Busy Bees pre-school in Littleport has turned itself around in just nine months from a school that ‘requires improvement’ to meeting a ‘good’ standard in all criteria.

The latest Ofsted report, from an inspection on November 18, credits “effective communication” with parents and “a warm and welcoming environment” for children. The overhaul follws January’s report that stated the early years provision required improvement.

The pre-school was rated ‘good’ in terms of effectiveness of the leadership and management, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, personal development, behaviour and welfare and outcomes for children.

Julie Double, manager of Busy Bee’s, said: “I’m very proud of myself and the whole team.

“It has been a lot of hard work and we want to shout it from the rooftops.”

Inspector Veronica Sharpe commended staff for providing “exceptional” support for disabled children and those with special educational needs.

She also said: “The partnerships with parents are firmly established with effective communication at all levels. Parents value their key person and say that they go over and above to support their children.

“The pre-school offers children a warm and welcoming environment, where their diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds are celebrated.”

Looking to the future, the playgroup was given some advice on how to improve even further. “The provider should support staff to enhance the strategies that give children a consistent understanding of what is, or is not, acceptable behaviour,” the report said.

It added that the provider should also “strengthen performance management arrangements to ensure that staff are thoroughly supported to achieve consistently high-quality teaching practice.”