Kender Nursery: Living Kender Core Values

Respect

From the earliest age, children are encouraged to treat everyone—with peers and adults alike—with care and courtesy. Respect for the school environment and each other is actively modelled by staff and reinforced throughout nursery routines and interactions. This aligns with Kender’s broader expectation that “we show respect for others and our school”.

Resilience

The nursery recognises that young children need support to learn persistence, coping strategies, and problem‑solving from an early stage. Staff help children bounce back from small frustrations, modelling calm and encouraging children to try again—with support where needed. This embodies the school-wide ethos: “we do our best learning, showing resilience”.

Readiness

The concept of readiness at Kender’s Nursery encompasses being prepared both practically (e.g. routines, kit, and equipment) and mentally (eager to learn and participate). Children are taught to take responsibility for their actions and prepare themselves for each day—supporting smooth transitions into Reception and beyond: “we are always ready and take responsibility for our actions”.

The Nursery in Context

Kender’s early years provision is judged by Ofsted as Good, with personal development, behaviour and welfare deemed Outstanding in the most recent inspection (March 2025).

The same values flow into the Nursery setting, where the caring ethos and inclusive approach ensure children are supported as individuals within a warm, community-focused environment.

Why It Matters

By embedding the 3 Rs into everyday nursery life, Kender ensures that its youngest children are building:

Social foundations: empathy, kindness and cooperation

Emotional growth: confidence, ability to manage change, adaptability

Early academic readiness: curiosity, following routines, readiness for structured learning