Busy Bees at Biggleswade Saxon Centre

Treetops Biggleswade The Saxon Centre, Kingsfield Road, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8AT

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 25 April 2018 13 July 2017

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 The new leadership team has been proactive in implementing training and support to raise the skills and confidence of staff. Actions raised at the last inspection have been successfully addressed.  Staff morale is good. They enjoy working in the nursery and feel valued and supported by their leaders and managers. All staff have a good understanding of their role in supporting children's learning.  Older children's literacy skills are promoted particularly well. Children have good opportunities to practise writing and some are achieving above what is typical for their age.  Children build secure bonds with staff. They enjoy their time at nursery and clearly feel happy, settled and safe.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff working with the younger children do not consistently challenge them to help them to make the most of their capabilities.  Not all parents benefit from frequent feedback about their children's achievements at nursery to help them to complement children's learning at home.  Babies who prefer an outdoor learning environment do not have the same opportunities to access the nursery garden as older children.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 support staff to provide younger children with the challenges they need to make the most of their capabilities  increase the consistency of information given to parents about their children's achievements at nursery, to help them to complement their children's learning at home  enhance opportunities for babies to access the nursery garden more frequently so those who prefer to learn outdoors can do so.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's play and learning indoors and outdoors. She spoke with staff and children at convenient times.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the nursery manager. She and the manager evaluated the quality of teaching and the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector had a meeting with the manager and representatives of the provider.  The inspector sampled documentation, including evidence of the suitability of staff, children's records and the self-evaluation process.  The inspector spoke with a number of parents and took account of their written views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Managers and staff have a good understanding of their responsibilities to protect children. They attend regular child protection training and know the procedures to follow if there are concerns about a child's welfare. Suitability checks on new staff are thorough to ensure they are safe to work with children. Staff have worked hard to increase the skills they need to work with specific age groups, overall. They implement new ideas with enthusiasm. For example, the baby room has been enhanced to provide a calm and peaceful play space. The manager regularly monitors children's progress, which helps to identify any additional learning needs. The views of parents and children are collected to support the drive towards ongoing improvement. Parents speak well of the nursery and say their children are safe and well cared for.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff complete regular observations of children's activities and assess their learning. Older children have continuous access to the nursery garden where they have a wealth of good- quality learning opportunities. Some children enthusiastically explore what happens when balls of varying sizes are rolled down tubes. Other children play energetically and develop their skills using wheeled toys. Staff encourage children to follow their interests. For instance, recent wet weather led to children making mud puddles in the garden. Their fascination continued inside as they mixed powder paints with water to make 'indoor mud puddles'. They poured the mixture in and out of containers and added toy sharks and dolphins. Staff question children expertly to make them think. For example, they ask children to speculate what sunflower seeds need to grow.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff work well with parents to settle children into the nursery. They collect detailed information about children's individual care and learning needs, and meet them effectively from the outset. Babies benefit from flexible care that enables them to sleep when they need to. Staff prepare children for their move into the next room. They introduce children to their new key person and familiarise them with the new routines. Each key person has a buddy, which means children always have emotional support from someone who knows them well. Children freely access the plentiful resources and have time to play independently.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in their learning. They are prepared well for the next stage of their education, including school. Children have an interest in looking at books and join in with songs and rhymes. Older children develop independence in practical tasks, for example, as they help to lay the tables for mealtimes. Children learn mathematical concepts from an early age. They participate in counting and matching games, and manipulate building blocks of varying sizes. Children behave well and play cooperatively with their friends.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY239643 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 1110233 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 112 Number of children on roll 75 Name of registered person Treetops Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 13 July 2017 Telephone number 01767 313139

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reference number

Treetops Biggleswade registered in 2002 and is part of the Busy Bees Nurseries group. The nursery employs 17 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications between level 2 and 5. The manager has a qualification at level 5, and another staff member holds qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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reference number

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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reference number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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reference number

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reference number

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reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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