Bright Horizons Heron Quays Day Nursery & Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children and families are welcomed at this friendly and supportive nursery. Staff help support children's emotional needs. For example, staff develop strong and caring relationships with children and offer comfort, praise and encouragement. Staff provide an ambitious curriculum, indoors and outdoors, to support all children's learning, including supporting children with additional needs. Babies enjoy looking for hidden objects in the sand as they use their senses to explore and investigate. Babies develop their physical skills. They are curious and eager as they use their hands to grasp and hold objects. Staff have high expectations for children, and they encourage children to make choices and select books that staff read to them.

Children are well behaved. Staff support babies to manage their feelings when their parents leave them. For example, they offer comfort and cuddles to help settle them in and ensure they feel safe. Staff offer consistent, flexible and well-planned routines and give children a sense of home-from-home environment. All of this helps to build children's emotional well-being. Staff talk to children about golden rules and encourage children to understand expectations for treating each other respectfully.

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

• Children benefit from staff's good interactions with them, which helps support their learning. However, some staff working with the younger children do not consistently use their interactions to chat and talk to babies and toddlers to further develop their communication and language development.
• Communication with parents is strong. Parents speak highly of the relationships staff have with their children and the support they offer. Staff update parents via the parent app, sharing progress, photos and next steps in learning. Staff offer parents resources to support learning at home, such as books to read to their children. Parents are invited to join in celebrations at the nursery and have a dedicated space to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee if they wish, all of which helps to support effective partnerships with parents.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported very well by staff who care and are skilled in their approach to meet children's individual needs. Staff work closely with parents and external agencies to ensure that children receive the support they need.
• Children benefit from daily outdoor play and trips into the local community. Staff organise a well-designed learning space outdoors so that children are supported to develop self-confidence, self-esteem and independence. Children take safe risks as they climb, run, explore, share and take turns.
• Leaders recognise the importance of continuous professional development. Staff receive regular supervisions and opportunities for additional training as well as the organisation's annual training programmes. Staff attend regular staff meetings and discuss important issues that help them to develop their practice. However, not all staff are clear about how the curriculum links to the areas of learning so that they can make the most of their interactions with children to support their learning.
• Children enjoy making pancakes as they celebrate pancake day. Staff encourage children to learn to follow instructions and sequencing as they mix ingredients. Children work in small groups, taking turns and sharing. They gain skills for early mathematics as they count and measure. Staff talk to the older children as they create their pancakes, introducing words and using name cards, which helps to support their developing literacy skills.
• Staff support children during routines such as mealtimes. For example, children enjoy eating healthy meals, and staff supervise children so that they are safe. Staff provide a relaxed and fun time for children.
• Children manage their care needs well. For instance, staff encourage children to wash their hands before and after eating and after using the toilet. Children are well prepared for their transition to school.
• Leaders use evaluation well to identify areas for improvement. They offer staff regular support and coaching and are skilful at giving feedback to staff, which promotes good staff morale and improved staff practice, resulting in meeting children's needs effectively.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• explore a wider range of development opportunities for staff so that the quality of education is maximised
• support staff who work with younger children to further support children's language and communication through their interactions with them.