Little Bee's Day Nursery-The Hive

Inclusion: Strong standard

The nursery demonstrates a strong commitment to inclusion and sets consistently high expectations for all children. Leaders design a curriculum that is accessible to every child and continually adapts it to meet individual needs. They identify emerging developmental gaps for children swiftly and implement targeted support with precision. Staff work closely with families and a wide range of external professionals to ensure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) benefit from tailored interventions. Leaders provide sharply focused training that strengthens staff expertise, including specialist training to support children who display challenging behaviours. Well-embedded strategies, such as visual cues and sensory baskets, help children participate fully in their learning.

Children in receipt of additional funding benefit from the carefully planned and purposeful provision of resources to help meet their needs. Staff collaborate effectively with families to ensure funding is used meaningfully, and leaders closely monitor the impact to secure the best possible outcomes for children. As a result, staff understand their responsibilities clearly and work cohesively with families and professionals to ensure children with SEND and those in receipt of funding, thrive and make strong progress from their starting points. Leaders are strengthening support for children who speak English as an additional language. Staff implement effective strategies, such as using key words and providing books from children's home languages, helping children feel understood, valued and develop a strong sense of belonging.

Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard

Leaders implement a clear, ambitious and broad curriculum through the high standard of teaching they have supported staff to secure across the nursery. Leaders ensure staff use assessment effectively to identify what children know and what they need to learn next. They use this knowledge to carefully plan learning opportunities closely matched to children's learning and development needs and interests. Leaders ensure the curriculum is fully inclusive and systematically builds on what all children, including those with special educational needs and/ or disabilities, know and can do. The recently introduced 'Book Nook' provides a calm and inviting area, where children benefit from focused small-group time.

Staff provide rich, hands-on experiences and skilfully adapt their teaching to suit each child's developmental stage across all areas of learning. They make highly effective use of routines and transitions to deliver purposeful interactions that promote children's development, particularly their independence, confidence, resilience and physical development. There is a strong curriculum focus on developing children's communication, language and literacy skills to promote children's mathematical knowledge, listening and attention skills and a love of reading in particular. Staff thoughtfully provide books and lots of opportunities for children to hear and take part in conversations, familiar stories, number rhymes and songs throughout all aspects of the daily routines.

Achievement: Strong standard

Children are progressing very well across all areas of learning, particularly in communication and language. For example, children learn new words, such as 'bubble', as they create pictures using paint and shaped cutters. As children scoop and mix sand, they demonstrate a developing understanding of volume and quantity as they correctly use word, such as 'more' and 'less'. Children are developing strength in their hand muscles and, consequently, are able to use open cups and pour their own drinks. They learn to use cutlery at mealtimes and the skills needed to dress themselves as they prepare to go outdoors. As a result, children show confidence and determination to succeed in developing the skills they need to thrive. All children achieve very well from their starting points and are well prepared for their next stage of learning, including school.

Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: Expected standard

Leaders set consistently high expectations for children's behaviour, which staff actively reinforce through strong role modelling. Staff intervene promptly when children struggle to share, helping them to understand the impact of their actions on others. As a result, children form positive relationships with their peers and show notable kindness and respect. Staff encourage children to develop a positive attitude towards learning, offering frequent praise that encourages children to persevere and approach new experiences with confidence. Throughout the nursery, staff establish clear routines that enable children to move smoothly between activities. For example, transitions to outdoor spaces are well organised, and children are taught how to keep themselves safe by holding an adult's hand and listening for cars near roads.

Leaders demonstrate a reflective approach to continually review mealtime routines to enhance children's experiences and support their behaviour and positive attitudes to learning. However, at times routines are not fully implemented as leaders intended. This occasionally impacts on children's ability to focus and remain engaged in their learning. Leaders are supporting staff to address this. Leaders implement robust procedures to support children's regular attendance, following up promptly with families to ensure children benefit from consistent time at nursery.

Children's welfare and wellbeing: Strong standard

Staff develop warm, trusting relationships with children, helping them to feel safe and secure. Leaders implement a robust settling-in process, enabling children to become familiar with their new environment and for families to build strong bonds with key persons. Staff gather essential information about each child before they start, ensuring individual needs are met from the outset. Staff manage transitions within the nursery carefully. They fully involve parents and share key information with them and provide children with carefully planned settling visits.

The nursery demonstrates a strong commitment to promoting diversity. Children's backgrounds are celebrated through initiatives, such as 'country of the month' and cultural celebrations, where parents are invited to share traditions, stories and food. Staff promote children's welfare, safety and wellbeing effectively through rich outdoor learning at the nursery farm. Small groups care for animals, learning empathy, responsibility and safety, supported by thorough risk assessments and consistent hygiene routines. Children develop physical skills through activities, such as riding trikes, digging and scooping, strengthening coordination and fine motor skills. Gardening and cooking with home-grown produce help children understand healthy lifestyles, where food comes from and the importance of nutrition, supporting their overall wellbeing and development.

Leadership and governance: Strong standard

Leaders provide a highly visible presence that guides, supports and strengthens staff practice. Peer-on-peer observations, regular room meetings and purposeful monthly staff meetings promote a culture of reflection and continuous professional development. Leaders provide robust and sharply focused supervision, enabling staff to receive regular, meaningful feedback with clear targets for improvement. Leaders precisely identify the development needs of staff through reflection and observation and provide a rich range of opportunities, including local authority training, in-house sessions and bespoke courses linked to individual children's needs. For example, recent behaviour support training has strengthened staff confidence and improved outcomes for children. Leaders demonstrate a strong commitment to continuous improvement, setting high expectations that drive consistently strong practice and secure positive outcomes for all children.

Leaders show a positive attitude towards adapting to the changing needs of the nursery, and have a clear understanding of the nursery's strengths and areas for improvement. Staff wellbeing is prioritised through regular check ins, flexible working arrangements and various initiatives to boost morale. Leaders clarify roles and responsibilities to help staff feel valued and have created a positive, collaborative culture at the nursery. Staff report feeling well supported and value the high-quality guidance and support they receive. Partnerships with parents are highly effective. Leaders establish trusting relationships and ensure parents are well informed and actively engaged in their children's learning. Collaboration with external professionals further enhances the bespoke support children receive.