Bright Horizons Milton Park Day Nursery and Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

All children are happy and demonstrate that they feel safe. New children settle quickly into their base rooms and are given good emotional support, which helps them to feel confident in their surroundings. Staff demonstrate that they know the children well and talk about developmental progress they have made since starting. Staff support children to hear a range of language and develop their vocabulary. Children benefit from well-resourced areas, which are set up attractively by staff. Children have many opportunities to learn about the world. For instance, they go out for local walks in the community, where they can see the world around them. Children enjoy exploring the sensory garden, where they have fun digging for worms and replenish the bird feeders.

Children show that they have formed good friendships with each other. For example, older children have fun playing team games, such as hide and seek, in the garden, where they laugh and squeal with delight as they are found by their friends. Children enjoy being creative and demonstrate their enjoyment of the activities on offer. For instance, toddlers enjoy playing with sand and play dough, while babies enjoy experimenting with real herbs in the mud, which builds on their learning and exploration. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress in their learning.

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

• The leadership team has made significant improvements to the nursery since the last inspection. For instance, staff now receive regular supervision meetings on their practice, and some training has been provided for them. Staff also comment that they are well supported and that they are not expected to take work home. Leaders have an action plan in place that they are working towards. However, this plan is not fully embedded in relation to building precisely on all staff's professional development, to help raise the quality of the provision to the highest level.
• All children are progressing well in their communication and language skills. Overall, staff model language well and ask older children questions to support their thinking and listening skills. Children enjoy activities that enhance their speaking and comprehension skills well. For instance, staff read stories and sing songs to the children as part of everyday practice.
• Children behave well and are developing a sense of responsibility. For instance, older children help to tidy up, and rising threes are learning to feed themselves skilfully. Generally, children develop confidence and independence skills. However, at times, staff do not always encourage and support children's ongoing independence skills in everyday tasks and activities.
• Staff ensure that the areas used for children are safe and suitable by undertaking regular safety checks. Children enjoy nutritious snacks and meals that are freshly prepared and meet their individual dietary needs. Staff talk to the children while they eat about how eating their food will give them energy to play. All children enjoy playing outside, and they have good opportunities to be physically active. For instance, children free flow into the garden and enjoy playing on climbing equipment and exploring through tunnels. This supports children's large-muscle skills.
• Staff know what they want children to learn and offer a varied curriculum. Staff plan for children's learning and development well and support children in working towards their next steps. For instance, toddlers are supported in their walking with the use of equipment, such as walkers and bicycles, which helps to build their core muscles. Older children are supported in preparation for their next stage in learning, such as school. For example, staff take the children in small groups to the 'play street' area and carry out focused activities to prepare them for the transition.
• Partnerships with parents are good. Parents speak highly of the improvements that have been made and comment that staff are lovely and approachable. Parents explained that they receive a good amount of information about their children's day-to-day activities and their progress.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• build on plans for staff's ongoing professional development, to focus more sharply on consistently developing staff knowledge and skills
• create more ways to help children manage and build on their independence skills.