The Hunny Bee Day Nursery

Bicycle skills, reading dens and babies signing for milk give The Hunny Bee Day Nursery's November 2022 inspection a recognisable character: practical learning starts young, and play has a clear purpose. At its 9 November 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding and found safeguarding effective.

Based on Paget Street in Kibworth, Leicester, LE8 0HW, the nursery has capacity for 60 children aged 2 to 60 months. That is the whole nursery's capacity, rather than the size of an individual group. Its opening hours run from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

In November 2022, learning took different forms across the age groups: babies communicated their need for milk through signs, toddlers worked small objects into scented dough, and preschool children explored numbers and capacity with water beads and differently sized test tubes. These examples connect communication, hand control and mathematical ideas to things children can handle and explore.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for learning and care, with play helping children develop skills and understanding. In November 2022, staff adjusted planned activities to children's interests and needs rather than expecting everyone to follow an identical task.

The bike academy, an example of the termly enrichment offered in November 2022, helped children learn to ride safely. Books also supplied ideas for play: Room on the Broom became a story children acted out using sticks. Reading dens indoors and outside gave books a physical place in the day, while building a course from planks and barrels brought balance, persistence and teamwork into the same activity.

At the November 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that key persons knew children closely, support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities used individual plans and collaboration with families and other agencies, and children made excellent progress from their starting points.

In November 2022, independence was practised through small daily actions. Babies cleaned their hands and faces at meals, older children served themselves, and nose stations let children manage tissues and disposal. These are useful steps towards doing more for themselves, rather than treating care routines as pauses between learning activities.

Shake sessions began the day with movement: in November 2022, babies used illuminated shakers while toddlers moved to action songs. Support extended to home, too, through online toilet-training guidance and virtual workshops about oral health. Changes to meals reduced sugar, linking advice for parents with changes to the nursery day.

The address is Paget Street, Kibworth, Leicester, LE8 0HW. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays, with year-round operation except bank holidays and a Christmas closure lasting one week. Families planning work cover need to account for those closures as well as the daily opening window.

In November 2022, funded early education covered children aged two, three and four. This is a dated account of participation, rather than a promise of a particular funded attendance arrangement today.

• Inspection date. The Outstanding judgement dates to November 2022. It gives a detailed account of practice at that point; the activities and care examples above belong to that period.
• Funding and everyday costs. Funded early education formed part of the November 2022 offer. At a visit, what funded attendance arrangement would suit your child, and how would meals and non-food consumables be handled within it?

The Hunny Bee suits families seeking care across the working week who value practical play, growing independence and learning that connects nursery and home. Its November 2022 inspection gives substance to that appeal through bicycle learning, story-based play and individual support. The weekday opening window and planned holiday closures are the practical starting points for deciding whether it fits family routines.