Advantage Day Nursery

Parents’ voices in children’s home languages gave Advantage Day Nursery a memorable feature in November 2021: Talking Boxes let children listen to messages from their families during the day. It was a practical link between home and nursery.

At its November 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding, judged its education Outstanding and found safeguarding effective. Advantage Day Nursery accepts children aged 3 to 60 months at 228 Red Lion Road, Surbiton, KT6 7QD. The assessment is historical; its strongest examples concern communication and individual care.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children’s learning, development and care, connecting everyday play with their education and wellbeing. In November 2021, paint mixing prompted children to predict colour changes and practise new vocabulary, which they later used in their play. An interest in a laptop became a discussion about technology and online safety.

The Singing Chef added movement and turn-taking in November 2021: guitar-led activities included running and jumping, followed by opportunities to use a microphone. These combined physical activity with speaking in front of others. Older children also helped younger children attempt unfamiliar activities, while children talked through small disagreements.

At the November 2021 inspection, Ofsted found highly individualised support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, carefully evaluated use of their funding, and rapid progress among children who had previously fallen behind.

In November 2021, babies’ routines were adapted to their individual needs, including support for those new to nursery, and staff also supported parents. Following disruption associated with COVID-19, targeted development programmes addressed needs discussed with families. Talking Boxes supported children learning English as an additional language through familiar voices and home languages.

During that same month, staff received child-protection training and supervision, with communication across management levels supporting information sharing. Leaders used quality-assurance programmes and had identified smaller areas for development, with plans to address them. Children practised safety while preparing fruit, bringing care and learning into the same activity.

The address is 228 Red Lion Road, Surbiton, KT6 7QD. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures on bank holidays and for one week at Christmas.

In November 2021, the nursery received funding for free early education for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated funding position, rather than a promise of eligibility or a funded place today.

• Age of the assessment. The Outstanding judgement dates to November 2021. Families should weigh those detailed examples as an assessment of practice at that time.
• Attendance and costs. The weekday opening window spans 7.30am to 6pm. At a visit, which booking patterns and current funding arrangements would fit your family, including the treatment of meals and consumables?

Advantage merits consideration by families who value communication, support tailored to individual children and continuity between home and nursery. Talking Boxes and the Singing Chef give its November 2021 assessment concrete character. The current weekday opening window may suit working parents, while the historical assessment supplies useful detail about how children were supported and taught.