Opening hours
Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6pm.
Busy Bees Day Nursery at Northampton, Riverside
Ofsted: Good
(Oct 2024)
Number of places
92 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Oct 2024
Local authority
West Northamptonshire
About this day nursery
Busy Bees Day Nursery at Northampton, Riverside, established in 2013, provides childcare for children aged 0-4 years. The nursery operates year-round, Monday to Friday, from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm.
Children are eager to start their day in this welcoming environment, where staff build reassuring bonds from the moment children begin. The curriculum is carefully planned to meet developmental needs, ensuring good quality interactions that promote learning.
For example, babies explore scooping lemons, and pre-schoolers engage in constructing with large building pieces, fostering problem-solving and teamwork. The nursery provides a language-rich environment, incorporating songs, new words, and visual aids, which is particularly beneficial for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who speak English as an additional language.
Staff work closely with outside agencies to provide individualised support for children with SEND, ensuring full inclusion in all activities. Parents praise the staff and feel well-informed about their children's learning and progress, noting that their children are thriving.
While the indoor environment is engaging and stimulating, the outdoor learning opportunities are not as comprehensively planned, which may not fully support children who prefer outdoor learning.
What it's like
Children are eager to start their day at this welcoming nursery. Staff spend time with children and get to know them when they first start, helping them settle quickly and form reassuring bonds. Children take part in carefully planned learning experiences that meet their developmental needs, such as babies scooping lemons with spoons and pre-school children building structures with large construction pieces.
Welcoming EnvironmentLanguage-Rich SettingIndividualised SEND SupportExcellent Parent PartnershipsCarefully Planned Learning
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
Key facts
Term time / All Year
All Year
Established
2013
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Busy Bees Day Nursery at Northampton, Riverside
Last inspected 29 October 2024 · Charmaine Cayton
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 eager to start their day at this welcoming nursery. Staff spend time with children and get to know them when they first start, helping them settle quickly and form reassuring bonds. Children take part in carefully planned learning experiences that meet their developmental needs, such as babies scooping lemons with spoons and pre-school children building structures with large construction pieces.
Inspector highlights
- Leaders and managers have worked hard to make improvements since their last inspection, leading to good-quality care and education.
- The curriculum successfully builds on children's existing knowledge and staff are well-supported with training that enhances their skills and confidence.
- Children benefit from a language-rich environment with songs, new words, and visual aids promoting communication skills.
- Staff work positively with outside agencies to provide individualised and inclusive support for children with SEND.
- Partnerships with parents are excellent, with parents giving utmost praise to staff and feeling well-informed about their children's learning.
Areas to develop
- 1support staff to consistently extend and challenge children's learning during spontaneous play
- 2strengthen the curriculum for outdoors so that children's development is promoted more effectively across all areas of learning.
Inspection #10322398 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
"Parents give the utmost praise to the staff."
"They feel extremely involved and very well informed about their children's learning."
"Parents state their children are thriving and are making excellent progress."
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) benefit from a language-rich environment, including songs, new words, and visual aids, to help them become good communicators. Staff work positively with outside agencies to ensure these children receive individualised support at the earliest opportunity and are fully included in all activities.
Outdoor space
The staff plan fewer learning opportunities outdoors. This does not fully support children who prefer to learn outside.
Parent Reviews of Busy Bees Day Nursery at Northampton, Riverside
4.9
(20)
Nicola Burrows
a year ago
My daughter has loved her time at this nursery. The staff are brilliant and she built a strong bond with them which is so important when you have to leave them all day. From learning to walk, to writing her name, she has developed so much here and i cannot thank the staff enough for helping us through all of this. She is now more than prepared to progress onto school.
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Hayley Gordge
3 years ago
Our daughter has been at Busy Bees Riverside Northampton since she was 11 months, she is now 3 and in the preschool room. Her entire time has been a positive experience. The staff are attentive and caring and our daughter has developed wonderful relationships with the staff and she feels very comfortable in the setting. She eats varied meals and does an array of activities. Highly recommended.
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Roxana Imeraj
4 years ago
I love the staff. Very caring and listening to any concerns I would have. They enganged well with HV or any other requests made for my child. My child loves going to nursery and he is very happy.
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Phillip Evans
3 years ago
One of our children have been through the nursery and we have our second there now. Excellent place with excellent staff.
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Gaetan Sognigbe
5 months ago
Thankful for the nurturing environment.
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Busy Bees Day Nursery at Northampton, Riverside. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Improved from Requires improvement → Good in 2024
Date: April 2014
- October 2024Good
- November 2023Requires improvement
- January 2018Good
- April 2014Good
Frequently asked about Busy Bees Day Nursery at Northampton, Riverside
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