Bright Horizons Crouch End Fields Day Nursery and Preschool

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Parents, children and babies receive a friendly welcome when they arrive. Children are eager to play and learn and happily leave their parents and carers.

Children form strong attachments with staff, who are supportive and nurturing. Staff have reviewed and improved the key-person system, so that children and babies bond very well when they start. All of which helps support their emotional development.

Babies explore the 'What's in the box activity', which helps promote their curiosity. They enthusiastically handle pinecones, sea shells, wool balls, musical instruments and straw, helping support babies' sensory develop...ment.Older children enjoy Yoga activities in the garden, which helps children experiment with breath, stillness and self-regulation.

They practice physical poses, which helps support in building gross and fine motor skills, coordination, balance and strength. Children are well behaved, friendly and cooperate with staff and each other. Children learn about the life cycle of a butterfly, they sit in small groups and talk about the stages the butterfly goes through.

Children speak up and discuss their ideas and thoughts, they wait and take turns to handle resources linked to the butterfly. Children develop their language skills and confidence, understanding about the natural world.

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

Parents are complimentary of staff and the management team.

Parents feel that the parent app is a good way of communicating with parents throughout the day. They receive updates about their child's day, including photographs. They attend regular parents meetings to discuss their child's development and next steps in learning.

Parents have recently formed a parents committee and have met with staff to discuss any improvements. Parents use the lending library and take books home to read to their child, which supports continuous learning at home.Staff support children with special educational needs and /or disabilities well.

Staff work with parents and external agencies to devise ways to help children make progress according to their individual needs.Leaders ensure that staff receive regular support and attend supervisory meetings. Staff undertake regular training courses to upskill their knowledge of childcare, which helps to support them to meet the needs of children.

Leaders at the nursery also receive support and guidance from the early years consultant and regional director, which helps improve staff practice.Leaders and staff implement a broad curriculum, which supports children to make good progress in their learning and development. However, not all staff consistently show they understand the curriculum's intent through their interactions with children.

Children are independent and build on their skills, as they clear away plates and cutlery after eating. They learn about hygiene routines and wash their hands after using the toilet. Staff ensure that babies' care needs are met.

Children enjoy outdoor play, they ride wheeled toys, they mould with sand and build with construction. Children walk carefully and with support across wooden planks. They play freely and gain the benefits of fresh air, such as using up their energy and feeling happier.

Children share and take turns and are mindful not to bump into each other, they learn to be safe but take risks.Children are offered healthy foods, they sit happily and socialise in small groups during mealtimes. The chef and staff ensure that children's special dietary needs are met and double-checked before food is offered.

Children enjoy listening to music, they handle musical instruments as they sing along with staff to nursery rhymes. They learn the sequence of songs, that they have a beginning, middle and ending, all of which supports early literacy skills.Play dough is offered to children, which helps them to use their imaginations as they mould, cut and make patterns.

Staff support older children to recognise the letters in their names. They begin to make sound-letter associations. They know the sound of the first letter of their name.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Leaders and staff have reviewed and updated their safeguarding knowledge through recent safeguarding training. Leaders understand their roles as designated safeguarding leads and their responsibilities to refer any concerns they have to the relevant safeguarding agencies.

Leaders know how to act swiftly if any allegations are made against staff. Staff support children and families to ensure that children are kept safe. Staff understand whistle-blowing procedures, they know what signs may indicate a child is at risk of harm or at risk to extreme views or ideology.

Leaders follow safer recruitment procedures and check staff's ongoing suitability. The environment is safe and secure.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: strengthen the focus on improving all staff's knowledge of the areas of learning and understanding of how children learn to enhance their teaching of the curriculum.

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