Busy Bees Day Nursery at Stevenage Great Ashby

Inspection of Busy Bees Day Nursery at Stevenage Great Ashby Whitehorse Lane, Great Ashby Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 6NH

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

The quality of interactions between staff and children is inconsistent. Staff do not always deploy themselves well throughout the day to meet all children's learning needs. As a result, babies and children do not always engage in meaningful play. For example, while staff are changing nappies or preparing lunch, younger children sometimes wander about as they wait for longer than is necessary.

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The provision requires improvement

Nevertheless, staff are caring towards the children. When babies and young children struggle to settle, staff speak soothingly and offer comfort to them. Staff spend time with their key children to build secure bonds with them. Children across the nursery demonstrate strong levels of independence. Staff support this by encouraging children to complete age-appropriate tasks. They encourage toddlers to use dustpans and brushes to sweep up spilled sand. Staff in the pre-school room encourage children to pour drinks at mealtimes and put on their own coats and shoes before playing in the garden. This helps children develop some skills for their next stage of learning. Children experiment with movement in the garden. They run, jump, crawl and slide using a variety of equipment. This helps build their core strength and control.

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The provision requires improvement

Overall, children understand what is generally expected of them and behave well. Younger children follow the routines, and older children know how to use equipment appropriately.

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need to do better?

n While managers regularly reflect on and accurately evaluate the care the nursery provides, they have not sufficiently tackled all areas of identified weakness. Although there are processes in place to develop the quality of staff teaching and general interactions with the children, they have not yet had an impact due to recent changes in the staff team. This means children's access to high-quality learning opportunities is not consistent across all areas of the nursery. n While a recent allegation was dealt with in line with the provider's local safeguarding procedures, managers did not ensure this was notified to Ofsted. This is a breach of requirements. n Communication between staff and families is generally effective. Staff work hard to gather information about children's early experiences. They use this knowledge to plan some activities based on children's interests and learning needs. However, some planned activities are not executed well. For example,

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need to do better?

children in the pre-school room are left to play for extended periods with little interaction from staff. n Children are sociable. Young babies babble and giggle at each other as they crawl around. Older children play together for much of the day. However, the

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need to do better?

17 January 2024 inconsistent input from staff means they do not hear a range of words and conversation. This does not fully support their language development. n Transitions are a stronger element of the nursery. Staff help children become familiar with their new environment before they move rooms permanently. Key staff work together and share information about individual children. This enables children to settle swiftly and supports their emotional well-being. Additionally, parents feel included in this process, as staff keep them up to date with the changes. n Staff work well with other professionals to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They implement individualised plans that external professionals advise. Children's progress is regularly reviewed with parents to help make sure these children are moving forwards in their development. n Some staff read books to children with expression and rhythm. Older children

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need to do better?

listen and answer questions, and younger children handle books suitably when looking at them. This helps to develop a love of reading.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Due date

ensure staff deployment meets the needs of children throughout the day 29/02/2024

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Due date

improve teaching skills to ensure children receive a consistent, good-quality educational experience and that good- quality planned activities are implemented. 26/04/2024

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should:

n help staff give babies and children a language-rich experience to build on their communication skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY239818 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10326684 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 112 Number of children on roll 123 Name of registered person Busy Bees Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01438 365692 Date of previous inspection 28 September 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Busy Bees Day Nursery at Stevenage Great Ashby registered in 2002 and is part of a national chain. The nursery employs 29 members of staff. Of these, 24 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions run from 7.30am to 6.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n This inspection was carried out as a result of a risk assessment, following information received about the provider. n The manager joined the inspectors on a learning walk and talked to them about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspectors talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspectors observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The provider and the inspectors carried out two joint observations of activities. n The inspectors spoke to several parents during the inspection, read written

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Inspection activities

testimonials and considered their views. n The inspectors looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

17 January 2024 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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