Bright Horizons West Norwood Day Nursery and Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy and form strong attachments with the adults that care for them in this welcoming and inclusive nursery. The effective key-person system ensures staff know the children well. Children receive regular praise for their perseverance and achievements, which builds their self-esteem.

Independence is encouraged across the nursery. Children learn to pour their own drinks and use a knife safely to butter their own crackers. They are supported and encouraged to manage their own personal hygiene, for example, wiping their noses.

Children are engaged in exciting and stimulating activities, such as pretend pizza making. They develop skills across all areas of learning. They count while adding ingredients to make play dough and use a variety of tools to roll dough and cut real vegetables to add as toppings. Staff skilfully enhance children's learning through questioning, reinforcing and extending vocabulary.

Learning about staying safe is a high priority in this nursery. Children regularly discuss with staff what their mascot, 'Candy Floss', would do in varying situations to stay safe. For example, why an adult must help them use an oven. A robust system is in place across the nursery to ensure allergy or dietary requirements are met at all times.

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

• Parents and carers speak highly of the nursery and its dedicated manager. They report there are strong partnerships between home and nursery. Parents feel well supported during significant times, such as potty training, and are given ideas about how to support their children's learning at home. Communication is effective through daily feedback and regular online updates.
• The manager and her team are clear about what they want children to learn. They have high expectations for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Parents and staff speak of the positive progress children make during their time at the nursery. Staff set targets for each child and carefully consider strategies for learning. However, where concerns are identified, strategies to address them are not always communicated effectively in reports to parents and other professionals, to support children even further.
• Children sing familiar songs and listen to stories throughout the day. There is a library in the entrance area where children can choose a book to take home and share with parents or carers. This encourages language development and a love of books.
• Children are well prepared for their next stage of learning. They are supported through each stage, including starting school. Parents are invited to be involved in room moves within the nursery and staff work in partnership with future schools to ensure smooth transitions when children move on.
• Staff develop children's understanding of their feelings and emotions. They use the 'colour monster' to encourage children to describe how they are feeling in colours. For example, green for calm or red for angry. Children behave well across the nursery. Staff are good role models and children respond promptly to reminders about manners and behaviour.
• On occasion, the organisation around mealtimes leads to some children waiting for long periods before they can serve themselves. Sometimes, staff do not respond promptly, which does not always support children's well-being fully.
• Staff report they feel well supported and can speak with the manager about any issues. Staff have access to regular training to ensure they continually develop their practice. The manager is reflective and seeks the views of parents through surveys. She has worked hard to implement previous inspection recommendations.
• Staff create opportunities for children to celebrate different cultures and understand the differences between people. For example, they learn about the Hindu festival, Diwali, and make food from different countries around the world. Staff support children who speak English as an additional language to make good progress. They use keywords in children's home languages and introduce and encourage repetition of new vocabulary in English.
• Children enjoy healthy meals prepared on site and learn about the importance of healthy lifestyles. They visit the local dental surgery to enhance learning about oral hygiene. The outdoor spaces are utilised in all weathers to ensure opportunities for fresh air and physical development. Children are taken on walks around the local area to enrich their learning about the outside world.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen information shared with parents so that they are clear on how they can support children's learning at home, and ensure relevant professionals are clearly informed
• review the lunchtime routine to increase engagement and fully meet children's needs.