Bright Horizons Phoenix Day Nursery and Preschool in Brentwood, Essex has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted following its most recent inspection, with the report praising the leadership within the professional team.

The nursery received its inspection on July 21^st and was rated as ‘Outstanding’ in all four areas of inspection: The quality of education; Behaviour and attitudes; Personal development; Leadership and management.

Inspection activities included the inspectors observing the quality of education being provided, both indoors and outdoors, as well as discussing the children’s progress with nursery practitioners. Comments from the report included:

• Children develop superb communication and language skills. Staff skilfully weave opportunities for developing new language through activities. For example, babies enjoy singing songs with staff members, choosing objects from a bag that represent their favourite songs. They learn signs that relate to the songs they sing. They then use these signs in their everyday experiences. For instance, they sign ‘thank you’ to staff as they are served their food.

• Leaders and staff are extremely passionate and reflective in their practice. Focused support and training opportunities help staff to raise the level of teaching to an exceptionally high standard. Managers encourage staff to build on the areas that they are particularly interested in. This helps staff to be influential in shaping the vibrant and broad curriculum and make positive changes to the provision.

• Children and adults’ wellbeing is at the heart of the nursery ethos. Children enjoy yoga sessions in the garden as they learn to focus on their breathing and feel the stretch in their muscles. Leaders give staff’s welfare high priority. Staff state they feel highly appreciated.
  
  

Sarah-Jane Copperthwaite, nursery manager, said: “We are extremely proud to have achieved an outstanding grading from Ofsted. During our inspection it was very clear to the inspectors that our staff have passion, commitment, and dedication to which we are delighted that this has been recognised. It was acknowledged that the focus on support and training opportunities help staff to raise the level of teaching to an exceptionally high standard. The partnerships between our colleagues, children and their families is of the utmost importance to us and our children and staff’s wellbeing is at the heart of our nursery’s ethos.”