Bright Horizons Tudor House, Burgess Hill, Day Nursery and Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children show excellent attitudes to learning in this inspiring and inclusive nursery. They are highly motivated by the inviting activities, such as bread making, sensory and creative play. Children are extremely curious. They confidently manage their own play. For example, pre-school children explore how magnets work and use them to build interesting models. They test out materials around the room to find things that are magnetic, remembering previous learning. Babies and toddlers are extremely active and thoroughly enjoy their day. For instance, babies squeal with delight as they splash in the garden water tray and feel large blocks of melting ice. Toddlers keep on trying until they master an obstacle course. They are encouraged to be proud of their achievement and happily tell everyone, 'I can balance!'

Children learn how to keep themselves safe and manage their own personal needs from a young age. For example, staff support babies to look for their photo to find their own water cup. Pre-school children know why they need water, sun hats and sun cream on a very hot day. They independently find bottles to spray each other with cooling water. Children ask each other if spraying is wanted and persevere when the sprays are hard to push. Children show exceptional regard for others, help each other and behave very well.

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

• Staff follow a clear vision that guides their planning for each stage of a child's development. For instance, babies are carefully supported to make relationships with others and form strong bonds with their key person. Older babies and toddlers learn to control their bodies and gain speaking and listening skills. Staff help pre-school children to be curious, mindful and self-regulating, developing social interaction skills. Children are very well prepared for the next stage of their development and for school.
• Babies and children receive warm, nurturing and respectful care from staff. They help children understand their emotions and regulate their own behaviour. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), use words or picture cards to help describe how they feel. The manager uses additional funding carefully to support disadvantaged children or those with SEND. For example, additional staffing or resources are provided. As a result, all children make very good progress.
• Children demonstrate a love of books, which are thoughtfully placed throughout the nursery. Babies and toddlers readily choose books and approach staff to read to them. Babies cosy up to staff and enjoy the repetition of a familiar animal story. Pre-school children listen carefully to stories and ask thoughtful questions. They use books to find out information, such as how other children live who are different from themselves. Staff consistently help children to
• Inspection report: Bright Horizons Tudor House, Burgess Hill, Day Nursery and Preschool 2 15 June 2023 discover new vocabulary and link learning.
• The manager and staff build strong relationships with children and their parents, who become part of the 'family'. Parents feel very well supported by the settling-in procedures at the nursery. They say these allow children to settle at their own pace and give parents confidence in the care that is provided. Parents are invited to events, for example, an evening to prepare for the transition to school. They are encouraged to share children's life experiences, such as holidays, which are used by staff to extend learning. These partnerships support children's learning and development.
• The nursery has been through a period of considerable change with new owners and management bringing a different ethos. The current manager is enthusiastic and has worked hard to create the strong staff team who works very well together. However, occasionally, there are inconsistencies in staff practice. For instance, a few staff over direct children's play when they are exploring their own ideas, often with too much conversation. This interrupts children's thinking and learning.
• The manager, the regional director and the early childhood specialist of the company work proactively together to evaluate the effectiveness of the provision and ensure continuous improvement. For instance, they use regular meetings and surveys to check staff well-being and offer a wide range of benefits and targeted training opportunities. This helps ensure that staff are motivated to provide the best possible experience for children.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen good teaching skills further to help staff, particularly the less experienced staff, know when adult direction is needed and when to allow children more time to develop their own play.
• Inspection report: Bright Horizons Tudor House, Burgess Hill, Day Nursery and Preschool 3 15 June 2023