Bright Horizons Hull Kingswood Day Nursery and Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are enthusiastic, confident and happy at this inspiring nursery setting. They receive the utmost care and attention from the passionate childcare staff. Children form extremely warm and loving relationships with their key members of staff. This supports children to feel safe and emotionally secure and able to benefit from all the many experiences on offer.

Children engage with a range of exciting and age-appropriate activities and resources that allow their imaginations to flourish. Staff demonstrate a passion and determination to achieve excellent outcomes for all children. Their holistic approach to teaching is highly engaging and gives children rich and meaningful learning opportunities. For example, children build a 'volcano' together outside. They excitedly jump up and down, giggling as they guess what will happen when they mix mixtures together and the volcano erupts. Children have positive attitudes to their learning and make excellent progress.

Children's behaviour is exemplary. They are extremely comfortable and settled, and fully understand what is expected of them. For example, when staff shake a tambourine, children immediately stop what they are doing, raise their hands and listen with intent. Staff are positive role models and have high expectations for children. They teach children about different emotions and provide them with the necessary tools to help them self-regulate.

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

• Children enjoy a wealth of ambitious and carefully planned learning experiences. They are appropriately challenged and supported to move on to their next stage of learning. For example, children become deeply engaged as they mould play dough into flowers. They talk about planting seeds and what flowers need to grow, such as water and sunlight.
• Staff give the highest priority to developing children's communication and language skills. They provide a constant commentary and use all opportunities to build children's language. For example, older children learn new words, such as 'trickling' and 'erupt' as they find out about volcanoes. Children are inquisitive and ask lots of questions. Staff use every opportunity to engage in high-quality conversations with children.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported to the highest level. The special educational needs coordinator applies her extensive knowledge to tailoring individual support plans for children. Staff work together with other professionals, such as speech therapists, to devise strategies and targets. As a result, children make extremely good progress in their learning and development.
• The inspirational management team is passionate about ensuring that staff are well supported and happy in their roles. They recognise that staff's well-being is at the heart of the nursery's success. Staff speak with enthusiasm about their roles and how they thoroughly enjoy their time at work. They say that they value the special yearly award ceremony, where their achievements are celebrated.
• Partnership working with parents is exceptional. Parents say that staff are 'second to none' and their children thrive and make excellent progress. They are well informed about their child's progress through daily discussions, photos and online platforms. Staff provide parents with home learning suggestions. For example, they offer a lending library to further enhance children's love of reading at home.
• Staff skilfully help children to become fully independent from a young age. All children make independent choices about the activities that capture their interest. Older children help to set the tables and serve their own food at mealtimes. This gives them a sense of responsibility. Children are exceptionally well prepared for their future learning and eventual transition on to school.
• Staff support children to have a very strong understanding of healthy lifestyles. The nursery chef provides hot, home-cooked meals that are balanced and nutritious. Children brush their teeth together after lunch and sing a toothbrushing song. Staff explain why it is important to keep their teeth clean. Children love being outdoors in the fresh air. They have exciting areas to explore, to build their physical skills and strength. For example, children stack giant tyres to create a pirate ship.
• The management team strives to deliver high-quality care and education. It does this by consistently reflecting and evaluating their practice. Staff receive regular communication, supervisions and peer-on-peer observations. They have access to regular, high-quality training to further strengthen and extend their already impressive teaching skills.