We’re incredibly proud of the stability of our team. Many of our practitioners have been part of Kind Hearts for several years, including a member of staff who has been with us since we first opened in 2016. Even among our current team, our most recently appointed member has now been with us for over three years.

We know how important consistent, familiar adults are during the early years. Having a long-standing team allows children to build strong, secure relationships with the people caring for them, while parents have the reassurance of getting to know and trust the adults looking after their child too.

Of course, teams do change from time to time. Staff may move on, change their working pattern or move between our Kind Hearts settings, and as we grow, new people will join us too. When changes happen, we manage them carefully, with the needs and relationships of the children at the centre of our decisions.

Children are encouraged to build relationships not only with their key person, but with the wider team too, so they have several familiar adults they know and trust.

We know that starting nursery or preschool is a big step — for parents as well as children! We take settling in at each child’s pace and work closely with you to understand what will help your child feel safe and comfortable.

Before they start, we’ll take time to get to know your child, including their routines, interests, likes and dislikes and anything that helps them feel secure. Settling-in sessions give them the opportunity to become familiar with the environment, their key person and the wider team before their regular sessions begin.

Some children settle very quickly, while others need a little more time and reassurance — both are completely normal. We’ll work with you, adapt our approach where needed and keep you updated so that we can make the transition as positive as possible.

You can find more advice about settling in, starting preschool and preschool life in our blog.

Yes. We offer government-funded childcare places for eligible children across our Kind Hearts settings. We aim to offer flexible attendance patterns wherever possible, helping families use their funded hours in a way that works for them.

Funded hours are provided free at the point of delivery, with no compulsory charges for accessing your funded place. Optional extras and arrangements can vary between settings, so we always make these clear from the outset.

You can find full details about the different funding entitlements, eligibility and how funded childcare works at Kind Hearts on our Funding & Fees page.

Absolutely. We believe every child is capable of amazing things, and that it’s our job to understand what they need and help remove any barriers that might stand in their way.

Our experienced team works closely with families to understand each child’s individual strengths and needs, adapting our environment, experiences and approach wherever needed. Where additional support is required, we work in partnership with families and other professionals to make sure children are understood, included and given every opportunity to thrive.

Inclusion isn’t something we provide for a small group of children — it’s part of how we approach every child at Kind Hearts.

You can find out more about our inclusive approach and how we support children with SEND on our Support for Every Child page.

No two days at Kind Hearts look exactly the same — and that’s part of the fun! Our days have familiar routines that help children feel safe and secure, while leaving plenty of time and flexibility for children to follow their interests and become deeply involved in their play.

Throughout the day, children have opportunities for indoor and outdoor play, stories, songs and group experiences, creative and messy play, physical activity and plenty of real-life learning. Our practitioners observe what children are interested in and use their knowledge of each child to know when to join their play, introduce new ideas or language, offer a challenge, or simply give them the time and space to explore for themselves.

Mealtimes or snack times, getting ready to go outside, tidying up and looking after ourselves are all learning opportunities too, helping children gradually develop confidence and independence.

There’s structure to our day, but we’re never so tied to a timetable that we have to interrupt brilliant learning just because the clock says it’s time to do something else.