Bright Horizons Southampton Nursling Day Nursery and Preschool

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children enthusiastically explore the environment and easily select the toys they want to play with. The curriculum provided offers challenge and stimulates the interests of children. Children are keen to get involved in the activities on offer and show positive attitudes to learning.

Staff work well as a team and act as good role models for the children. They consider children's interests and what they need to learn next when planning the curriculum. For example, younger children spend time building a train track, concentrating on joining pieces together.

They plan which piece comes next and count how many trains they... can fit on the track. This supports their early mathematical skills. Children show a love for learning from stories that staff read well.

They snuggle in to listen, join in with actions and say the next word when staff leave gaps for them.Children's beaming smiles show how happy and secure they are. Their laughter and chatter fill the air in this vibrant and busy nursery.

Children rise to staff's high expectations for their success. Babies flourish in the care that they receive from the warm and knowledgeable staff. Children behave well.

They share resources and enjoy playing alongside each other. Staff set clear expectations that impact positively on children's behaviour.

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

Staff help children to develop effective communication and language skills.

They model language and introduce new vocabulary for children to hear and repeat. Babies mimic the sounds they hear and babble with excitement. Children are keen to join in action songs and rhymes, which helps to extend their speaking and listening skills.

Older children lead their learning with access to a range of interesting activities. For example, they independently access ingredients to make their own play dough. Children recall the skills they need, and delight in helping themselves to chocolate powder to make the dough smell 'yummy!' They comment on how their arms ache as they mix everything together to achieve soft and stretchy play dough, which they share with friends.

This has a good impact on children's critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is good. Staff work closely with parents and other professionals to offer a consistent approach.

This ensures children receive tailored support to help them make good progress and enjoy their time at this inclusive nursery.Staff know children well and provide babies and young children with peaceful areas for daytime sleeping. Staff follow home routines for continuity and children wake up naturally from their naps.

Children enjoy spending time in the outside space. They test their physical skills as they dig in sand, ride bicycles and make marks on vertical surfaces with water and paintbrushes. In addition, the dedicated chef has an in-depth knowledge of children's allergies and dietary requirements.

The nursery provides a wide range of tasty and nutritious snacks and meals, all of which benefit children's overall health and physical development.Children develop independence in preparation for their next stages in learning. Staff encourage children's self-care skills.

They remind them to wash their hands and support them to put their coats on by themselves. Children learn to follow the daily routines. However, on occasion, staff do not adapt their practice to meet the needs of younger children, such as at snack time.

This means some children wait too long to join in and become distressed.Staff are aware of children's family backgrounds. However, staff do not purposefully explore and plan ways they can successfully embrace children's heritage and cultural backgrounds.

This does not fully support children's awareness of similarities and differences in their community and the wider world.The manager has used additional funding effectively to enhance children's learning experiences. For example, a calming sensory area has been created to support children who need extra support to manage their emotions.

This helps children to feel more emotionally secure.Partnerships with parents are good. Parents feel that staff are approachable and friendly.

They value the support they receive from the manager and their children's key persons. This has a positive impact on children's personal development.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Managers and staff have a good knowledge of child protection issues and their role and responsibilities to keep children safe. They can identify the signs or symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. They keep their safeguarding knowledge up to date and know the correct reporting procedure to follow, including whistle-blowing, if they are concerned about the conduct of a colleague.

The nursery has clear recruitment procedures, and the manager continues to assess staff suitability, for example, through supervisions, support and coaching. Staff complete risk assessments to ensure that the environment is secure, and children have a safe place to play.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: review and adapt routines to ensure they are flexible and responsive in meeting the needs of young children strengthen how staff embrace the cultural heritage of all children attending, to enable children to understand more about similarities and differences.