The Lighthouse Nursery Bromley Limited

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children blossom in this family centred nursery. Staff provide children with a warm welcome and check in with their parents on arrival to support their well-being. This helps staff meet individual needs and children to feel safe and secure. Staff promote independence well and encourage children to try things for themselves. For example, children wash their hands, hang up their coats and older children use knives to cut fruit for snack.

The manager leads her staff team to provide a broad curriculum, which is ambitious for all children. It builds on children's previous knowledge and expands their curiosity and exploration. For example, babies enjoy feeling different textures with their feet and thread spaghetti through holes in containers. Older children demonstrate their knowledge as they build volcanos in the sand and talk about lava exploding. Staff challenge children's thinking and ask questions as they watch the refuse collectors emptying the bins. Children talk about the plastic being recycled and know it can be reused.

Staff role model expected behaviour and use praise and encouragement. Staff show children respect and use good manners. This helps children to understand the nursery rules and behave well. They share resources with their friends and respond to gentle reminders when needed.

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

• Staff get to know children well from the start. They liaise with parents and gather detailed information about children's backgrounds, routines and interests. This enables staff to plan for children to support their learning and development across the curriculum. Staff complete observations and identify next steps. Ongoing assessments ensure children are making good progress and any gaps are addressed quickly.
• Children's communication and language are supported effectively. Staff engage children in conversations and provide commentary. Staff teach children new vocabulary, which helps them to increase their sentences. Children enjoy sharing stories with props, learning songs and words in different languages. Babies babble and repeat words. Staff support children to learn words, which help them understand different emotions.
• Partnerships with parents are a strength of the nursery. Parents speak highly of the care and learning their children receive. Communication is good and parents are kept up to date with their children's progress. Ideas and resources are shared to help continue children's learning at home. Parents state their children have made good progress in their communication, confidence and independence.
• Diversity and inclusion are woven through the nursery ethos. The diverse staff team bring a wealth of experiences and speak several languages. Staff teach children about different religious and cultural festivals and help them to understand about people in the community who help them. This builds on children's knowledge of the wider world and what makes them unique. Referrals are made for children who need extra support to gain the help they need.
• Staff support children to develop their mathematical skills. Older children count confidently and complete simple calculations by adding and taking away different numbers. Staff support children to learn shapes and colours as they use tools with the dough. Children demonstrate their mark-making skills and letters in their names as they draw on the white board.
• Staff teach children the importance of healthy lifestyles. Children extend their large muscles as they ride the bikes and scooters and balance on crates. Children follow good hygiene practices and brush their teeth. Staff talk to children about healthy food as they play and eat nutritious meals. Routines for returning inside and after snack for older children are not always organised well to give children time to finish what they are doing.
• The manager is passionate about providing high-quality care and education. She seeks views from staff and parents to help with reflecting on practice. Robust recruitment procedures are in place for new staff and all staff receive regular supervision sessions. The manager supports staff well-being effectively and monitors staff practice. Overall, staff engage very well with children and extend their learning. However, there are occasions when this interaction is not consistent, especially with the younger children at mealtimes.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• review the organisation of routines to ensure all children know what is happening next and are ready to move on
• strengthen monitoring of practice to ensure high-quality interactions with children continue across all age groups throughout the day, especially at mealtimes.