Bright Horizons Sevenoaks Day Nursery and Preschool

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children and babies settle extremely well in the calm, happy and welcoming nursery. They thrive in an environment centred around children's individual interests and curiosities.

Children are keen to get involved in activities on offer and show positive attitudes to learning. Staff get to know children very well through a robust settling-in process, adapted to meet the needs of each child. This helps children to build strong relationships with their key person and familiar staff in the nursery.

Children develop valuable independence skills during their time at nursery. For example, younger babies use spoons to feed them...selves, toddlers and pre-school children wash their hands, pour drinks and serve food at mealtimes. Furthermore, staff provide ample encouragement to help support children in putting on their own coats.

Staff regularly give children praise. This helps to support children's emotional well-being and gain confidence in their own abilities. Children's behaviour is good.

They develop friendships and play cooperatively with each other. Staff are good role models and help children to learn good manners and follow expected behaviour. Children gain a good understanding of how their behaviour can affect others.

For example, children talk about how sharing can make them feel happy.

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

The enthusiastic acting manager and dedicated staff team have a clear vision of what they want children to learn and achieve. They know children well and plan a wide range of activities based on children's individual interests, across all areas of learning.

The manager has an effective approach in place to track children's progress and swiftly identify any gaps in children's development. Children make good progress in their learning.Children benefit from a strong focus that staff place on their communication and language skills.

For example, staff engage children in purposeful discussions about their thoughts and feelings. Children learn to use expressive language to describe how they are feeling.Staff are knowledgeable about the needs of their key children.

They plan activities based on children's interests and identify what they want them to learn next. However, on some occasions, staff do not always adapt their interactions to further support children's learning. Consequently, at times some children lose interest in activities.

Children follow good health and hygiene routines and engage in activities that promote their independence and understanding of safety. For example, children learn to use cutlery safely at mealtimes. Staff provide nutritious home-cooked meals and children learn about making healthy food choices.

Furthermore, drinking water is readily available for children.Staff provide many opportunities for children to develop their literacy skills. For example, children access a range of resources and enjoy making marks in various ways.

Children show a keen interest in stories. They listen intently as staff read and include them in the storytelling. For example, children eagerly recognise different emotions within the 'Colour Monster' story.

Overall, children have good opportunities to help them to learn about the world they live in. For example, staff plan a variety of activities to encourage children to learn about different countries and celebrate each others backgrounds. Children take part in celebrations such as, St Patrick's Day and Chinese New Year.

This helps children to develop an understanding of other cultures and religions. However, children who speak English as an additional language or are learning additional home languages do not always have the opportunity to see, hear or speak these languages in the nursery to help increase their sense of belonging.Partnerships with parents are good.

Parents say staff share information electronically and they feel well informed about their children's experiences at nursery. Staff provide advice on how to support their child's learning at home.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The manager and staff place a high priority on keeping children safe. All staff complete regular safeguarding training and have a secure understanding of the possible signs and behaviours that could indicate a child is at risk of harm. They know procedures to follow to raise concerns about a child's welfare.

Staff are clear about the whistle-blowing policy and procedures to follow if they have concerns about the suitability of a colleague. Risk assessment is effective and ensures that premises and environment for children are kept clean, 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: support staff to strengthen their interactions with children during activities, to extend children's skills even further nincrease opportunities for children who speak English as an additional language to hear and use their home language as they play.

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