Busy Bees

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children develop strong bonds with the staff. They greet staff warmly and look to them for reassurance when they are upset.

Despite the restrictions placed on the setting due to the COVID-19 pandemic, children come into the setting happy and confident.During the pandemic, staff have enriched the outdoor environment. This means that children can access all areas of learning in a safe and healthy environment.

They explore enthusiastically and learn about the world around them. Children engage fully as they hold a pretend birthday party at the mud kitchen, sandpit or home area. They also spend considerable time pretending... to mix cement and lay bricks to build a house.

Children talk about how many bricks they need, and they count very well. Children behave well. They are enthusiastic in their play and learning.

Children respond well to the warm praise they receive for their efforts and results. For example, they want to join in because they enjoy the praise they receive for helping to prepare snack. Children are eager to create their own artwork using shapes, because they found a book about shapes so interesting.

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

Staff acknowledge the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on children's language development. Their plans to help children to catch up are beginning to work in practice. Staff support children to join in and therefore make progress.

Staff also work well with support agencies and have introduced sign language. However, staff are not yet implementing this consistently throughout the day to ensure it has a full impact.Staff teach children a wide range of songs and rhymes.

Parents also confirm that their children learn lots of songs. This extends children's vocabulary and enhances their learning in other areas. For example, children have great fun as they sing a familiar song about wrinkly elephants.

Staff use the song to support children to learn about parts of their bodies as they join in with the actions. Children also know several number rhymes. However, at times, staff sing the songs a little too fast.

This makes it difficult for children to join in.Parents are overwhelmingly pleased with the standard of care and education at the setting. They are particularly pleased with the level of support for children's individual needs.

They say this has included invaluable support for their children at home, as well as in the setting.Staff promote children's love of being active both indoors and outdoors. Staff encourage children to challenge themselves by considering how they set up the balance equipment.

This promotes children's strength and coordination. Children learn to balance, climb and run safely. Staff also make use of the large hall when it is available.

Children have fun as they dance and join in with a broad range of action rhymes and songs.Children's active play helps them to work up a healthy appetite. They enjoy the healthy snacks and meals.

They capably wash their hands before eating or preparing their food. They proudly show off their clean teeth after they have brushed them. Staff promote children's good health.

Staff observe each other's work so that they can help each other to improve their practice. They reflect on each other's strengths and use this well to support children. They also acknowledge what they still need to do.

However, they do not always think more deeply to understand what might be hindering children's engagement. For example, they have not considered why some children concentrate better in the afternoon. They also do not notice when a colleague sings a little too fast for the children to join in.

Staff successfully promote children's mathematical understanding. They encourage children to talk about number, shape and size at every opportunity. Older children learn to subtract and predict correctly as they act out number rhymes.

The talk confidently about shape and size as they help their friends to find a large circle for the cat's head and small triangles for its ears.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff make sure that their important safeguarding and paediatric first-aid training is kept updated.

They have a secure knowledge of what behaviours and physical signs might mean a child is at risk of harm. The manager understands that parents need support in different ways and at different times. Staff also understand the procedures to follow when support from other agencies is needed.

This helps to make sure that children are safe at home as well as in the setting. Staff help children to develop the skills they need to keep themselves safe as they play.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: be even more consistent in how the curriculum for language and communication is delivered further strengthen reflective practice to identify what improvements would have the greatest impact on children's involvement, concentration and language development.

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