Busy Bees Nursery and Pre-school

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children excitedly arrive at the start of the nursery day, confidently separating from their parents because they are welcomed by kind and attentive staff who know them and their families very well.

Staff skilfully capture children's interest and extend their learning. For example, staff encourage babies to explore a book they have made depicting photos of the range of dressing up shoe's children can choose from. Babies remain engaged as they select different shoes, learn to put them on themselves and then find the corresponding picture in the book. Staff working with older children provide them with a range of resources to ignite their imagination and curiosity. Children use the equipment to construct a map of the world telling staff that they have created an 'ice age, grass lands, a jungle and the sea'. Staff skilfully extend on this learning by asking questions prompting children to think critically. Staff give children time to respond before they excitedly exclaim, 'the jungle animals will survive by drinking water from the sea'.

All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), thrive because staff have very high expectations of what they can achieve. Children make excellent progress in relation to their individual starting points and are superbly prepared for their eventual move to school.

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

• The manager and staff demonstrate a genuine passion for ensuring children are provided with an ambitious and meaningful curriculum that is structured around the individual needs of the children. The quality of teaching is excellent. Staff working with children of all ages use a range of different teaching styles and adapt their interactions to ensure the experiences on offer are exciting, challenging, and well-sequenced.
• Children with SEND receive excellent support. The experienced and knowledgeable special educational needs coordinator works closely with staff, parents, and other professionals to ensure that any gaps in learning are swiftly identified. Targeted intervention, support and individual learning plans are put in place. These plans are reviewed regularly. This helps children make the progress they are capable of.
• Staff provide children with first hand experiences to learn about their community and the world around them. For example, staff support children when they discover a dead wood pigeon in the nursery garden after it had flown into the window of the outdoor classroom. Staff use this to sensitively teach children about life cycles. Children confidently tell visitors that the fox would have eaten the pigeon for their tea because foxes are carnivores.
• Staff working with babies provide them with exceptional support which superbly promotes their personal, social, and emotional development. Knowledgeable and experience staff provide babies with high levels of emotional reassurance. For example, when children show signs of needing cuddles and comfort staff are quick to respond. They spend time sitting on the floor cuddling them until the child shows signs that they are happy to separate from them. This helps to create strong and secure relationships between adults and children.
• Children's behaviour is exemplary. Their kindness and consideration shown towards each other is fostered from a very early age. Babies warmly greet each other when staff bring them from the sleep room following their nap. Older children recognise the importance of turn taking, including others in their play, and taking turns when speaking in groups.
• Partnerships with parents are excellent. Highly effective communication between home and nursery ensure parents are fully aware of children's experiences within the setting. Social events take place throughout the year, such as parents and children being invited to attend an Easter egg hunt. Staff provide support for parents when needed. For example, a recently constructed and furnished shed in the garden has been provided for a tranquil space where parents can meet with staff to discuss matters concerning family life. Parents speak extremely positively about the care the staff afford their children. They say the staff are, 'incredibly nurturing and give the children plenty of love and attention'.
• Staff benefit from excellent support from the inspirational manager. She provides staff with ongoing support, encouragement, and opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills. Staff express their complete satisfaction in their roles. They feel whole heartedly supported by the manager saying that 'we are what we are as her enthusiasm cascades down to us'.