Bees Knees Day Nursery and Pre-School

Inspection of Bees Knees Day Nursery and Pre-School 97 Connaught Road, Reading, Berkshire RG30 2UE

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Inadequate

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The provision is good

Children are cared for by an enthusiastic and committed staff team. Children are greeted by warm and friendly staff when they arrive. Babies settle quickly into the arms of staff, who know and mirror the care routines they receive at home. Older children enjoy the opportunities to work collaboratively with key staff and their friends. Staff support children effectively to gain independence and self-care skills. Consequently, children are eager to try things for themselves, such as serving their meals and pouring their own drinks.

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The provision is good

Staff listen to children and plan activities around their interests and learning needs. As a result, children are engrossed in a variety of fun sensory activities provided to support them in experiencing different dry and wet textures. Children have many opportunities to learn about similarities and differences in society. For example, parents are encouraged to share special family celebrations. Furthermore, they are invited to attend frequent family events throughout the year. This ensures that all children, including those who speak English as an additional language, are supported to have a sense of belonging in the nursery.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. Staff are good role models for the children. They use good manners and thank children for helping. For example, children help to lay the table ahead of lunchtime. Staff encourage children to share and to take turns. This helps to develop children's self-esteem and confidence.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are passionate about supporting children in the early years. Since the last inspection, there have been many improvements made. Leaders and the new manager have worked hard to drive the required changes. The new manager demonstrates clear vision and is forward-thinking. For example, they have recently split the rooms for the older age groups and adapted the pre- school room to allow children more space to explore and develop. n Interactions between staff and children are kind and warm. Children openly reach out to staff for reassurance and cuddles. They are clearly happy and settled. Staff chat to children and ask open-ended questions to challenge children's knowledge. However, on occasion, staff are very enthusiastic and keen to answer for the children and do not allow them enough time to think or respond. This means, at times, that children are not able to fully express their ideas and build on their understanding.

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need to do better?

n Staff know the children well. They observe and assess children's development and identify what they need to learn next. This is reflected in the personalised and well-balanced curriculum. This enables children to make steady and sustained progress.

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need to do better?

18 December 2023 n Children show a particular interest in exploratory play. Staff foster children's communication, creativity and imaginations well. Babies and young children delight in messy play. They explore drawing with chunky chalks, and they pour oats and dip tinsel into paint with increasing control to make patterns. This helps children to develop the coordination and muscles they need for early writing. n Staff recognise the benefits of outdoor learning. Children have fun opportunities to develop their physical skills and coordination. For example, older children dig in the sandpit, negotiate space on tricycles and are supported to walk confidently along balance beams. Children are curious learners and are fascinated to observe a frog in the garden. Staff use this as an exciting learning opportunity to support children's understanding of the world. For instance, staff encourage children to consider the frog's appearance and what it may eat.

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need to do better?

n Overall, staff build effective relationships with parents and are valued by the families. Parents appreciate regular communication and express their complete satisfaction with the staff. However, some parents are unsure of their child's next steps in learning. Nonetheless, there is a new system in the early stages of development, although it is not yet fully embedded. This will endeavour to support parents in guiding their children's development at home. n The manager supports the staff team well. Staff complete mandatory training and share their ideas on ways to make positive changes to the children's learning and the environment. Staff have regular opportunities to reflect on their practice, request training and to discuss their professional development through supervision meetings. The manager offers regular feedback and spends time with staff to support their practice and overall well-being.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders have made significant improvements since the last inspection. They have improved children's safety while eating. Children sit in small groups, and staff supervise children well. Recruitment procedures are thorough and robust. This ensures that children are cared for by suitably vetted staff. This helps to keep children safe. Staff have a secure understanding of procedures to follow if they are concerned about a child's welfare. Staff are aware of the setting's whistle-blowing procedure and understand their responsibility to report concerns about another member of staff's practice to the relevant people and agencies.

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should:

n extend strategies used for questioning children, to develop the consistency of staff's interactions to further support children's ideas and thinking skills n strengthen the way that information about children's learning priorities is shared

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should:

18 December 2023 with parents to further enhance and support children's learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY260405 Local authority Reading Inspection number 10306054 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 57 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Kingsclere Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01189 590364 Date of previous inspection 12 July 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Bees Knees Day Nursery and Pre-School registered in 2010. It is one of a number of nurseries owned by Kingsclere Nurseries Limited and is open Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, all year round. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 12 members of staff working with the children. Of these, 11 staff hold early years qualifications at level 2 and level 3.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector observed activities in the three main base rooms and garden. She talked to staff about the progress individual children are making and what they want the children to learn. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery to understand how the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. n A joint observation was carried out by the inspector and the manager. The inspector observed interactions between staff and the children and considered the impact these have on children's learning. n The inspector reviewed relevant documentation, including evidence of paediatric first-aid training. The inspector had a discussion with leaders about the evaluation of the setting and plans for improvement.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector spoke to parents and children during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

18 December 2023 regulates and inspects to 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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