Busy Bees Pre-School

Inspection of Busy Bees Pre-School Southwick C of E Primary School, Hollis Way, Southwick, TROWBRIDGE, Wiltshire BA14 9PH

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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 love their time at this pre-school. They arrive happy, showing a real sense of belonging as they confidently place their snack on the designated tray and hang up their bags. They are met by the warm, friendly staff who greet them by name and help them to quickly become involved in activities. Managers develop an ambitious curriculum, wanting children to be independent and motivated learners. They do this by being interested and enthusiastic in all children do. For example, children excitably run up to staff with a large shell saying they can hear the sea, and hold it up to the staff's ear, so they can hear too. Staff mirror their excitement and praise children, who smile with pride. Children are eager to learn and are making good progress in their learning and development.

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The provision is good

The pre-school is very calm and children's behaviour is very good. When minor altercations arise, older children are able to solve problems themselves. For example, when new children want to join in with play in the home corner and some children do not like this idea, others explain that there is room for them all to be in there together, and they play happily. Children are content as they have freedom to choose if they would like to play indoors or outdoors, supporting those that learn best outside, well.

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need to do better?

n Leadership and management is very strong. Managers and staff regularly evaluate the setting and make changes where needed. For example, the team noticed that children were not really engaging in play in the outdoor kitchen, so they decided to introduce real fruit and vegetables. Children now regularly spend time in the space, cutting the food with safe knives, discussing the names of the different foods and what they smell and taste like. Staff feel very supported by the management team. They have regular meetings and are encouraged to engage in training that interests them, to keep them up to date with the latest childcare developments. n Children's speech and language development is very well supported. Staff run small group sessions with children where they look at specific books and discuss stories. Staff hold children's interests by handing out toys that 'help' children to turn the pages. Children are encouraged to join the groups, but if they are

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need to do better?

reluctant, staff let them watch from the side, and go over the book later in an even smaller group if children want to. Staff are very good at knowing and accommodating each child's individual needs. n Throughout the day, children have opportunities to develop basic mathematical skills in a fun and engaging way. For example, they are split into small groups, decided by which flavour ice cream they like best. They then count to see which group has the highest number of children and which has the lowest number.

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need to do better?

19 June 2025 n Staff are very good at supporting the children's learning in an engaging way. However, at times, the level of teaching and the language used can be a little too complex for the youngest children and they can become uninterested. For example, large group times where there is a lot of counting and looking at different letters can be too advanced for younger children and they begin to lose interest in the learning. n Children have many opportunities to develop independence and to make choices. For example, at afternoon snack time, children serve their own ice cream, carefully scooping and placing it in their cones, helping them to develop muscles needed for later writing. n Parents are very happy with the care their children receive at pre-school. Parents who have children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) speak of how well the pre-school links with outside professionals, and

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need to do better?

implements suggestions from the professionals to support their children's development. Parents comment on how well their young children have developed their language skills since being in pre-school. They particularly love the new lending library, which they say is encouraging their children's interests in books further.

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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 place a sharper focus on developing the curriculum for the youngest children so that activities are differentiated to best suit their age and stage of development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY348292 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 10399057 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 30 Number of children on roll 30 Name of registered person Busy Bees Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07880 762 294 Date of previous inspection 19 November 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Busy Bees Pre-School opened in 1975 and re-registered in 2007. It operates from a building in the grounds of Southwick Primary School, near Trowbridge in Wiltshire. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 3pm during school term times. There are five members of staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 5.

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Inspection activities

n The deputy manager, manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the pre-school and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual/registered individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation including the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.

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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 June 2025 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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