New Horizons Day Care

Toy dinosaurs trapped in ice gave children a practical problem to solve at New Horizons Day Care in March 2023: they tried ingredients, then tools, to free them. Hands-on exploration characterised the activities observed in March 2023. At its 15 March 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good overall.

New Horizons Day Care has capacity for 150 children. In March 2023, those attending were aged 3 to 10; that was the age range at the time, rather than a current admissions range.

In March 2023, children's interests shaped activities. The dinosaur experiment combined investigation with tool safety, including discussion about hammers and protective goggles. Outside, jumping became a maths activity: chalk marks helped children compare distances. These were concrete ways to connect movement, language and problem-solving.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, the March 2023 examples show what that meant in practice: investigating materials, listening to stories and using mathematical language through play.

Story sessions also drew on earlier learning. In March 2023, children recalled volcanoes and discussed cooling lava, while staff introduced vocabulary through activities that followed children's interests. Learning had connections beyond a single task.

At the March 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, with staff receiving child-protection training and understanding how to respond to welfare concerns. In March 2023, children sought adults for reassurance, and staff gave parents ideas for continuing learning at home. That linked nursery activities with family life.

Behaviour support needed more care. In March 2023, adults sometimes intervened in sharing and turn-taking before fully understanding a disagreement or recognising children's feelings. This left children fewer opportunities to practise resolving problems themselves.

Support for children learning English also needed development. In March 2023, staff used pictures and individual words to aid understanding, but children did not hear or use their home languages at nursery. Making those language connections was an improvement priority.

The address is Unit 21, James Carter Road, Mildenhall, Bury St. Edmunds, IP28 7DE.

In March 2023, the setting operated throughout the year, Monday to Friday, with sessions running from 7am to 6pm. Its provision also included breakfast, after-school and holiday care for school-age children. Those arrangements covered both nursery attendance and care around the school day.

• Resolving disagreements. March 2023 practice sometimes gave adults too much control over turn-taking. On a visit, ask how staff now help children express feelings and settle disputes themselves.
• Home languages. The March 2023 improvement priority concerned children's opportunities to hear and use their home languages. Families raising multilingual children should ask how these languages feature in daily activities.
• Attendance across ages. Children attending in March 2023 were aged 3 to 10, alongside nursery and school-age provision. What ages and attendance patterns would apply to your child now?

New Horizons Day Care merits consideration by families who value practical investigation and learning connected to children's interests. Its March 2023 offer suited both families using daytime sessions and those needing school-age breakfast, after-school or holiday care. The strongest decision points are how staff now handle disagreements and include children's home languages.