Bright Horizons Longfield Day Nursery and Preschool

Hickory House Children's Day Nursery Brickfield Farm, Main Road, Longfield, Dartford, Kent. DA3 7PJ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 August 2016 9 April 2015

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The nursery provides an exciting, vibrant and highly stimulating start to a young child's care and education. Provision across all age groups is exemplary. From their individual starting points, children make rapid progress in their learning and development.  The leadership of the nursery is outstanding. Despite significant changes over the last year, the transfer of ownership of the nursery has been managed exceptionally well. As a result, the existing high quality has been built upon and the outstanding level of provision has continued.  Teaching is exceptional in all nursery rooms. Staff use their expert knowledge of how babies and young children learn to provide an excellent range of activities, both inside and outside.  Babies and children thoroughly enjoy their time at nursery. They arrive with excitement, anticipation and enthusiasm ready for the day's activities. Relationships between children and staff are extremely strong.

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This provision is outstanding

 Meticulous attention is paid towards promoting children's safety and well-being. This means the nursery provides a very safe, secure, homely and welcoming environment.  Parents' feedback is overwhelmingly positive. One parent summarised the views of others by saying: 'I can't say anything bad about the nursery; the staff are fantastic'. Another parent described the nursery as: 'a very special place'.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 continue to build on the process of monitoring staff performance to maintain the outstanding levels of provision.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the support for children's learning across all age groups, both inside and outside.  The inspector talked to staff about how they keep children safe; how they plan for children's learning and how accurately they monitor the progress children make.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the nursery manager to evaluate how well leaders monitor the quality of provision.  The inspector talked to a small number of parents and carers at lunchtime that were dropping off and collecting their children to take account of their views. A telephone call was also made to one parent.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery's leadership team to discuss and evaluate how well senior staff monitor the quality of teaching and identify what needs to improve in the nursery.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The professionalism, dedication and commitment of the management team and staff is clear to see. An uncompromising approach to 'being the best' means every opportunity is maximised to reflect on practice. Precise, accurate and focused monitoring arrangements mean any areas which could be improved are recognised early. A comprehensive range of training and development, combined with regular meetings, mentoring and management support, mean staff continually update their skills and knowledge. Partnerships with parents, schools and other agencies are outstanding. Parents are fully informed about their children's development and receive extensive information to help them enrich children’s learning at home. Safeguarding is effective. A comprehensive range of policies and procedures, combined with extensive training for staff, mean every precaution is taken to keep children safe.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Children thrive in the nursery as a result of the expert teaching. The atmosphere in all rooms, from babies through to pre-school 2, is engaging, fun and highly stimulating. Babies and toddlers benefit from an exceptional level of interaction from staff to support their early communication skills. Staff confidently understand their non-verbal gestures and emerging words. Careful monitoring of children's development means any signs of potential delay are recognised early and relevant professional advice is sought. Inspiring and exciting activities capture children's imagination and support learning exceptionally well. For example, boys' language and literacy skills have been particularly well supported through the creation of 'dinosaur land' in the garden.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children's behaviour is exemplary across the nursery. Older children remind each other of the nursery's 'golden rules'. Staff place a strong emphasis on helping children to develop empathy, kindness and an awareness of similarities and differences. As a result, relationships between all age groups are harmonious. From the youngest age, children develop a real sense of belonging within the nursery. For example, one toddler pointed at his photograph, beamed with pleasure and said 'me'. Staff continually support children's interests and ideas and value their contributions. For example, in pre-school 2, a child's fascination with countries has led to an outstanding range of activities associated with Egypt.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children make rapid progress in their learning and development. Any gaps in children's learning close quickly. This is due to the accurate and meticulous assessment process, particularly in children's communication and language development. The exceptional care and support for learning from babies and toddlers through to nursery and pre-school 1 and 2 mean children develop an excellent range of skills. These skills help them to become confident, sociable, articulate and highly motivated learners. As a result, children cope with change easily when moving group rooms and start school fully equipped for future learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 127245 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1058686 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 98 Number of children on roll 148 Name of registered person Asquith Court Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 9 April 2015 Telephone number 01474 703415

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reference number

Hickory House Children's Day Nursery registered in 2000. It is located in Longfield, Kent and became part of the Asquith Nurseries group in 2015. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am to 6.30pm all year round, with the exception of public holidays. The nursery employs 43 members of staff. Of these, 29 hold appropriate early years qualifications. Two members of staff are qualified to degree level. Funding is accepted for the provision of free early years education for children aged two, three and four years.

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reference number

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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reference number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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reference number

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reference number

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reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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