Highwood Nursery

Inspection of Highwood Nursery Brockenhurst College, Lyndhurst Road, Brockenhurst, Hampshire SO42 7ZE

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children arrive happily and separate from their parents with ease. Staff help children to settle and place a strong focus on their happiness and well-being. They know the children well and respond to their needs and interests with enthusiasm. Staff spend time talking to parents to find out how the children are. As a result, children feel safe and secure.

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The provision is good

Staff plan a broad curriculum based on children's developmental needs and interests. They use information from settling-in visits and observations as a baseline. This helps staff plan an effective programme for the children. Staff provide many opportunities for children to develop their fine motor skills. For example, younger children enjoy squeezing pipettes during water play. Older children enjoy sensory experiences linked to their favourite story, 'The Gruffalo'. They use tweezers and spoons to pick up and explore the 'scrambled snake' and 'roast fox'. Staff use activities as an opportunity to introduce new language to the children. For example, they include the words 'solid' and 'liquid' as children explore the different types of glue. This helps to develop children's communication skills and extend their vocabulary.

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The provision is good

Staff use praise and encouragement to support learning. There are clear expectations, and children understand the rules and boundaries. As a result, behaviour is good. Staff intervene sensitively during any minor altercations. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress from their starting points.

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need to do better?

n Leadership and management are good. Staff value the relationship they have with the college. They proudly share that they were recently awarded 'team of the year'. Staff report their well-being is good and managers support them in their roles. They discuss children's individual needs and their own professional development during supervision sessions. There is a commitment to gain additional skills. For example, staff have recently undertaken training to learn more about children's schemas. They use this knowledge to further develop their provision. Training helps to ensure staff are familiar with the latest information and updates in early years. n Skilled staff use expression extremely well to engage children in familiar books. They read stories to the children enthusiastically, providing lots of encouragement. For example, children join in excitedly as staff take them on a 'bear hunt'. This helps to develop children's communication skills and

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need to do better?

understanding of literacy. n Staff provide children with some opportunities to be creative. For example,

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need to do better?

3 September 2025 children access a range of resources. However, art activities tend to be adult- directed with a focus on similar-looking end products. Children do not have opportunities to express themselves and use their own imagination, skills and creativity during these activities. n Staff help children to understand the importance of leading healthy lives. They undertake the 'daily mile' to encourage children's physical development and access to the outdoors. Staff teach children to wash their hands before meals and after using the toilet. This helps children to understand the importance of good hygiene and healthy lifestyles. n Staff provide many opportunities to promote children's confidence and independence. Children demonstrate positive attitudes to learning and persevere in their play. For example, children work together to build ramps for their vehicles and to construct towers with the large bricks.

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need to do better?

n Partnerships with other providers are good. Staff work effectively with other agencies and local schools. This helps to ensure children receive the best support that is tailored to meet their needs at the right time. Consequently, children receive early help to support their progress, and transitions to other settings are effective. n Partnerships with parents are good. Staff find out about children's interests and development during settling-in sessions. They share ongoing information about children's development with parents using an online platform. Parents are complimentary of nursery staff. They comment on the progress their children have made. Parents value the ideas and activities to help support their children's learning at home. This joined-up approach helps to enable children's continued growth.

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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 consistently provide children with opportunities to freely express their own creative ideas.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY477230 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10416369 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 71 Number of children on roll 67 Name of registered person Brockenhurst College

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reference number

Telephone number 01590 625332 Date of previous inspection 7 January 2020

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Information about this early years setting

Highwood Nursery registered in 2014. It operates from Brockenhurst College in Hampshire. It is open each weekday, all year round, from 7.45am to 6pm. The nursery employs 25 members of staff, 19 of whom hold a relevant early years qualification at level 3 or above. In addition, there is an administration assistant. The nursery provides government funded early education places for children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed their early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the nursery. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of a creative activity. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

3 September 2025 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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