Bright Horizons Springfield Lodge Dartford Day Nursery and Preschool

Bright Horizons Springfield Lodge Dartford Day Nursery and Preschool Powder Mill Lane, Dartford, DA1 1NT

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 November 2017 Not applicable

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 The leadership team show a strong commitment to ongoing development. The manager successfully leads an enthusiastic team and all staff have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities.  Partnerships with parents are very good. Staff successfully use a variety of initiatives for parents to share their children's experiences from home.  Children with special education needs and/or a disability are extremely well supported in the nursery. Consequently they make good progress in readiness for the next stage in their learning.  Attention is consistently given to children's personal routines and interests. This is reflected in the detailed curriculum planning, which is displayed to help all staff know the next steps for every child.  Regular observation and assessment accurately reflects the progress children are making, this helps staff to plan for any identified gaps in children's learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not organise some activities and equipment effectively enough to ensure the highest level of challenge is offered to the most-able children. November 2017 2 of 5

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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

 enhance the organisation of resources and the learning environment to increase the opportunities for children, including the most-able, to experience more challenge, problem solving and development of their own ideas.

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Inspection activities

 The inspectors observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspectors looked at parental feedback, spoke to parents and took account of their views.  The inspectors looked at a range of documents, including records of children's progress, the complaint log and staff suitability checks.  The inspectors met with the leadership team and discussed the quality of the self- evaluation process and the plans for ongoing improvement.  An inspector carried out a joint observation with the pre-school manager.

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Inspectors

Elizabeth Mackey / Cheryl Walker November 2017 3 of 5

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The nursery manager demonstrates high expectations of the quality of care and education in the nursery. She effectively leads a well-qualified staff team. Regular staff supervision and appraisal is in place and there are ample opportunities to support staff in their professional development. Effective recruitment and vetting procedures check that staff are suitable to work with children. Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a clear understanding of safeguarding matters. They complete safeguarding training and most hold a paediatric first aid certificate. The management team are reflective and, together with the team, they successfully use self-evaluation to continue to drive improvement across all areas of the nursery. Parents praise the nursery highly and highlight the staff commitment to equality of opportunity for all children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff know the children well and have a good understanding of what children can do and how they learn. The quality of teaching is good. Room leaders are positive role models and reflect the good practice within the setting. Although the environment is mostly well planned, at times the organisation of some resources do not encourage children to develop their own ideas. There is a strong commitment to ensuring all children are included. A dedicated team work hard to support children with special educational needs and/or disability. As a result this group of children make good progress in their learning and development. Close liaison with parents and other agencies ensures early help is sought when needed. Children who are learning to speak English as an additional language are supported well. For example, staff use effective visual prompts to help children become familiar with the nursery routines and to promote their language

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The nursery is a very welcoming, positive environment, where staff morale is good. Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour. They set clear and consistent boundaries, which children respond to. Staff support children to take appropriate risks and they develop a good understanding of managing their own safety. For example, children skilfully steer tyres to the highest point in the garden. They then alert others before letting go, when they excitedly chase their tyres down the hill. Staff build strong relationships with both the children and their parents. This helps to support a personalised approach to babies’ care. Consequently, babies are settled and enjoy the warm, nurturing interaction with staff. Children learn about the importance of healthy eating. They enjoy high quality food and meals are meticulously planned to meet their individual needs.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are well prepared with the skills they need for their move to school. They are active learners who communicate confidently with their peers and with staff. All children make good progress in relation to their starting points. November 2017 4 of 5

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY544213 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1115553 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 - 11 Total number of places 175 Number of children on roll 360 Name of registered person Bright Horizons Family Solutions Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01322 228154

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reference number

Springfield Lodge Day Nursery re-registered in 2017. It operates from eight rooms in a purpose-built building on the outskirts of Dartford, Kent. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.00am to 6.30pm for 52 weeks of the year, excluding bank holidays. All children share access to a secure, enclosed outdoor play area. The nursery also offers an after school and holiday club facility. There are 66 members of staff, 54 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications from National Vocational Level 2 to level 6. The nursery provides funded early education for three and four-year-olds and receives support from the local authority.

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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. November 2017 5 of 5

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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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If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

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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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