Busy Bees Day Nursery at Bedford

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children have a good relationship with staff, who provide activities that meet their needs and interests. For example, babies have shown an interest in the 'Elmer' book, and staff provide a variety of resources to support this. Older children take part in risk assessments and check the garden area, to ensure that it is safe for them to use. Children experience a range of trips. They visit the local elderly persons' complex, sharing artwork with them. Babies enjoy visiting a local orchard and forest.

Children undertake exploratory play which supports and extends their knowledge. For example, children investigate how ice melts. They use a variety of methods, including warm water in pipettes and salt. Staff support all children to ensure their emotional needs are met. Staff rub babies' backs as they settle to sleep after lunch. Older children use a tent set up for them to talk about their emotions and how they are feeling.

Staff encourage children to develop their independence. Children practise removing their own shoes and when they struggle, staff support and praise them when they succeed. Children find their own drinks, using pictures and name labels. Children feel safe within their environment and are confident to approach visitors and speak with them.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

• Parents speak highly of the staff. They feel staff are friendly and supportive. Staff ensure they hold meetings with parents before their children start and gather good information, which includes children's dietary and cultural requirements. Parents praise the manager and say how much she has supported them and their families.
• Staff communicate well with children, who enjoys lots of back-and-forth interactions. This helps them to build a wide vocabulary. Staff ask older children questions, which encourages them to think. However, staff do not always allow younger children time to process their thoughts and respond with their answers.
• The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) is passionate about her role. She has completed relevant training to enable her to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities effectively. The SENCo liaises very closely with parents and other professionals to ensure that each child receives the support they need.
• The manager has a clear vision for the nursery. She states the nursery strength is the long-standing staff team. Staff speak highly about the manager. Staff feel their well-being is supported. Staff experience 'cake Friday', when cake is provided for them by the manager. Staff state that the manager is always available for them to talk to. The manager ensures supervisions are regularly completed and appraisals are completed yearly.
• The manager encourages the teacher from the local school to visit the nursery before children leave to attend there. Information shared with the teacher enables a smooth transition for each child when they move on. The manager speaks to the teacher throughout the year to ensure children are gaining the key skills to be ready for school.
• Children emotional needs are met as they progress through the nursery. Staff work in partnership with parents to gain information when children have settling-in sessions. Staff support children as they move on to new nursery rooms. Children have short visits to the new room, and staff share information with the new key person.
• Staff know the children well. They provide a curriculum that extends and supports children's learning. Staff are clear about what they want children to learn and deliver activities to encourage this. All children make good progress and gain their key skills to support their future learning.
• Children's behaviour is good. Older children manage their feelings well and are beginning to understand how their behaviour affects others. Children follow the good example set by staff, who gently remind them of the rules. Staff praise children's efforts and children readily celebrate each other's achievements. This helps build their confidence and reinforces their positive attitudes to learning. Staff support children who display inappropriate behaviour. Staff explain the risks involved when a plastic ball is thrown at a window. They encourage children to think about what might happen if glass was to break.
• Children enjoy listening to well-read stories and taking part in songs and rhymes. They enthusiastically join in, saying the familiar words. Staff adapt the activity to ensure that younger children can participate by organising story time in smaller groups. They recognise the importance of reading to children. This provides children with good opportunities to hear lots of words, which contributes significantly to their future success.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to strengthen their questioning techniques to give children time to think about and respond with their answers.