Opening hours
Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions run from 7.30am to 6.30pm.
Busy Bees Day Nursery at Stevenage Great Ashby
Ofsted: Good
(Jan 2025)
Number of places
112 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jan 2025
Local authority
Hertfordshire
About this day nursery
Busy Bees Day Nursery at Stevenage Great Ashby, registered in 2002, provides childcare for children aged 0-4 years. Open Monday to Friday, all year round, with sessions from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm, the nursery offers a welcoming environment where management and staff ensure effective settling-in procedures.
This helps children develop a sense of belonging and quickly form relationships with their key person. Staff are attentive to children's care needs and actively support their development, from showing younger children how to prepare 'food' at the pretend cooker to supporting older children in developing their fine motor skills through activities like string painting.
The nursery has an overall Good rating from its latest Ofsted inspection on 7 January 2025. Since the previous inspection, the management team has worked to improve staff deployment and introduced a revised 'Bee Curious' curriculum, which positively impacts children's learning experiences, including their speech and language skills.
Staff are knowledgeable about the children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and use this understanding to guide the use of additional funding and provide resources that meet individual needs. They also support children in outdoor play, making obstacle courses to enhance physical skills.
Parents commend the nursery for the progress their children make in speech and communication and appreciate the effective communication from staff regarding their children's learning, noting that the nursery is 'safe and welcoming' and prepares children well for school.
What it's like
Management and staff warmly welcome children on their arrival. Settling-in procedures are effective, supporting all children to develop a sense of belonging and quickly establish relationships with their designated key person. Staff are responsive to the children's care needs and actively support their development, for example, by showing younger children how to prepare 'food' at the pretend cooker.
Warm welcomeEffective settling-inBee Curious curriculumStrong parent communicationOutdoor play opportunitiesSEND provision for SENDHealthy meals
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
Key facts
Term time / All Year
All Year
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Busy Bees Day Nursery at Stevenage Great Ashby
Last inspected 7 January 2025
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Management and staff warmly welcome children on their arrival. Settling-in procedures are effective, supporting all children to develop a sense of belonging and quickly establish relationships with their designated key person. Staff are responsive to the children's care needs and actively support their development, for example, by showing younger children how to prepare 'food' at the pretend cooker.
Inspector highlights
- Management and staff have worked hard to improve staff deployment and introduced a revised 'Bee Curious' curriculum, positively impacting children's learning experiences, including speech and language skills.
- Staff know the children well, use ongoing observations to monitor progress and well-being, and support children in their chosen activities.
- Staff use their knowledge of children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, to inform the use of additional funding and offer resources that meet children's needs.
- Staff introduce new language to babies and younger children during games and encourage them to make associated sounds.
- Children enjoy associating colours with different emotions and talk competently about their feelings, using good language skills.
Areas to develop
- 1support staff to consistently use their interactions with the children to promote the children's development to the highest level
- 2offer a wider range of play and learning opportunities in the outdoor environment to support children who prefer to learn outdoors.
Inspection #10377496 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents praise the nursery and note the good progress their children make, for example, in developing their speech and communication skills.
They report that staff communicate well with them, enabling them to understand what their children have been learning and continue to build on this at home.
Parents highlight how well staff help to prepare children for school and feel that the nursery is 'safe and welcoming'.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Staff use their knowledge of the children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, to inform the use of additional funding. They offer additional resources and activities that meet children's needs and help extend their development.
Outdoor space
Children enjoy using the outdoor play areas, for example, to play organised group games. Staff support children to be active in the fresh air, making obstacle courses, which enhances children's physical skills.
Parent Reviews of Busy Bees Day Nursery at Stevenage Great Ashby
4.6
(14)
Gemma Beauchamp
a year ago
The staff are genuinely lovely and very hardworking. We feel completely safe leaving our little boy in their care, and he shines as an example of the attention he gets and the activities he takes part in daily. We love hearing his progress based on the curriculum Busy Bees abides by, and we feel he is getting the nutrients he needs through the healthy meals they provide. I would 100% recommend them as a childcare provider.
Read on Google
Natasha Vora
3 years ago
My daughter loves going to nursery and always enjoys herself. The key workers are brilliant and take great care looking after her and her needs. They keep my daughter busy and entertained throughout the day, and keep my daughter engaged through fun styles of learning. My daughter’s development has improved and she is a very happy little girl.
Read on Google
Darren Hughes
8 years ago
Cannot recommend Busy Bees enough. My daughter really enjoys her time here. The staff are attentive to all her needs and keep the parents up to date with all the goings on. The facilities are first class and their prices are very competitive especially compared to smaller less resourced nurseries in the area. My daughter has made great strides in both social and educational activities and I am thankful for all the staff at Busy Bees for making the scary transition so easy.
Read on Google
Emma Blows
8 years ago
This is a brilliant nursery. Both my children attended this nursery and the progress they made set them up well for school. It is a kind and friendly place where my children have always felt cared for. My daughter runs into her room each day excited to see her carers and find out what activities they will be doing that day. Cannot recommend highly enough.
Read on Google
Matthew Stevens
8 years ago
Great nursery, friendly staff, what you want is to know your child is safe and going to thrive, & this is actually what this nursery does, my two children have loved their time here. Well done Busy bees Great Ashby & thank you.
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Busy Bees Day Nursery at Stevenage Great Ashby. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Improved from Requires improvement → Good in 2025
Date: November 2010
- January 2025Good
- January 2024Requires improvement
- September 2018Good
- March 2016Good
- November 2010Good
Frequently asked about Busy Bees Day Nursery at Stevenage Great Ashby
Nearby day nurseries in Stevenage
Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Busy Bees Day Nursery at Stevenage Great Ashby.
-
0.5 miOfsted: Good
Pilgrims Way Pre-School
Stevenage · SG1 4QZ
5.0(5 reviews) -
1.3 miOfsted: Good
Rainbows End Pre-school
Stevenage · SG2 0HT
-
1.8 miOfsted: Good
Noahs Ark Day Nursery
Stevenage · SG2 0BS
-
1.8 miOfsted: Good
Priory Nursery, Stevenage Old Town
Stevenage · SG1 3QA
4.7(7 reviews) -
1.9 miOfsted: Good
Phoenix Nursery
Stevenage · SG2 0QQ
-
2.0 miOfsted: Good
Walkern Pre School
Stevenage · SG2 7NS
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