Busy Bees Day Nursery at Northampton Wootton Fields

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children flourish in this friendly nursery. Children of all ages form exceptionally close bonds with staff. Babies gaze into the eyes of their key staff, giggling and smiling at their nurturing interactions. Toddlers cuddle up to staff for affection when tired. Older children rush to greet managers when they enter the room, taking them by the hand and engaging them in their play.

Children are highly independent and demonstrate immense pride in completing age-appropriate tasks. Babies delight at finding their own drinking cups throughout the day. They proudly show visitors how they are learning to wipe their noses and place tissues in the bin by themselves. Older children are selected to become lunchtime helpers. They are excited to put on their special uniforms before setting the tables and serving meals to their friends.

Children's communication skills are exceptionally well promoted in this language-rich environment. Staff engage incredibly well with children, modelling new and challenging vocabulary at every opportunity. For example, toddlers are deeply engaged in a kitchen role-play activity. Staff encourage them to find alternative words to describe the various sizes and shapes of the fruit they explore. Young babies giggle and clap with delight at the songs and rhymes that staff sing to them throughout the day.

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

• Managers and staff are passionate about their role in supporting children's development. Comprehensive monitoring of children's progress enables them to swiftly identify when children need additional support, including the most able children. Staff extend and adapt activities well to ensure that they are suitably challenging for all children. For example, children explore a painting activity. They develop fine motor skills by using pipettes to pick up the paint, and explore the marks they make. The most able children are encouraged to mix specific paints together to create new colours.
• Partnerships with parents is of an exceptionally high standard. Managers and parents work together to establish a support network for new families, which offers impartial advice to parents as well as feedback about the nursery. The highly reflective management team use this information to adapt and enhance their practice. Managers take every opportunity to engage parents in their children's learning. For example, staff recently delivered a workshop about schemas. Parents comment on how the information shared has enabled them to support their children's development at home.
• Staff provide meaningful opportunities for children to understand cultures and ways of life different to their own. Each room has an 'inspiration area' dedicated to exploring the experiences of different children in the nursery. Children develop a sense of pride in sharing their knowledge with their friends. All children gather a deeper understanding of a wide variety of customs and traditions.
• Managers and staff engage exceptionally well with the local community. This gives children a rich set of experiences that reflects the environment they live in. For example, children enjoy trips to the library and local shops. The nursery holds a weekly play session for families in the community. This supports the social development of all children.
• Children's transitions through the nursery and beyond are exceptionally well planned. Children and their key staff spend time in their new environments prior to moving permanently. Detailed information about children's interests and learning needs is shared effectively between staff. This supports children to settle swiftly and continue to make good progress.
• The management team are committed to supporting staff development and well-being. Staff access numerous training opportunities to enhance their already extensive knowledge. This enables them to offer consistently high-quality learning experiences. The highly motivated staff relish taking on additional responsibilities in the nursery. They enthusiastically discuss recent changes they have made in the environment, and explain how this has supported children's development.
• Children behave well in the nursery. They consistently display impeccable manners and are kind and considerate towards one another. Staff support children's understanding of appropriate behaviours exceptionally well. Children and staff use a familiar character to help identify activities and resources that could be hazardous. For example, when cutting vegetables, staff and children use 'Buzz', the safety mascot, to support their understanding of using kitchen equipment safely.