Bright Horizons Farnborough Day Nursery And Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy, settled and confident at the nursery. Children show that they feel safe and secure within their environment as they confidently leave parents and enter their rooms. Children establish close relationships with their key person. For instance, the younger children find their key person when they require cuddles before their nap times. This supports their well-being. Children have a great time at nursery. They show continuous levels of concentration and engagement at activities. For example, the youngest children explore dinosaurs in sand, water, paint and play dough. Whereas the older children fully immerse themselves in cutting and peeling, as they make their own fruit kebabs ready to share with their friends at snack time.

All the staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. They learn to play harmoniously together, with the support of the kind and caring staff. For example, if children encounter difficulties, they will approach staff for support. Staff consistently praise positive behaviour. They are quick to correct children's unwanted behaviour and support them verbally in seeing through routines, with the support of the setting's 'golden rules'. Children develop a love of reading. Staff consistently read and sing to the children during the day. Children regularly choose books and seek staff to read to them. Staff fully immerse themselves in books, using props and voices to make the stories come to life.

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

• Children engage in a good range of activities relating to their interests and stages of development. However, at times, staff could extend this learning for the younger children further. For example, when children were exploring sensory activities, the staff missed opportunities to further discuss what was happening. This limited the challenge they could have provided for the children who were ready for more extension to their learning.
• Mealtimes are great opportunities for children to talk and interact with their peers. However, at times, the environment can seem hectic and noisy. Children wait for their lunch for extended periods of time, where they are not engaged in any meaningful learning. This impacts on their behaviour as they wait.
• Staff are particularly skilful in developing children's language. For example, in the pre-school room staff collect various resources that the children then pull out of the bag to make up a story. The children show great levels of involvement and concentration. However, at times, the lunchtime routine can interrupt this as children are called away to wash their hands. This then impacts on the learning and enjoyment that children are getting from the activity.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported well within the nursery. For example, the setting liaises well with other organisations that are involved in the children's care to provide continuity. Staff know exactly what each individual child needs in order to progress with their learning. Additional funding is used well to pinpoint exactly what children need to develop. All children are making good progress.
• Staff well-being is given a high priority. Staff feel valued and know where to go if they need support or guidance. For instance, leaders and managers ensure that each staff member has regular one-to-one opportunities to talk and discuss their welfare. Staff are provided with ample opportunities to continue and extend their professional development. For example, when staff showed an interest in learning about the forest-school approach, leaders have been responsive.
• Parents, overall, are very pleased with the care and education that their children receive. Parents comment on how well children settle at the nursery and build relationships with the staff. Parents praise the level of communication that they have with their children's key person. There are regular opportunities for parents to talk to staff face to face or via the nursery app. Parents enjoy receiving photos and notifications of what their children have been doing. This provides them with ideas and information on what they can do to extend and continue learning at home.
• Children select from a variety of resources outdoors which helps to develop their physical development and risk taking. For instance, children show great enthusiasm to use a range of resources to build their own assault course.
• Children are provided with meaningful opportunities to learn about the wider world. For instance, the faiths, cultures and religions of all children are celebrated and given value. Children learning English as an additional language are fully supported. For example, staff learn key words in children's home languages in order to ensure they feel included and have their needs met. Staff have created home learning packs relating to the cultures and celebrations that are represented within the setting. These are shared with parents so children can explore this further at home.
• Leaders and managers strive to provide high-quality care and education to all children. They plan a curriculum that builds on what children need to know and do. This is well implemented and understood by all staff across the nursery.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to provide further challenge to children during activities to fully extend the quality of children's learning experiences
• review the routines of the day to ensure that routine tasks do not limit children's learning opportunities
• review the organisation of mealtimes so that children are calmer and engaged in learning during these times.