Busy Bees Pre-School

Inspection of Busy Bees Pre-School St. Annes Community Centre, Warrys Close, Hythe, Southampton, Hampshire SO45 3QR

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision requires improvement

The staff are warm and welcoming as they greet children and parents individually when they arrive at the pre-school. They ask parents for any important information that might support their child to settle well in the setting. For example, staff enquire if children have slept well or had any issues before they arrive. Parents appreciate that staff are interested in the lives of their children beyond the pre- school.

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The provision requires improvement

Children are happy and keen to explore from a range of offered activities. However, the delivery of the curriculum can be variable. Staff do not consistently have the understanding to implement an age-appropriate, individualised curriculum. Consequently, the learning needs of all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are not consistently met. This impacts on children's attitudes to learning and, on occasion, negatively affects behaviour. Despite this, children demonstrate that they are happy at the pre-school. They approach staff for cuddles and invite them into their play.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff are patient and thoughtful. They encourage children to offer their opinions through discussions and in play. During back-and-forth discussions, staff provide children with plenty of time to respond with their own ideas. This helps children to develop their language and communication skills.

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need to do better?

n Leaders have worked hard to address the actions raised at the last inspection. However, there are still weaknesses in staff practice, which impacts on the quality of educational experiences that some children receive. Leaders do not provide the appropriate support that staff require to successfully deliver the curriculum. This means that children are not always given the opportunity to have their learning extended or make the progress that they are capable of. n Staff are respectful of children at all times, especially during care routines. They are positive role models. However, there are times when staff give inconsistent messages about children's behaviour and do not teach children that there are consequences to their actions. Consequently, children who are identified as having issues regulating their emotions do not consistently receive the support that they need to develop a clear understanding of the boundaries.

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need to do better?

n Staff take their key person responsibilities seriously. They work alongside families to offer support and guidance. For example, when children are being toilet trained. However, prompt action is not always taken to identify when some children need more support than the staff can offer. For example, staff have not received the necessary training so that they can provide support for children with SEND while they wait for external support to begin. Despite this, all children

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need to do better?

22 September 2025 have their care needs met and they enjoy the activities provided for them. n Children have lots of opportunities to build on their physical skills. They manoeuvre their whole bodies as they safely explore bicycles and negotiate obstacles. Children build with large play bricks and build sand castles with their friends. Staff use times such as this to encourage children to play together and develop their mathematical language, such as 'large' and 'small', when comparing the size of the sand castles. n Staff support children's understanding of healthy lifestyles effectively. They use routines, such as snack and mealtimes to talk about the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables. They regularly remind children to drink water throughout the day. Children are encouraged to run around in the fresh air with their friends and observe the effect that this has on their bodies. n Children learn about others in their local community. Staff use the celebrations of

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need to do better?

other cultures to teach children a range beliefs that may be different from their own, such as Easter and Diwali. Children have access to a wide variety of books and resources that reflect the diverse world in which they live. n Staff fully understand the importance of building important relationships with parents. They provide detailed daily feedback about children's progress and daily routines. Staff use observation and assessment to identify children's current interests, existing knowledge and what they need to be learning next. Parents appreciate this feedback and mention that the communication between home and pre-school is strong and effective.

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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

improve all staff's understanding of how to plan and implement an age- appropriate, ambitious curriculum that is tailored to the individual needs of all children 22/10/2025

p.3

Due date

support staff to consistently help children understand behavioural expectations and learn that there are consequences to their actions 22/10/2025

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Due date

22 September 2025 ensure that children with SEND are provided with timely support, so that they progress in their learning and development. 22/10/2025

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY281439 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10376432 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 Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 18 Number of children on roll 6 Name of registered person Busy Bees Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 02380842393 Date of previous inspection 12 November 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Busy Bees Pre-School registered in 2004 and operates from St Anne's Community Centre in Hythe, Southampton. It is open from 9.15am to 12.15pm, Monday to Friday, term time only. The pre-school provides government funded early education places for children aged from two to four years. There are six members of staff. All have qualifications between level 3 and level 6.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together 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 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 Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n Parents shared their views of the pre-school with the inspector, n The inspector viewed a range of documentation that was provided on request.

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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

22 September 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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