Busy Bees Day Nursery at Ipswich Rushmere

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children receive a warm welcome when they arrive at the nursery. Staff get down to children's level and show a genuine interest in what they have to say. Photos of children's experiences from home are celebrated in vibrant displays throughout the nursery. This helps children to feel valued and supports their strong sense of belonging. Staff develop particularly nurturing bonds with babies. They are attentive to changes in babies' behaviour and communication and respond well to signs that they are feeling tired or unsettled. This helps to reassure babies and ensures that they feel happy and safe.

Leaders and staff share a strong passion for promoting children's enjoyment of books and reading. They inspire children to listen to stories and use books to discover information about the world around them. For example, pre-school children refer to books to find out more about different types of weather. The introduction of a lending library and 'borrow bags' offers children opportunities to extend their early literacy skills even further.

Children's behaviour is good. With gentle support from staff, children learn to negotiate in games and consider others when minor disagreements arise. Toddlers are encouraged to follow guidance and rules that help to keep them safe. For example, staff remind them to wait for their turn on the slide to avoid a collision.

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

• Leaders and staff develop learning programmes which are specifically designed to build on what children already know and can do. For example, staff plan to support toddlers to develop the key physical skills they need before expecting them to pedal a tricycle. This approach ensures that children make good progress and develop many new skills in preparation for the next stage in their learning.
• Staff use a wide range of strategies to support children with a speech delay. They lead regular singing activities and small-group discussions and follow advice from a speech and language therapist to strengthen their interactions. This intervention helps children to make good progress in their communication and language development.
• Daily routines are largely well organised. However, during some times of transition or when there are unexpected delays, staff are slow to adapt their interactions to ensure that younger children continue to engage in purposeful play.
• Staff successfully support children to learn the skills they need to be independent. For example, at mealtimes, toddlers and pre-school children confidently pour drinks, use cutlery and clear their plates when they have finished their meal. When faced with challenges, such as spilt drinks, they are motivated to put things right. This helps children to develop their resilience and confidence.
• Parents speak very highly of the nursery. They establish positive relationships with their child's key person. Parents are well informed about their children's learning and development through daily discussions, newsletters and various open events. For example, staff lead informative and interactive sessions to help parents to understand how they can support their children's readiness for school.
• Leaders ensure that additional funding is put to effective use to promote children's development. For example, they provide specialist equipment in the sensory room. This helps to create a calming space for children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, to regulate their emotions and receive targeted support.
• Staff ensure that resources are set out where children can access them easily. For example, toddlers confidently go to the trolley to find a tissue when they need to wipe their nose. Discussions around topics such as screen time and online safety help children to develop an awareness of how to make safe and healthy choices.
• Since the last inspection, leaders have reviewed the arrangements for maintaining documentation and records. Supervision meetings and staff meetings provide purposeful opportunities for leaders to check staff's understanding of their roles and responsibilities. This helps to ensure that the nursery runs efficiently and children's needs are met.
• Leaders invest particularly well in the well-being and progression of staff. They take time to get to know staff, finding out about their knowledge, interests and areas of expertise. This helps leaders to recognise where staff may benefit from additional support and training to develop their practice even further.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to manage times of transition between activities more effectively to ensure that younger children remain engaged in their learning.