Concerns about the safety, education, and well-being of children at Busy Bees Day Nursery in Weston-super-Mare have been raised by Ofsted.
The nursery, located on Bransby Way, Locking Castle, previously held a “Good” rating as of its last inspection in 2022. However, following a recent risk assessment inspection on November 14, 2024, they are now rated Inadequate in all areas.
The inspection report states: “Children’s well-being is compromised due to weaknesses in staff’s management of children’s behaviour.”
It says older children were found to engage in unsafe behaviour, such as physical disagreements over toys, with staff failing to intervene appropriately.
“Physical disagreements between children are at times ignored,” inspectors noted, adding that this failure prevents children from learning boundaries and expectations.
The impact extends to learning outcomes. Staff reportedly lack awareness of children’s developmental progress and fail to provide engaging or challenging activities. “Some staff are not aware of what children already know and can do,” the report highlights. This failure results in children struggling to build positive attitudes toward learning and failing to reach their developmental milestones.
The nursery was also found to have lapses in supervision and safety protocols. During mealtimes and transitions, children were left waiting for extended periods, leading to heightened noise levels and distress.
In one observation, children accessed bathroom facilities unsupervised, struggling with heavy doors that they could not open from the inside, leaving them isolated from staff.
The report highlighted an incident where “pre-school children run around with scissors,” with staff unable to manage the situation appropriately. Rather than addressing the safety risks, staff resorted to carrying children away without explaining why such behaviour was dangerous.
The nursery’s educational framework was another area of concern. Inspectors found that staff lack understanding of the curriculum and how to implement it effectively. The report notes that staff fail to provide sufficient opportunities for children to develop critical skills, such as communication and imagination. For example, toddlers’ exposure to vocabulary and creative activities like mark-making was severely limited. “Staff do not build on toddlers’ knowledge of mark making,” inspectors observed.
Furthermore, staff were hesitant to address developmental gaps with parents or other professionals, hindering early intervention efforts. This lack of confidence “hinders children’s progress,” the report concludes.
The report also flagged significant safeguarding issues, noting that the arrangements in place were “not effective.” While staff received safeguarding training, there was no “open and positive culture” that prioritised children’s safety. Such lapses are particularly concerning given that safeguarding is one of the fundamental responsibilities of childcare providers.
Despite the findings, the report offered hope for the youngest children at the nursery. “The experiences for babies are better,” inspectors noted. Staff caring for babies were described as attentive and nurturing, demonstrating a better understanding of their needs. Babies reportedly enjoyed close relationships with staff, who supported them in self-soothing and worked closely with parents to meet their care needs.
Leadership at Busy Bees has undergone changes in response to this, with a new management team tasked with addressing the systemic issues identified in the report. Inspectors acknowledged the management’s efforts to develop more robust monitoring procedures and ensure compliance with safeguarding policies. However, the report makes clear that much work remains to be done.
Ofsted has set a series of mandatory actions for the nursery, including:
- Improving supervision during mealtimes and transitions.
- Equipping staff with skills to manage behaviour effectively.
- Ensuring consistent implementation of the curriculum.
- Addressing gaps in children’s learning, particularly in communication and language.
The inspection followed a risk assessment triggered by concerns raised about the provider. Parents’ views were considered during the inspection, though details of their feedback were not disclosed in the report.
Busy Bees Day Nursery were approached for comment on January 3.
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