Bright Horizons Maidstone Turkey Mill Day Nursery and Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The staff place a very strong emphasis on supporting children's emotional development. Staff assist children effectively to recognise and learn how to express how they feel. The children have formed strong bonds with the staff who are quick to offer the children a reassuring cuddle when needed. The children appear to feel safe and secure in the nurturing environment.

The provider has established highly effective settling-in procedures that focus on the children's well-being. This continued support for the children is evident as they transition through the nursery and on to school. Children's behaviour is good and appropriate to their stage of development. For instance, older children learn the rules of board games as they take turns rolling the dice and moving the counters. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who speak English as an additional language, receive the support they need to thrive.

The provider implements a well-sequenced curriculum that enhances children's independence as they practise their physical skills. For instance, babies and young children fill and empty containers as they engage in water play. Older children become scientists and participate in scientific exploration by testing theories, such as which items float or sink when placed in the water tray. Children are curious, and they fill floating bowls with water to see if they sink. Staff provide the children with a wealth of opportunities to develop their problem-solving skills.

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

• Children's communication and language are a high priority at the nursery. Staff respond positively to babies' babbles and ensure that they are exposed to a rich vocabulary from an early age. For example, they use repetition effectively, such as singing songs and naming objects, to support babies and younger children. Staff engage older children in discussions and incorporate descriptive words, such as 'slimy' and 'squidgy', into children's play as they help them to develop their language skills.
• Staff know their key children extremely well. They plan interesting activities that teach the children how to care for the environment. For example, the children learn how to recycle and the consequences of not looking after the planet. The staff use the robotic turtle and some strategically positioned empty boxes to teach the children about the dangers of rubbish to animals. The older children program the robot to navigate around the boxes. This generates great excitement when they succeed. Staff have a clear understanding of how to develop children's knowledge about the world around them.
• Children have a variety of experiences to develop their social skills as they
• Inspection report: Bright Horizons Maidstone Turkey Mill Day Nursery and Preschool 2 14 May 2025 interact with both staff and peers. For instance, younger children wait for their friends to walk along the beam before asking a staff member to hold their hand while they take their turn. Older children work in collaboration with their friends to transport water out of the tray using the gutter lengths as a chute. Staff support children to build their confidence and self-esteem as they learn to try new things and enhance their social skills.
• The provider works alongside staff and external agencies to plan and implement targets that help children with SEND and those children who speak English as an additional language receive the support they need. The provider uses additional funding effectively. For instance, they have purchased a variety of resources to support social interaction. The provider seamlessly creates an inclusive provision to make sure that all children receive the necessary support to make the progress they are capable of.
• Staff have established effective partnerships with parents. They offer a range of opportunities for parents to engage in their children's learning. For instance, parents can borrow books from the lending library to read with their children. Staff keep parents well informed about their children's progress and care routines. For example, they hold face-to-face discussions and send information to parents through the children's online monitoring records. Parents appreciate the detailed information they receive and feel part of the nursery community.
• The provider has implemented robust recruitment procedures, and staff are deployed effectively throughout the day to maintain children's safety. There is a strong emphasis on staff's well-being and knowledge to help form a cohesive and caring team. For example, the provider carries out regular supervision meetings, and staff attend bespoke training sessions at the nursery to help develop their skills. Staff comment on how much they value the support they receive from the provider. However, there have been recent changes in staffing, and training is not yet fully embedded throughout the nursery. On occasion, staff do not challenge and extend children's learning effectively to positively impact all children's experiences.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• develop staff's understanding of how to extend children's learning to ensure that all children receive quality interactions.
• Inspection report: Bright Horizons Maidstone Turkey Mill Day Nursery and Preschool 3 14 May 2025