Bella's Childcare

Digital cameras, a ukulele and fruit-cutting activities gave learning a practical character at Bella's Childcare in December 2023. Children explored emotions through photographs and encountered mathematical ideas while preparing snacks. Ordinary experiences carried useful learning.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good at its 14 December 2023 inspection. Bella's Childcare has capacity for 40 children aged 4 to 60 months, at 99 - 101 High Street, Cambridge, CB24 3BT.

In December 2023, activities drew on children's interests: younger children experimented with paint and different implements, while camera activities involved photographing expressions and using mirrors to explore feelings. These gave children ways to express choices and put emotions into words.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the December 2023 examples brought those strands together through play and everyday tasks: preparing fruit introduced ideas about fractions alongside safe knife use.

Music also featured that month. Staff accompanied group singing on a ukulele, and children suggested songs and joined the movements for sleeping bunnies. Beyond the nursery, supermarket trips supplied cooking ingredients, while dentist visits introduced dental care; outings also included teaching about road safety.

The limitation was consistency. In December 2023, staff sometimes passed over opportunities to take learning further during familiar activities and routines. That matters because these repeated moments can extend an activity beyond participation.

At the December 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities good, with individual plans developed through collaboration between the special educational needs coordinator, families, staff and other professionals.

Practical independence was another thread in December 2023. Children practised putting on coats and used a snuffle station equipped with a mirror, tissues and a bin. Self-care was something to learn and practise.

An online application shared progress information and key-person details with parents that month. However, some families remained unclear about their child's key person and next learning steps. The communication system existed, but its messages did not reach every parent clearly enough to connect learning at home and nursery.

Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays, Christmas holidays and the first week in August.

In December 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated funding position rather than a promise of eligibility or a funded place.

• Learning in everyday moments. December 2023 practice did not consistently extend learning through routines. On a visit, ask how staff now build on children's ideas during snacks and familiar activities.
• Knowing the key person. Some parents in December 2023 were unsure who held this role or what their child's next learning steps were. Ask how those details are made clear to each family.
• Booking within the opening day. The 8am to 6pm opening window may fit your schedule. Which attendance patterns can your family book within it?

Bella's Childcare merits consideration from families seeking care across the year and practical learning through music, creative play and everyday independence. The December 2023 picture combines a Good judgement with concrete activities worth understanding. The decision should also give weight to the two improvement priorities: extending learning consistently and making each child's key-person relationship and next steps clear to parents.