Busy Bees University Hospital

In August 2023, rocking equipment, wheeled toys and hills gave children at Busy Bees University Hospital different ways to practise movement and balance. Physical learning was a clear thread through the day. The nursery occupied a purpose-built, single-storey building within the University Hospital grounds in Coventry.

At its August 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding and found safeguarding effective, with prompt developmental support and referrals for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Those are dated judgements. The nursery accepts children aged 3 to 60 months and has 117 places in total.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning and care: in August 2023, this included experimenting with animal sounds, exploring books and sorting numbers through practical activities. Babies copied sounds during farm-animal songs, while staff introduced vocabulary as children played. Language learning grew from concrete experiences children could join in with.

A number activity in August 2023 brought several skills together: children cut paper into strips, recognised the numbers on them and arranged them in sequence. Handling scissors gave the task a physical element, while ordering the strips required attention to numbers. Books were accessible for children to explore, and adults added unfamiliar words during play. These examples give parents a useful picture of learning through materials, conversation and actions, with opportunities to practise both language and concentration.

Outdoor activity had different challenges for different stages in August 2023. Babies experimented with their balance on rocking equipment; younger children propelled wheeled toys with their feet; older children tackled hills. Resources and activity ideas also went home in physical education bags, giving parents something practical to continue together.

Stories and music in children's home languages were part of the curriculum that August. Staff also learnt words in several languages, connecting nursery experiences with children's family backgrounds. Religious festivals featured in learning too.

During August 2023, staff contributed suggestions for changing the learning environment, with managers helping them carry those ideas through. Planning also drew on what individual children already understood and what interested them at the time. For families, that connects the activities with the child taking part: adults used knowledge of each child's interests and existing skills to decide what to introduce next.

In August 2023, staff assessed children's development regularly, introduced targeted interventions when concerns arose and sought external help promptly. For families, these were concrete mechanisms for identifying a need and responding to it.

Relationships had practical expression in August 2023. Staff took time to discover children's interests and understand their existing abilities, using that knowledge to build familiarity. Children also offered comfort to one another: a child who felt shy could receive a hand to hold from another child. That small example matters because emotional support came through children's interactions as well as their relationships with adults. It gives a concrete picture of the social experiences described at that inspection.

Safeguarding practice in August 2023 included staff knowing how to raise concerns about harm or a colleague's conduct towards a child. Accurate records, repeated training and checks on employees' continuing suitability were also part of the arrangements. These are specific practices behind the dated safeguarding judgement, covering how concerns were recognised, recorded and passed on. They belong to that inspection period.

Room changes involved the child's key person and parents attending transition days in August 2023. Timing was considered individually, giving children support while getting to know different adults and children. Electronic communication also provided parents with several updates during the day, helping them follow their child's experiences between conversations with staff.

The address is University Hospital, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry, CV2 2DX. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with year-round opening and bank holiday closures. Families planning working days need to allow for that closing time and the holiday exceptions.

In August 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. This is an inspection-date description of participation.

• Outdoor learning. Movement equipment and hills featured in August 2023. On a visit, ask how physical challenges are matched to your child's stage and supported by staff.
• Changing rooms. Parents and key people joined transition days in August 2023. Ask how that arrangement would work for your child, including the timing of a move.

Busy Bees University Hospital suits families seeking year-round weekday childcare on the hospital site, within its 7.30am to 6pm opening window. Its August 2023 strengths included practical physical learning, attention to home languages and supported room transitions. The dated inspection judgement gives a clear quality reference; the individual examples explain what earned it.