Busy Bees Kindergarten

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children benefit from an extremely well-resourced and inviting environment. They separate from their parents confidently and are greeted by warm and welcoming staff. Children swiftly settle because staff know them well and provide the nurturing and encouragement that children need to thrive. Children become deeply involved in their self-directed learning. Staff provide sensitive support that helps children to maintain a focused and determined attitude to their learning. Babies put their arms up for cuddles and form strong attachments to their key persons and other staff in the baby room. Children demonstrate that they feel exceptionally safe and secure.

Staff model excellent manners, kindness and consideration to others. They teach children to follow simple rules, which prepare them to be responsible citizens. Children love to help with simple tasks. They learn to take turns and play cooperatively. Staff demonstrate that they are interested in the children and what they have to say. Staff respond swiftly and sensitively to children's verbal and non-verbal cues. Children learn the value of communicating to express their wants and needs. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive tailored support that meet their needs. Consequently, all children make sustained progress in their learning.

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

• Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have researched and implemented an imaginative curriculum. It is designed to spark children's curiosity, engagement, and drive to explore and learn. They have implemented robust and regular supervisions and team meetings to help them review the impact. Staff report high levels of engagement and are excited by the new curriculum. Parents are well informed about the curriculum and report that it has had a positive impact on their children's learning and development.
• Parents share how impressed they are with the kindergarten. They are confident that their children are happy and settled. Parents appreciate the wide range of strategies used to engage and involve them in their children's learning. Effective partnership, working with parents, other providers, and agencies, ensures a joined-up approach to children's learning and development.
• Baby-room staff provide a safe and uncluttered environment, arranged specifically to support babies who are learning to crawl and cruise. Older children develop their large muscles as they take part in dancing sessions. They learn to manage pouring and transferring water and develop skills they need for later writing as they mix colours and create. Children of all ages develop confidence in their physical skills.
• Staff make regular assessments of children's learning and development. They use these to ensure that children experience activities that captivate them and support the next steps in their learning. Consequently, all children are engaged learners and make sustained progress throughout their time in the kindergarten.
• Staff ensure that they speak clearly and listen carefully to children. They encourage children to think about the problems that they set themselves. They challenge children to keep trying and build on what they can already do, providing sensitive support and encouragement where necessary. For instance, young children are given the time and feedback they need to determinedly achieve tasks they set themselves. They keep persevering in rearranging a shoe drawer until they can fit in the last pair of shoes and close the drawer. Children learn to keep trying when something is tricky.
• Staff thread stories and songs throughout the day. Children enthusiastically present favourite books to staff and visitors, confident that they will be read to. Staff use nursery rhymes with younger children to encourage their interest in music and words. Older children learn that they can access information from electronic sources. For instance, children who are exploring animal sounds, research with a member of staff the sound that a zebra would make. Children learn skills that will support their later learning.
• Although teaching is generally skilful, occasionally opportunities to teach children to be independent are inconsistent or are missed. For example, staff do not teach children how to apply their own sunscreen. This does not help them learn skills that they will need when they transfer to school.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• implement consistent strategies that make the most of opportunities to further develop children's self-care skills so they are fully independent.