Bright Horizons Whetstone Day Nursery and Preschool

Inspection of Bright Horizons Whetstone Day Nursery and Preschool Grange View Road, Whetstone, London N20 9EA

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is good

The learning environment is welcoming, safe and stimulating for all children who attend. Children enjoy a range of experiences that they are keen to take part in. Children's interests are embraced in the design of the curriculum. This contributes to high levels of motivation and curiosity to learn. The manager's reflective approach and effective self-evaluation demonstrate a clear understanding of where improvements can be made to enhance the environment for children. For example, she is currently developing the outdoor area and seeking to extend children's access to natural materials.

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The provision is good

Staff know children well and have high expectations for them and for what they can achieve. They provide sensitive support to children to help them manage their emotions. For example, when children demonstrate frustration because their construction models have collapsed, staff quickly respond to support. This helps children build resilience and gives them the motivation to keep trying when things go wrong. Children generally behave well and build relationships with their peers. Older children learn to play cooperatively together and develop strong social skills. For example, children demonstrate their understanding of sharing when they tell each other, 'When you finish give it back to her, okay?'

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The provision is good

Children develop their independence. For example, younger children find their own water bottles which are labelled with their names and a photograph. Older children pour their own drinks from a water jug that is always available. Children enjoy taking responsibility for small tasks such as handing out water bottles to their peers.

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need to do better?

n Staff in the baby room are attentive and caring. They are skilled in developing the youngest children's communication and language. Babies enjoy songs and stories to help build their vocabulary. Babies demonstrate secure attachments to their key persons, for example they seek reassurance from them when a new adult enters the room. n Staff work closely with parents to ensure that they understand children's starting points when they join the nursery, for example the stage of weaning that babies have reached. The nursery policy is to not introduce a new food until parents have done so at home. Explicit written permission from parents is sought before introducing new foods. n Children become engaged in rich role play. Babies become absorbed in covering dolls with blankets. Staff support learning well by commenting on their actions. Older children demonstrate their mathematical understanding through play. For

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need to do better?

instance, they offer visitors to the setting three items from the play kitchen and

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need to do better?

5 September 2024 explain to them that 'now you have 3 cookings'. n The nursery has an inclusive and supportive approach for all children. Gaps in learning are swiftly identified. For example, staff make timely referrals and create individual plans to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n Staff use effective strategies to support the development of children's speech and language. For example, they offer children choices between two objects. Babies enjoy snuggling in to read stories with staff. Staff notice children's interests and introduce songs that support children's learning well. For instance, when a child shows an interest in the toy fish, staff sing songs about fish. n Older children demonstrate an emerging love of books and stories. They independently access books to read alone and to one another. They benefit from opportunities to take part in activities that support the development of their fine

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need to do better?

motor skills. For instance, they play with tweezers from the 'finger gym'. This prepares them well for later writing at school. However, there are fewer opportunities for them to hear stories and rhymes from an adult. Although the nursery has a curriculum to support children's emerging literacy skills, in practice it is not implemented consistently and is not well understood by all staff. n Parents state they feel well informed about their child's progress in the nursery. For example, staff keep parents up to date with their child's learning and development via a digital app online and newsletters. In addition, there are further opportunities to exchange information at regular parents' evenings. Staff share useful information with parents about norms of child development. However, there is less information shared that would help parents complement and extend their children's learning at home. n Staff report feeling well supported by their manager and the senior leadership

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need to do better?

team. They speak extremely positively about the quality of the training and induction they receive, as well as the support for their well-being.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n support staff to implement the curriculum for literacy consistently to ensure that all children make the best possible progress n build further on the existing strong partnerships with parents to enable them to extend and complement children's learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY275756 Local authority Barnet Inspection number 10354879 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 48 Number of children on roll 38 Name of registered person Bright Horizons Family Solutions Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 020 3657 0399 Date of previous inspection 9 November 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Bright Horizons Whetstone Day Nursery and Preschool registered in 2003. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am to 6.30pm, for 51 weeks of the year. It is closed for bank holidays and for a week at Christmas. The provider employs 22 members of staff. Of these, 18 staff hold early years qualifications from level 2 to level 6. The provider is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education to children from the ages of nine months to four years.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector spoke to children to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

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Inspection activities

suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

5 September 2024 regulates and inspects to 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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