Food
All snacks and meals are freshly prepared on site every day by our nursery cooks.
Bees Knees Day Nursery and Pre-School
Ofsted: Good
(Dec 2023)
Number of places
57 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Dec 2023
Local authority
Reading
About this early years setting
Bees Knees Day Nursery, situated in a converted family house in central Reading, offers a nurturing, home-like environment where children can thrive. The nursery prides itself on an Ofsted 'Good' rating and ensures all meals are freshly prepared on-site, accommodating various dietary needs.
They focus on complete care, development, and learning, fostering a love for discovery through both indoor and outdoor activities. Children are encouraged to explore and develop their confidence, with staff dedicated to understanding and supporting their emotional well-being.
The nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Guidance, using Development Matters to guide its curriculum and plan engaging activities. They utilise Boogie Mites for music and movement and emphasise outdoor learning with activities like bug hunts and tent building.
Electronic learning journeys are maintained on Famly for parents to track their child’s progress. Bees Knees offers a transparent and streamlined administration process, with no large financial deposits or administration fees, and facilitates monthly direct debit payments for convenience, making childcare easy to manage for families.
Our ethos
As a group, we believe children thrive when the adults around them are supported to grow — which is why staff development, wellbeing and progression sit at the heart of everything we do. Our vision is to provide the caring, happy and challenging environment every day which their parents would want themselves, making them 'Ready to learn, ready for life.'
What it's like
Children are cared for by an enthusiastic and committed staff team and settle quickly with warm and friendly staff. Older children enjoy working collaboratively with staff and friends, and staff effectively support them in gaining independence and self-care skills. Children are eager to try things for themselves, such as serving meals and pouring drinks.
Home-like environmentFreshly prepared mealsEYFS-aligned curriculumOutdoor learning focusTransparent pricing
Pricing & funding
Fees are structured around Standard and Full Day sessions, booked for three, four, or five days per week. Funding can be applied for up to six hours daily, with wrap-around care charged outside these hours. Additional early and late sessions are available for an extra charge.
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
Good to know
- Choice of 3, 4 or 5 days per week.
- Full session fees apply during non-funded weeks.
- During funded weeks, charges apply for the wrap-around care portion only.
- Voluntary contribution requested to cover lunch and snack during funded hours.
Key facts
Opening hours
Mon - Fri 7:30am - 6:00pm
Term time / All Year
All Year
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Bees Knees Day Nursery and Pre-School
Last inspected 18 December 2023 · Anneliese Fox-Jones
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Children are cared for by an enthusiastic and committed staff team and settle quickly with warm and friendly staff. Older children enjoy working collaboratively with staff and friends, and staff effectively support them in gaining independence and self-care skills. Children are eager to try things for themselves, such as serving meals and pouring drinks.
Inspector highlights
- Children are cared for by an enthusiastic and committed staff team.
- Staff listen to children and plan activities around their interests and learning needs, leading to engaging sensory activities.
- Children have many opportunities to learn about similarities and differences in society, fostered by parent involvement in celebrations.
- Children behave well, and staff are good role models, encouraging sharing and turn-taking.
- Children show a particular interest in exploratory play, and staff foster their communication, creativity, and imaginations well.
Areas to develop
- 1extend strategies used for questioning children, to develop the consistency of staff's interactions to further support children's ideas and thinking skills
- 2strengthen the way that information about children's learning priorities is shared with parents to further enhance and support children's learning at home.
Inspection #10306054 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
This ensures that all children, including those who speak English as an additional language, are supported to have a sense of belonging in the nursery.
Outdoor space
Staff recognise the benefits of outdoor learning, and children have fun opportunities to develop their physical skills and coordination. For example, older children dig in the sandpit, negotiate space on tricycles, and are supported to walk confidently along balance beams. Children are curious learners and are fascinated to observe a frog in the garden, which staff use as an exciting learning opportunity to support children's understanding of the world.
EAL / language support
This ensures that all children, including those who speak English as an additional language, are supported to have a sense of belonging in the nursery.
Google Reviews of Bees Knees Day Nursery and Pre-School
5.0
(9 Google reviews)
Majid Raza
7 months ago
I have lovely experience with this nursery. All Staff is really amazing , nice and polite especially mirela and vani …Very caring,warm and put extra effort into individual needs of every child. My daughter is loving going there every day. She feel super excited and having alot of fun in nursery…thank you so much for making my daughter comfortable in nursery
Read on Google
Joshua Saunders
5 years ago
My daughter has been attending the nursery since august, she absolutely loves it there. She always talks about her teacher Natalie and all of her friends. Her social and communication skills have improved no end since she has been there and they have encouraged her to start eating more variety of foods
Read on Google
Ashley Barnes
4 years ago
My son absolutely loves this nursery. The staff willingness to work on forming habits with the children is amazing and he has come on leaps and bounds! The format really seems to be helping to prepare him for the next phase of preschool and onto the wider world of education beyond.
Read on Google
Anna Psujek
4 years ago
The best nursery & Pre-school ever. Both my boys are really happy there and always exited when it's time to go to the nursery! Staff is really nice and polite. Always helpful! I recommend!
Read on Google
Sayeeda Shaik
4 years ago
The best nursery in the area. Carers here are excellent in handling kids. They help kids feel comfortable even after they leave thier parents. Kids will get lot of activities to do and learn from them.
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Bees Knees Day Nursery and Pre-School. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Improved from Inadequate → Good in 2023
Date: December 2009
- December 2023Good
- July 2023Inadequate
- January 2018Good
- December 2016Inadequate
- August 2016Inadequate
- May 2013Good
- December 2009Good
Frequently asked about Bees Knees Day Nursery and Pre-School
About the setting
Bees Knees Day Nursery and Pre-School registered in 2010. It is one of a number of nurseries owned by Kingsclere Nurseries Limited and is open Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, all year round. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 12 members of staff working with the children. Of these, 11 staff hold early years qualifications at level 2 and level 3.
- URN
- EY260405
- Registered person
- Kingsclere Nurseries Limited
- Day care type
- Full day care
- Register
- Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
- Establishment type
- Childcare on non-domestic premises
- Previous rating
- Inadequate
Nearby day nurseries in Reading
Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Bees Knees Day Nursery and Pre-School.
-
<0.2 miOfsted: Good
Little Tots Montessori Nursery Reading
Reading · RG30 2UJ
4.2(13 Google reviews) -
<0.2 miOfsted: Good
Western Elms Nursery
Reading · RG30 2AL
4.2(5 Google reviews) -
<0.2 miOfsted: Good
Pine Rivers Kindergarten
Reading · RG30 2AL
4.6(9 Google reviews) -
0.5 miOfsted: Good
Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery
Reading · RG1 6HY
4.9(13 Google reviews) -
0.5 miOfsted: Good
Little Dragons Nursery
Reading · RG30 2BA
-
0.9 miOfsted rating unavailable
Little LLamas Montessori Nursery
Reading · RG1 7RD
5.0(10 Google reviews)
Are you the owner of this nursery? Claim this listing to manage photos, hours and contact details.
Claim listingShare this nursery
Send to a partner, friend or family member.
This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more