When you are shown round you are sold something that doesn’t exist because literally the next day the managers don’t even say hi. Their communication skills are shocking until they need your money. As a parent all I wanted was for my child to be happy at nursery. It’s devastating to unsettle them and see this happen where they spend so much time. Shame on your smart kids management.

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Farzana Patel
7 years ago

My son has been at smart kids for nearly 3 years. He has developed in leaps and bounds. The staff their are fab and spare you time when needed. My son loves it their and even wants to go on the weekends! I would recommend this nursery to all the parents who are looking for their child. A big 5 starts from me.

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Sarah Jones
6 years ago

This nursery has had too many staff changes OFSTED really should come un announced you would now how outstanding they are. My little niece joined this nursery until my sister had seen how unprofessional the staff are she had seen one lady shouting at a child don’t understand how they get away with it. If I was a parent I would not put my child in that sort of environment .

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Smart Kids Childcare. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history
Improved from Inadequate → Good in 2022

Date: August 2013

  • April 2022Good
  • November 2021Inadequate
  • February 2018Outstanding
  • March 2014Outstanding
  • August 2013Outstanding

Frequently asked about Smart Kids Childcare

About the setting

Smart Kids Childcare registered in 2013 and is located in Bhailok Square, Fulwood, Preston. It operates all year round, Monday to Friday, from 7:30am to 6:00pm, providing funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery employs seven childcare staff members, all qualified at level 3 or above, with one holding early years professional status and another Qualified Teacher Status.

URN
EY453915
Registered person
Smart Kids Childcare
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises
Previous rating
Inadequate

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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more