Bright Horizons Old Shoreham Day Nursery and Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Toddlers and older children show that they feel happy, safe, and secure at nursery. For instance, they quickly join in with activities, such as dressing up or playing with sand in their base rooms. The attentive staff working with babies provide them with reassurance and cuddles to help them to feel settled.

Since the last inspection, leaders have implemented significant changes to the layout of the nursery. For instance, the large free-flow space has been changed to create a variety of play and care spaces. As a result, babies, toddlers and pre-school children have their own designated base rooms to play and explore. There is now a calm atmosphere throughout the nursery. This has had a positive impact on children's learning and their behaviour. For example, children are better able to concentrate and participate during activities, such as listening to the well-read story sessions.

Staff know children's interests well. They use this information to provide a curriculum that stimulates and engages children. For instance, toddlers and older children show positive attitudes to learning when they search for insects in the garden. Older children extend their learning by collecting sticks for an indoor activity of making hedgehog houses.

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

• The manager has a clear vision for the nursery. She has worked hard with leaders to make improvements to the premises and create positive learning experiences for children. Leaders continually reflect on what is working well and what they need to improve. This ensures that all children benefit from good-quality care and learning.
• Staff say that children have flourished since the changes have been made to the layout of the nursery. For instance, they say that they can spend more time with the children. They also state that the children's communication has increased and their overall behaviour has greatly improved. Staff report that they feel valued by the manager and have regular meetings to discuss their key children's needs and their own well-being.
• On the whole, staff plan activities well. For example, they provide activities that spark children's curiosity, such as sand and water play and making hedgehog houses. They give good introductions and a running commentary of children's play. However, at times, staff speak too quickly and children become distracted from the intended learning. An activity with sand and water becomes too large to manage effectively. Children jostle for space. This interrupts their play and means that learning opportunities are occasionally lost.
• Staff encourage children from an early age to make their own choices and to develop their independence skills. Staff carefully position toys and resources in children's base rooms to attract their attention. For instance, younger toddlers eagerly select their dressing-up costumes. Older children vote for their favourite book to be read. These opportunities have a positive impact on children's personal and social development and their self-esteem. Children's choices are valued and respected by others.
• Children are helped to understand about leading a healthy lifestyle. They frequently play outdoors, where they enjoy digging, sweeping leaves and learning balancing skills. During the growing season, children learn how to care for fruit and vegetables. These are then used in their meals. Children thoroughly enjoy the healthy and nutritious snacks provided by the on-site chef. Children eagerly serve themselves and comment that the food is 'yummy'.
• Staff help children to develop a love of books. For example, children choose books to take home and share with their families. Toddlers readily choose books to curl up with in the cosy spaces or sit on cushions to share with staff. This has a positive impact on children's interests in stories and their overall language development.
• Partnership with parents is a strength of the nursery. Parents speak very highly about the support they receive. They praise how staff make them and their children feel highly valued. Staff speak to parents daily to share their children's achievements.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• improve the planning of activities to make sure that children's learning needs are consistently met
• make the most of safety discussions to help children to learn about keeping safe when using technology outside of the setting.