Bright Horizons Woodford Woodlands Day Nursery and Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are excited to come into this warm and nurturing setting. They are greeted by staff and are keen to have breakfast and sit next to their friends. Children have lots of opportunities to explore their inviting environment and select resources they enjoy. They chat and smile as they dig for shells in the sand, select play dough cutters they want to use and paint large junk model boxes.

Children make good friendships and ask their friends to join in with their play. They have strong attachments to staff and go to them for comfort and reassurance if needed. Children really benefit from the wonderful outdoor space, where they enjoy riding bikes and engaging in water play and yoga sessions. They enjoy trips out to the local shops and are delighted to share their nursery experience when parents are invited in for stay-and-play sessions. Children speak really well and communicate to express what they need and want to do confidently. They grasp new vocabulary well and enjoy conversations with adults and friends, explaining what their favourite fruits are and how they brush their teeth.

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

• Babies settle well and enjoy a flexible routine and inviting, homely environment. They have a repertoire of familiar songs they sing and request their favourites using gestures and words. They are making good progress and enjoy a secure and safe outdoor area, with sensory play and opportunities to climb, walk and balance.
• Staff know children really well and plan activities based on their interests. They monitor their development and ensure that all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress. Staff work well with outside agencies to ensure that children are receiving help to reach their full potential.
• Children are creative and enjoy exploring paint using a variety of tools. They build their fine motor skills as they use forks to create swirls and patterns like famous artists. Children develop and strengthen the muscles in their hands and demonstrate good early writing skills. They use large brushes, chalks and toothbrushes to make marks.
• A love of reading is promoted well. Parents and children enjoy borrowing and sharing books from the lending library, and children enjoy listening to and joining in with favourite stories read to them. They know familiar phrases and enjoy finding story items in the story sacks. For example, they find the three bear's bowls and chairs as they retell the story of 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' confidently.
• Children have positive attitudes, can concentrate for good periods of time and listen attentively. They follow instructions as they stretch into yoga positions and
• Inspection report: Bright Horizons Woodford Woodlands Day Nursery and Preschool 2 15 August 2023 paint junk model materials to make monsters.
• Children maintain attention at their chosen activity and follow their own ideas. They are developing mathematics skills and are beginning to grasp early mathematical concepts. They use tape measures and find objects around the room to measure, count on number lines and talk about the concepts of 'full' and 'empty' when using the water tray.
• Overall, children behave well. They have good manners and are motivated to learn. However, as children get ready for school, staff do not consistently remind them of behaviour expectations and how to behave appropriately inside, to ensure that learning opportunities are always maximised.
• Children enjoy hot, healthy and nutritious meals. They know about healthy foods and enjoy talking about these or preparing them during cooking activities and games. Mealtimes are happy and very calm, with children learning great independence skills as they eat with cutlery, pour drinks and clear away plates.
• Parent partnerships are a real strength. Parents attend stay-and-play events and find out what their children are learning. They speak highly of the care provided and say that communication and support from the team is so valuable. Parents are pleased with the links made with home and receive regular updates, photos and information on the parent app.
• Leaders and managers are effective and dedicated to moving the nursery forward. They are continually reflecting on and improving areas to ensure that children have the best possible outcomes. They support their staff team well and provide good opportunities for professional development and staff well-being.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• further enhance staff's skills in order to support children's behaviour and maximise their learning.
• Inspection report: Bright Horizons Woodford Woodlands Day Nursery and Preschool 3 15 August 2023