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Busy Bees Day Nursery at Market Harborough

Ofsted: Expected standard·
4.2(10 parent reviews) ·Torch Way, off Northampton Road, Market Harborough, LE16 9HL · Leicestershire
Number of places
118 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
May 2026
Local authority
Leicestershire

About this day nursery

Busy Bees Day Nursery at Market Harborough, established in 2015, provides childcare for children aged 0-4 years. 30am to 6pm, offering funded early education for two, three, and four-year-old children.

With a "Good" Ofsted rating, the setting offers a calm and welcoming environment where children arrive happy and settle quickly, supported by staff during transitions, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The manager actively observes staff practices, provides feedback, and ensures a wide array of training opportunities, fostering a supportive environment where staff feel valued.

The nursery focuses on developing children's independence, vocabulary, and early mathematical skills through engaging activities, such as examining tulips and confidently counting to 12. Individual support plans are developed for children with SEND, utilising one-to-one sessions when needed, and parents are kept informed of their child's progress and provided with activity ideas for home learning.

Children enjoy outdoor play, learning turn-taking and developing physical skills in the garden, and benefit from strong relationships with staff and peers, happily playing and developing self-esteem.

What it's like

Children arrive happy to this calm and welcoming nursery. Staff recognise that since the COVID-19 pandemic, some children need more support when they start nursery, and they adapt settling-in sessions to suit individual needs. Children have good relationships with staff and each other, happily playing and developing their self-esteem.

Calm EnvironmentSupportive StaffOutdoor PlayIndividual SupportStrong Relationships

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)

Key facts

Opening hours

7.30am until 6pm

Term time / All Year

All_year

Established

2015

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Expected standard

Last inspected May 2026

Headline: Expected standard

Grade summary

Exceptional
—
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
—
Urgent improvement
—

Each dot represents one of the six inspection categories. Headline is the average of the six grades, rounded up.

Category grades

AchievementExpected standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesStrong standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
InclusionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Age range
0 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Busy Bees Day Nursery at Market Harborough

Last inspected 14 May 2026

Safeguarding effective

What it's like to attend

Children arrive happy to this calm and welcoming nursery. Staff recognise that since the COVID-19 pandemic, some children need more support when they start nursery, and they adapt settling-in sessions to suit individual needs. Children have good relationships with staff and each other, happily playing and developing their self-esteem.

Inspector highlights

  • The manager carries out observations of staff practice and provides feedback to enhance their skills.
  • A wide array of training is offered to staff, helping them to continually develop their skills and knowledge.
  • Staff carry out observations and assessments to identify any gaps in children's development and create individual support plans.
  • Staff plan activities to further develop what children already know and can do, extending their vocabulary and understanding.
  • Children show good behaviour, follow routines, and learn about emotions and healthy habits.

Areas to develop

  • 1Give children more time to think about and respond to questions.
  • 2Further develop children's independence skills by consistently allowing them to carry out tasks by themselves.
Inspection #10076440 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff carry out observations and assessments on children, which enables them to identify any gaps in children's development and act accordingly. Staff work alongside other professionals to develop individual support plans to help children progress in their learning. The manager uses additional funding appropriately; for example, children who need it the most have one-to-one sessions to support their individual needs.

Outdoor space

Children of all ages enjoy being outside. Staff teach toddlers to take it in turns as they climb steps up a slide and excitedly shout 'go!' as they slide down. The inspector and manager observed activities in the indoor and outdoor learning environments used by children.

EAL / language support

Staff support children to extend and develop their vocabulary.

Parent Reviews of Busy Bees Day Nursery at Market Harborough

4.2
(10)
Meow Batwings
2 years ago

Busy Bees is a lovely and very accommodating nursery/pre school. My child has been here for 60+ days now and has learnt so much in their time here. The purpose built building allows the children to safely have fun indoors and outdoors. The kitchen staff have provided a fantastic variety of food and encouraged my child to try new things. The staff have been nothing but assuring and caring to both parent and child. Thank you Busy Bees!! You are awesome!!

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Polly Ford
4 years ago

Excellent communication. Whenever I have wanted to introduce things that they weren’t as familiar with such as cloth nappies and expressed milk, they have been very supportive and there has been open dialogue. Such a wonderful and welcoming team.

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Gareth Luck
2 years ago

Lovely staff and environment. So attentive and genuine. Very happy we have our daughter there!

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Jilly Sneath
8 years ago

Very poor this nursery openly discriminated against my daughter because she was using childcare vouchers, told her they had places but when she said it was vouchers fobbed her off all week then said "no sorry not taking anymore free children" i will be taking this up with ofsted they should be ashamed of themselves.

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Csaba Matluka
8 years ago

Professional place, good facilities for the kids. They provide healthy meals too.

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Reviews from Google for Busy Bees Day Nursery at Market Harborough. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: February 2016

The most recent inspection point has been hidden because the parsed entry didn't match the headline Ofsted rating (Good). We're re-checking it against the original report.

  • May 2022Good
  • April 2022Good
  • March 2016Good
  • February 2016Good

Frequently asked about Busy Bees Day Nursery at Market Harborough

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