Busy Bees Day Nursery at Leamington Spa

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children enter this vibrant nursery extremely excited and settle very quickly with the support from nurturing and enthusiastic staff. They separate confidently from their parents and show that they feel safe and secure here. Staff have exceptionally high expectations of children and are excellent role models. Due to this, behaviour is exemplary. Children use excellent manners in their play as they share and take turns. They become confident and independent learners in an inspiring environment that allows them to flourish and make decisions. For example, children take part in weekly voting activities. They choose what they would like to eat the following week and what activity they would like to complete to raise money for charity.

Children enjoy an extensive range of opportunities that support their communication skills. For example, babies listen to a range of songs and stories throughout the day, laughing and dancing as they join in with the actions and signs. Older children are regularly introduced to new and challenging vocabulary. For example, when completing a group activity to follow a recipe using natural materials, children learn about the words 'petal', 'stem' and 'dissect'. Staff skilfully ask children a range of open-ended questions and encourage children to ask questions in their play. They consistently talk to children about what they are doing. This means that children develop excellent speaking skills.

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

• The manager and staff team plan a challenging, highly engaging and sequential curriculum. Staff work very closely with parents to find out what children know and can do when they first start in the setting and use a rigorous assessment process when children are settled. The key-person system is highly effective. This means that staff know their key children extremely well and expertly plan activities to meet their needs and interests. Due to this, all children make excellent progress from their starting points.
• Opportunities for children to develop their physical skills are in abundance. Children develop their large muscles by playing on the climbing and balancing equipment outside. They laugh with staff as they practise their ball skills outside. Children are supported to develop their small hand muscles by using malleable materials in a range of areas and activities. They use a range of mark-making materials to create pictures. This supports children's early writing skills very well.
• Children develop their independence exceptionally well. Staff support babies to begin to feed themselves using spoons, and older children expertly feed and dress themselves independently. Children are regularly encouraged to make choices about their learning and play.
• Staff ensure that children transition through nursery, and on to school, excellently. They focus on key transition points, making sure that these are smooth for children. New key persons have all the information they require to ensure that children settle into their new rooms quickly and confidently.
• The manager is highly reflective and places a high emphasis on staff professional development. Staff are encouraged to participate in training regularly to ensure that they are continually refreshing and enhancing their knowledge to support them to provide education of the highest quality.
• Teaching British values is a top priority in the setting. Children learn about similarities and differences and celebrate a range of cultural festivals. Children are taught that they have a voice and that staff will always listen to them. They learn about different types of family structures. This helps children to develop an excellent understanding of people, communities and the wider world.
• Parents comment on the high-quality care and learning opportunities that their children receive. They talk about the dedication of the staff and frequently mention how confident their children have become since attending this nursery. Staff value the involvement of parents and ensure that children's learning is regularly shared with parents to provide consistency of care between nursery and home.
• There is a strong process in place for supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The special educational needs and/or disabilities coordinator (SENDCo) is extremely knowledgeable and ensures that timely interventions and referrals are in place so that children receive the support they require. Additional funding is spent effectively to support children's needs.
• Partnership working is exemplary. The manager and staff team work closely with parents, external agencies and other settings which children attend in order to ensure that children receive consistent support and the highest quality of education at all times.