Safari Childcare Billericay

Independence gives Safari Childcare Billericay its clearest character: in October 2024, children prepared fruit, poured drinks and managed their coats before outdoor play. Small tasks gave them a practical role in the day.

At its October 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, made good progress. There were also clear improvements to make in adult questioning, learning challenge and hand hygiene.

The setting has capacity for 40 children aged two to five. Its term-time opening pattern suits families whose childcare needs follow the school calendar.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, linking play with the skills children build. In October 2024, children could choose activities inside and outside, giving them scope to pursue their own interests.

Physical learning had concrete variety that month. Children practised with stilts and balance beams, played ball games and handled scissors. In the mud kitchen, scooping with spoons gave smaller hand movements a purpose. Exploring the effect of water on sand also brought simple investigation into play.

Adults introduced new vocabulary in conversation, but learning was not consistently stretched. In October 2024, some opportunities to take play further were missed, and repeated questions or adults moving on too quickly reduced children's thinking time. The practical activities were there; adult timing needed attention.

In October 2024, children approached staff for reassurance and played sociably with friends. Practitioners knew children's development and adjusted activities as needs emerged, with progress tracking helping them identify gaps and seek outside support.

Family communication also had a practical purpose that month. Staff directed parents towards external services and offered guidance on eating and toileting, while exchanging information with other settings children attended to support consistency.

Hygiene required improvement in October 2024. Children were encouraged to clean their hands and cover coughs, but adults sometimes omitted handwashing after cleaning children's noses. That created a cross-infection risk.

Safari Childcare Billericay is at 70A Laindon Road, Billericay, CM12 9LD. It opens Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm, during term time and closes for school holidays.

In October 2024, the setting provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated account of participation rather than a promise of an individual funded place.

• Thinking time and challenge. October 2024 improvement priorities included extending play more effectively and allowing children longer to answer. These matter for children ready to develop ideas beyond the initial activity.
• Hand hygiene. Handwashing after adults cleaned children's noses needed improvement in October 2024. The concern was specifically about preventing cross-infection.
• Term-time settling. With opening hours of 9am to 3pm and school-holiday closures, how would settling be organised around your child's attendance?

Safari Childcare Billericay suits families seeking term-time care within a 9am to 3pm opening window. Its October 2024 account combines practical independence, physical play and useful family communication with specific weaknesses in adult interaction and hygiene. Those details give parents a clearer basis for choosing than the Good grade alone.