Bright Horizons Bury St Edmunds Day Nursery and Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive eagerly and are excited to begin their day at this wonderful nursery. Young babies happily hold out their arms to greet their key person. Older children wave 'goodbye' to their parents at the door and confidently put away their own belongings. Children have formed wonderful and respectful relationships with staff, and children highlight that they feel safe and secure while in their care. Staff provide children with warm and responsive interactions. For example, young babies squeal and smile with delight as they try to pop bubbles with supportive staff. Children of all ages enjoy listening to stories snuggled up to a member of staff. Toddlers excitedly engage in a group song time and join in by clapping their hands and copying familiar actions.

Staff consistently apply high expectations for children's behaviour. They support children to develop a sense of right and wrong and teach them how to manage their own conflicts. Children demonstrate positive attitudes to learning. They excitedly take on 'special helper' responsibilities at mealtimes and help to clear away the table for their friends. Children experience opportunities to practise their turn-taking skills. They excitedly engage in a picture-sorting game with staff, and proudly explain whose turn it is next.

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

• Leaders and managers have created a curriculum that places children's well-being in the centre, and focuses on children 'growing' in their learning. Children learn to be increasingly independent during their time at the nursery. Young babies learn to feed themselves using a spoon and older children confidently serve their own meals and pour their own drinks.
• Children are provided with a wealth of experiences to broaden their knowledge of the world around them. For example, parents of children visit the setting to talk about their own occupations. Experienced staff build upon this and incorporate these occupations into their role-play corner, to allow children to develop their understanding further.
• Staff support children to learn about the importance of being healthy, including understanding the effects of exercise on their body. Staff introduce vocabulary, such as 'hydrate', and explain the importance of drinking water after engaging in running games with peers. However, staff do not always ensure that their own teaching during group activities meets the individual needs and abilities of all children, to support their engagement further.
• Leaders and managers place significant focus on promoting children's communication and language development. Experienced staff support this by using simple sign language with young children to help them communicate their wants and needs. Staff show immense pride as young children repeat back single words and showcase their newly learned vocabulary.
• Children have regular opportunities to develop their early mathematical skills. Two-year-old children enjoy singing number songs and confidently use their fingers to help them count. Older children demonstrate their embedded knowledge as they count the number of friends on their table at mealtimes and collect the correct amount of bowls.
• Staff know all children very well and use what they know about their background and interests to support their learning further. For example, children with special educational needs and/or disabilities show an interest in water play, so skilled staff use this as an opportunity to introduce simple language, such as 'scoop' and 'pour'.
• The manager and staff build strong relationships with families. Parents report that they feel communication is a real strength of the nursery and receive regular updates regarding their child's learning and development. This effective communication with parents and carers provides them with ideas to support their child's learning at home. Parents state they are grateful for the high level of care their children receive, and feel that all staff know their children well. They describe staff as 'brilliant' and 'patient' and highlight the good progress children have made since attending.
• Staff report they feel well supported by leaders and managers. The manager meets with staff each morning to reflect on their own practice and well-being. This helps all staff to feel happy and valued at work.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• review and enhance the organisation and teaching during group activities to ensure that older children are consistently supported in their learning.