Busy Bees Day Nursery at Westminster

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children clearly enjoy their time at the nursery. They arrive with big smiles, ready for the day ahead. Children demonstrate secure bonds with the staff, who are consistently kind and encouraging. They play with their friends and explore the resources and activities. Children display positive attitudes as they play and are confident to lead their own learning. For example, babies are fascinated by the texture of cornflour 'gloop' and are motivated to explore how it drips and flows. Older children are inspired by the works of artists such as Picasso. They express their ideas boldly and creatively, using materials such as play dough and paint.

Staff have high expectations for all children. They foster their learning and guide their behaviour well. Where children struggle to regulate strong emotions, staff help them to understand and express how they feel. Children adopt simple strategies, such as using sand timers to support turn taking. They behave well and follow the daily routines. Children are well supported as they take their first steps towards independence. Babies and toddlers learn to wash their hands and eat with cutlery at mealtimes. Pre-school children confidently serve their own food and drinks. They enjoy being helpful and assist with tasks, such as sweeping up after messy play.

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

• The manager and staff strive to provide the best care and education for all children at the nursery. They regularly review the provision and speak enthusiastically about recent and future developments. They seek the views of parents and ensure that children have opportunities to contribute their ideas, such as through a 'children's council'. Staff are encouraged to improve their professional qualifications. They describe how further training helps them to support children's development and behaviour.
• Staff provide children with a wide range of activities that cover the seven areas of learning. They carefully observe children and use what they find out to support the next steps in their learning. Consequently, children make good progress and are well prepared for starting school.
• Children eagerly engage with learning experiences. For example, as children make their own 'sensory play dough', they are keen to smell and taste the herbs and spices. However, when challenges arise, staff sometimes step in too quickly with solutions, rather than encouraging children to use their own thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Staff interact positively with children and teaching is generally of a high quality. For instance, staff simplify language and use picture cards, to support children's early communication. However, at times, staff do not give children enough time to contemplate and respond to questions and comments. As a result, children's language is not always extended as fully as it could be.
• The nursery is highly inclusive and welcomes staff and children from a diverse range of backgrounds. Children enjoy sharing their experiences from home and happily celebrate events such as Christmas, Eid and Diwali together. Staff speak a range of languages. They ensure that children who speak English as an additional language can hear and use words from home during their play. This helps children to enjoy and respect their similarities and differences.
• Staff prioritise children's emotional security. They offer effective support when children first start and when they transition to new rooms. For instance, key persons are attentive to children's needs and provide familiar routines and toys, to help them feel at home. Consequently, children are very happy and settled at the nursery.
• Children develop positive attitudes to healthy lifestyles. They enjoy eating their healthy meals together and chat happily to their friends about their favourite fruit and vegetables. Children enjoy fresh air and exercise as they play in the nursery garden each day.
• Managers and staff recognise the importance of strong partnerships. They constantly seek new ways to communicate with parents and involve them in their children's learning. For instance, they provide cosy reading areas, where children and parents can share stories before or after nursery. Parents are very happy with the service provided. They report that their children enjoy attending and are progressing well.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• help staff to improve their support for children's thinking and problem-solving skills
• support staff to develop their interactions with children, to help extend their language skills even further.