Opening hours
every weekday from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm, all year round
Busy Bees Day Nursery at Walthamstow
Ofsted: Good
(Mar 2024)
Number of places
140 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2024
Local authority
Waltham Forest
About this day nursery
Busy Bees Day Nursery at Walthamstow, established in 2001, provides childcare for children aged 0-4 years. Open all year round, every weekday from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm, the nursery has, since its last inspection, focused on creating a happy and safe environment.
This inclusive approach is evident in how staff encourage children to participate in extra-curricular activities, enhancing their learning experiences. Staff build close relationships with all children, including those new to the nursery, helping them to settle quickly and engage in age-appropriate activities.
Babies are motivated to play with stacking rings and building blocks, showing their enjoyment with claps and smiles. Toddlers explore musical instruments and move their bodies to familiar nursery rhymes, while older children are encouraged to be creative by exploring a sensory tray filled with flowers, sand, and feathers in the garden.
Children with speech delays or challenging behaviour have shown notable progress due to staff’s improved understanding of child observation and evaluation, which helps them to design a stimulating and age-appropriate curriculum that meets diverse learning needs. Parents have expressed satisfaction with the recent positive developments and feel reassured by the changes and stability at the nursery.
What it's like
Since the last inspection, staff have worked hard to create a happy and safe environment for all children. They have put a stronger emphasis on promoting inclusive practice, enabling children to take part in extra-curricular activities to enhance their learning experiences. Staff form close relationships with children, helping them to settle quickly and encouraging engagement in various age-appropriate activities.
High expectations for learningStrong parent partnershipsPromotes independenceInclusive practiceEffective safeguardingStimulating curriculum
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)
Key facts
Term time / All Year
All Year
Established
2001
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Busy Bees Day Nursery at Walthamstow
Last inspected 14 March 2024 · Marisol Hernandez-Garn
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Since the last inspection, staff have worked hard to create a happy and safe environment for all children. They have put a stronger emphasis on promoting inclusive practice, enabling children to take part in extra-curricular activities to enhance their learning experiences. Staff form close relationships with children, helping them to settle quickly and encouraging engagement in various age-appropriate activities.
Inspector highlights
- Leaders communicate a strong commitment to achieving and sustaining high-quality care and education, collaborating with their early years advisor for rigorous evaluation.
- Staff encourage children to use 'kind hands' and promote independence, such as putting on their own coats, fostering social skills and self-reliance.
- Leaders have implemented various initiatives to enhance partnerships with parents, including a parent support pack for continuous communication.
- Rigorous procedures for assessing staff's suitability to work with children are in place, making staff aware of allegation procedures.
- Leaders have enhanced coaching and supervision, providing staff with tailored professional development opportunities to improve teaching practices and understanding of children's learning.
Areas to develop
- 1The provider should continue to support staff with the use of questioning to promote children's language and thinking skills further.
- 2The provider should maintain good hygiene practices, especially consistent handwashing procedures among staff, to protect children's health.
Inspection #10284929 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents report that they are very happy with the recent positive developments and feel reassured by the changes and stability at the nursery.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Children with speech delays or challenging behaviour have made notable progress from their starting points due to staff's improved understanding of how to observe and evaluate children's learning, which helps them design a stimulating and age-appropriate curriculum that meets diverse learning needs.
Outdoor space
Staff ensure that children have regular access to outdoors for fresh air and exercise. Older children are encouraged to explore a sensory tray filled with flowers, sand and feathers in the garden, promoting their creativity.
Parent Reviews of Busy Bees Day Nursery at Walthamstow
3.7
(14)
Anna Katalin Toth
2 years ago
my little son has been attending this nursery for more than two years. the directors are constantly changing! you never know who the child's key person is. there is the parenting app.. sometimes they upload something. but I do not receive any other information about where my son is in the preparation for his school. absolutely nothing! They asked to have a change of clothes with the child. it is completely unnecessary as they are never replaced that.!!!(just like today when it's crazy hot outside and my son wears a long jeans ,long shirt, only God knows how long he been outside) I get the child back with completely wet, or muddy, with dirty hands! every time I get an excuse about what happened to the child. I don't feel that they are seriously paying attention to them. I have also talked to other parents and many of them have a similar opinion. several people changednr the nursery for this reason! we only have a few monts left. I can only hope that there will be no more problems.
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Adam Humphrey
7 years ago
The staff are friendly and helpful and genuinely seem to personally care about the children under their care. We were a little concerned sending our young (>1) child to daycare but the staff were available to show us around a few times and answer all of our questions to assuage our fears. It is never easy to leave your child in the care of someone else but I feel as comfortable here as I think I would anywhere.
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Janna Candy
2 years ago
Super happy with Busy Bees Walthamstow! They are really supportive, friendly, caring and do lots of different activities with the children. I’m kept well informed of how his day has gone and it’s such a relief to know he’s somewhere with caring staff and that his little brain is being stimulated!
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Hulusi M
7 years ago
Thia nursery is an absolute shambles. I tried to be a prepared parent by signing my little girl up in May for start in September and heard nothing from them at all - no welcome pack, no letter, no information about their so called taster week! We then decided to call to check and was told that she was not on the system and that there were no spaces left. After making our point they then tried to resolve the problem and arranged the taster for mid September which means she would start end of September - what a joke. They constantly promise that they will call you to confirm stuff and then completely ignore you. How could I trust my child with a nursery that can't even keep my child records on their system properly! I've decided to take my child elsewhere if I find something and this nursery has left me in a really difficult position trying to find a place elsewhere at such short notice. They've ruined my childs start to her nursery stage when she should be having fun and learning. Do not recommend.
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Ed Stephen
3 years ago
After an initial misunderstanding about the status of our application I am happy to say that Beth, the centre manger called directly and was able to resolve the situation and now both our children are registered to start later in the year which is exciting and super helpful. Thanks beth!
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Busy Bees Day Nursery at Walthamstow. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Improved from Requires improvement → Good in 2024
Date: January 2011
- March 2024Good
- March 2023Requires improvement
- May 2021Good
- August 2019Inadequate
- April 2018Good
- October 2015Good
- April 2015Inadequate
- April 2013Requires improvement
- January 2011Good
Frequently asked about Busy Bees Day Nursery at Walthamstow
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