Food
Daily nutritious food for all the children in our care; our menus are carefully planned with the emphasis on healthy eating. We are passionate about the quality of food that we provide and use only quality branded products.
Busy Bees (Durham)
Ofsted: Good
(Nov 2024)
Number of places
169 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Nov 2024
Local authority
Durham
About this day nursery
Busy Bees Durham is a nursery dedicated to providing a nurturing and stimulating environment where children can thrive. Situated in Newton Hall, Durham, with convenient access to the A1, the nursery offers expansive indoor and outdoor facilities across two floors, catering to 169 children.
The team at Busy Bees Durham emphasises a child-centred approach, focusing on individual needs and encouraging exploration and interaction through both planned and child-initiated activities. They actively foster strong partnerships with parents, believing that collaboration is key to a child's development.
Our ethos
Busy Bees Durham emphasises a child-centred approach, focusing on individual needs and encouraging exploration and interaction through both planned and child-initiated activities. They believe in fostering strong partnerships with parents, recognising that collaboration is key to a child's development.
What it's like
Staff provide a welcoming and nurturing environment for all children, greeting them warmly and offering flexible settling-in procedures. They are caring and sensitive, providing reassurance and cuddles to support children emotionally. Children are encouraged to be confident, and their voices are valued through a nursery council that allows them to contribute to decisions and identify risks, promoting their safety.
Outstanding Ofsted RatingExtensive Indoor & Outdoor FacilitiesFocus on Parental PartnershipExperienced TeamHealthy Eating
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
Tax-Free Childcare
Pricing on request
This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.
Key facts
Opening hours
7.30am - 6.00pm
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Busy Bees (Durham)
Last inspected 5 November 2024
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Staff provide a welcoming and nurturing environment for all children, greeting them warmly and offering flexible settling-in procedures. They are caring and sensitive, providing reassurance and cuddles to support children emotionally. Children are encouraged to be confident, and their voices are valued through a nursery council that allows them to contribute to decisions and identify risks, promoting their safety.
Inspector highlights
- Management is passionate about providing high-quality experiences and a stimulating environment for children.
- Staff practice is closely monitored, with training needs and strengths identified and gaps in development swiftly addressed.
- Additional funding is used effectively to support individual needs, such as providing resources for communication and language development.
- Recent staff training on communication and language has improved how staff use books with children, making storytime highly engaging.
- Self-evaluation helps identify areas for improvement, leading to effective training and new techniques for teaching mathematics to children.
Areas to develop
- 1review organisation of lunchtime for older children, so that children do not wait too long to have their food
- 2support staff to review the organisation of the environment for younger children so that they have sufficient space to practise their emerging walking skills.
Inspection #10366973 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
The nursery uses additional funding to support the individual needs of children effectively. For instance, they have bought in toys and resources to support children's communication and language development.
Outdoor space
The inspectors observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.
Parent Reviews of Busy Bees (Durham)
4.5
(11)
Ian Derbyshire
a year ago
Our son attended busy bees nursery from 6 months old to his leaving last week at aged 4. Throughout his time at nursery the staff have been, without fail, exceptional. The range of activities he has enjoyed in his time at nursery has been extensive and we've been kept up to date on an almost daily basis via the ParentZone App and daily comments at pickup time. He has transitioned through the 6 rooms at an even pace and his transition has always been trouble free. The periodic reports provided on his learning and development have been detailed and useful. He has also enjoyed frequent trips to the arnison centre on the bus with the other children to see the fish and animals at Pets and Home and visit the local police station and co-op to get a sense of his local community. The amount of outside play he's done in the excellently equipped garden area (which seems to have never ending additions over the last few years!) has been lovely to see and he's always been well supported and treat as an individual rather than just another child to fill a space. We would recommend busy bees to any parents. Thank you Busy Bees!
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Rich
8 years ago
Such an amazing nursery! Would recommend them very highly! My son has grown in confidence since starting Busy Bees and has become more independent. Its fantastic that we are able to use the ParentZone app throughout the day to see the different activities he has been up to and how he is progressing at Nursery. The staff are very friendly and are always there to help with any questions/queries.
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ros stevenson
11 months ago
Very well managed. Ideal for babies and pre school children. Very clean. Outdoor space to play in fine weather. Food is available. They cater for children with food allergies.
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Christina Milborrow
8 years ago
A fantastic nursery! The staff are - without fail - approachable, helpful and happy. I have always felt my children were cared for to the same standards the staff would want for their own children. The facilities and resources - especially the incredible outdoor provision - are outstanding.
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Caroline Moyes
3 years ago
Hood bysery and they will help of they can
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Busy Bees (Durham). See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: June 2019
- November 2024Good
- June 2019Outstanding
Frequently asked about Busy Bees (Durham)
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