Busy Bees Day Nursery at Hempstead

Inspection of Busy Bees Day Nursery at Hempstead 197 Hempstead Road, Hempstead, GILLINGHAM, Kent ME7 3QG

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children are eager and happy to attend this welcoming and friendly nursery. The staff team provides meaningful and interesting experiences that excite and motivate children to play and explore. Staff carefully consider the children's interests and development during all activities. Children show they have developed meaningful and close attachments to staff. For instance, in the baby room, children will hold their arms out for cuddles from their key person when they need reassurance. This supports children's well-being and happiness.

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The provision is good

The curriculum builds sequentially as children progress through the nursery. For example, the baby and toddler rooms currently have a focus on children's communication and language development and their personal, social and emotional needs. In the pre-school room, the curriculum then further builds on children's independence and self-help skills, preparing them for their eventual transition to school. Stories, reading and singing are an integral part of the curriculum for the younger children. The impact of this is evident as children in pre-school independently play with small-world resources, retelling stories and phrases from well-known books. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported across the setting. The staff meet regularly with other professionals to support children in bridging gaps in their learning and to further support the staff's professional development.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. The staff give children consistent messages and support regarding managing their own behaviour and how this may impact on others. Older children are involved in making rules. For instance, when new climbing equipment was introduced, they thought about how they could keep each other safe. The children support each other to remember and adhere to the rules they have created.

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need to do better?

n The provider is committed to providing quality care and education for children and their families. The staff have a shared vision for the future of the nursery and are skilled and reflective at highlighting areas for improvement. For example, recent changes to the environment in the toddler room have positively impacted on children showing sustained concentration at activities. Furthermore, the provider has a passion for ensuring staff's well-being. There are plenty of opportunities for staff to undertake further training to support them in their role. n Generally, the curriculum is broad and covers all areas of learning. Staff know the children well and build on what they know and can do through the carefully planned environments and experiences that are on offer. For example, the curriculum for communication and language is a strength of the nursery.

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need to do better?

19 September 2024 Children benefit from engaging back-and-forth conversations with staff and their friends. Furthermore, staff ask relevant and open-ended questions to encourage children to share their thoughts and ideas. However, the opportunities for children to develop their mathematical skills past counting are limited, and staff do not consistently challenge and extend children's understanding in this area. n Staff help children to develop the skills they need for the future, including independence. This is well embedded throughout the nursery. For example, babies sit together to eat their lunch. The staff support children who are ready to feed themselves by using encouragement and modelling what to do with spoons. Across the setting, staff consistently recognise and provide praise for children who persevere to do things for themselves. This supports children's emotional development and well-being.

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need to do better?

n Support for children with SEND is good. Children are quickly identified by staff due to their secure understanding of child development and effective tracking and monitoring processes. Additional funding is used well across the nursery. For example, the nursery has purchased story sacks with books and props to support children's language development. n Children build on their physical skills through various learning opportunities. Babies enjoy exploring building blocks and sensory resources, which encourages their fine motor skills. Older children enthusiastically engage in assault courses and learn to pedal bicycles. However, the baby room provides fewer opportunities for children to strengthen and embed their gross motor skills. n The setting has secure relationships with parents and carers. Settling-in routines are a strength of the nursery. They are planned based on the needs of the children and their families. Information is exchanged to ensure the setting can

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need to do better?

meet the children's individual needs. For example, staff obtain information regarding how children like to be settled to sleep and what comforters they use so they can mirror children's routines from home. Furthermore, staff obtain information such as children's home languages, cultures, faiths and religions. They use this information to further develop their curriculum and ensure that all children are celebrated and resources reflect their home customs. Information is regularly shared to enable parents to continue and build on learning at home.

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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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should:

n create a more challenging and ambitious mathematics curriculum to deepen

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should:

19 September 2024 children's knowledge and understanding of a range of mathematical concepts that are appropriate to their age and stage of development n develop the learning environment for babies, to focus more closely on promoting their physical development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY408447 Local authority Medway Inspection number 10362162 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 76 Number of children on roll 125 Name of registered person Busy Bees Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01634 261156 Date of previous inspection 22 February 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Busy Bees Day Nursery at Hempstead registered in 2010. It was acquired by Busy Bees Nursery in 2014. The nursery opens five days a week, from 8am until 6pm, all year round. There are 21 members of staff. Of these, 15 have a recognised early years qualification between level 3 and level 6. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education to children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n The deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all the areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a communication and language activity with the deputy manager. n Parents and grandparents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector 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

19 September 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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