Bright Horizons at RAF Northolt

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive in this excellent nursery. From the moment they arrive they are warmly welcomed by the nurturing staff. Children receive lots of emotional support and highly attentive care, to help them settle. They build strong bonds with the staff and demonstrate that they feel happy and secure.

Children learn from an early age to express how they feel and to be kind and considerate to others, and therefore they behave exceptionally well. For example, toddlers play harmoniously together and are proud to show that they can share toys with their peers. Children share their backgrounds and experiences with each other and enjoy the festivals and traditions of various cultures. They learn to value and respect the people in society that help us, such as through regular visits from members of the library, police and fire services.

Children experience an ambitious curriculum. They respond positively to staff's high expectations and are highly motivated to learn. Children are extremely creative and demonstrate vivid imagination. They confidently tackle problems and work cooperatively to find solutions. For instance, older children create an enormous 'rocket' from recycled materials. They explain 'it has fuel, but it still will not fly'. They discuss how they might adapt their design and are eager to try out their ideas.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

• The manager is an inspiring and motivating leader. She and the staff continuously evaluate the provision and strive for excellence. Some staff describe how they have rediscovered their passion for childcare since joining the nursery. They are positive about training and wholeheartedly support any changes and improvements to the setting.
• Staff know the children exceptionally well. They provide highly stimulating activities, to promote children's individual interests and learning. Staff regularly check what children know and can do. They promptly identify where children need extra help and provide excellent support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders and staff are committed to enabling the best possible outcomes for all children.
• Children's communication and language skills are given high priority. Staff implement many successful strategies to help children express themselves. For example, babies confidently operate a 'talking tile', to show that they want a drink of water. When children experience difficulties in communicating, staff offer timely interventions and engage with other professionals to provide additional support. Consequently, all children, including children with SEND and those who speak English as an additional language, make excellent progress.
• Books and stories are an integral part of the nursery. Staff provide a range of reading materials for children and read to them regularly throughout the day. Children memorise new words and use these to enhance their own storytelling. They become familiar with a range of songs and rhymes by singing together. Older children begin to understand that letters have different sounds. This means that they are off to a good start when they begin to learn how to read.
• Children are extremely independent and motivated to learn. They enjoy being helpful and are eager to assist with tasks, such as setting the tables for lunch. Children willingly follow the well embedded routines, such as nap times. They are thoughtful and remind each other to use quiet voices, so that they do not disturb their friends.
• Children build strong bodies through daily exercise and outdoor play. They thoroughly enjoy physical activities, such as 'Boogie Mites' music and movement sessions, which help them to develop their small and large-muscle movements. Children are served nutritious meals and snacks at the nursery each day. They help to grow and harvest vegetables in the nursery garden. This helps them to discover and enjoy a wide variety of healthy foods.
• Staff forge strong partnerships with parents and work extremely hard to engage them in their children's learning. For example, they provide books and activity bags, which parents share with their children at home. They find out about the experiences that children enjoy outside of nursery, so that they can further support these. Parents say that staff provide exceptional support for each family's needs. They appreciate the wonderful care and experiences the nursery provides for their children.