The Hunny Hive Day Nursery, Kibworth

Bike balancing, citrus squeezing and jobs for young garden monitors give Hunny Hive's nursery day a practical character. These were features of life here in July 2022, when children explored materials, took responsibility and practised doing things for themselves.

At its 27 July 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding and found that its curriculum prepared children effectively for future learning. That is a dated judgement, rather than a description of today's staffing or activities. The nursery now has capacity for 75 children, with an accepted age range of 2 to 60 months.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing play and skill-building into the nursery day. In July 2022, babies experimented with edible paint and kitchen tools, while toddlers cut citrus fruit, investigated its smell and squeezed juice. Preschool children used water beads to connect counting with written numerals. Each activity gave an abstract idea something children could handle.

Stories also became shared activities in July 2022. Toddlers acted out part of a story using an imaginary telescope, and staff drew attention to rhyming words. Children practised greetings in different languages at circle time, making language something to try aloud together.

Termly enrichment in July 2022 included bike academy, where toddlers and preschool children practised balancing and progressed towards cycling without stabilisers. Other enrichment experiences had included cookery school, a mini first-aid course and golf academy. The appeal was practical participation, rather than simply watching an adult demonstrate.

In July 2022, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, with staff understanding how to recognise and refer concerns and recruitment procedures supporting suitability to work with children.

Independence was woven into everyday care in July 2022. Preschool children served food themselves and practised handling trays, linking mealtimes with preparation for school routines. Children also took on duties involving recycling, tidying, wellbeing and the garden. The child responsible for the garden helped check for hazards before outdoor play, giving responsibility a concrete purpose.

A daily movement session in July 2022 involved ribbons, bubbles and music for babies, with action songs for preschool children. Older children connected exercise with needing a drink afterwards. Physical activity and understanding their bodies were brought together.

Smeeton Road, Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicester, LE8 0LG is the nursery's address. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. Families planning year-round care need to account for those breaks.

In July 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Baby care in practice. Sensory exploration featured in July 2022; on a visit, ask how settling, sleep and your baby's daily routine are organised now.
• Calendar fit. Bank holidays and a week at Christmas interrupt the otherwise year-round opening pattern. Those closures matter when arranging cover around work.
• Practical learning. Bike academy and children's daily responsibilities were part of the July 2022 experience. Ask which enrichment activities your child's age group takes part in now.

Hunny Hive suits families seeking year-round weekday care. For parents who value practical learning, its July 2022 inspection provides a strong historical picture. Its July 2022 strengths lay in purposeful play, independence and activities that children could join in themselves. The Outstanding judgement gives that historical picture weight; a visit should establish how the day works for your child now.