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Busy Bees Playgroup in Gloucester

Ofsted: Good
(Jan 2025)
·Castle Hill Primary School, Abbotswood Road, Gloucester, GL3 4NU · Gloucestershire
Number of places
20 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jan 2025
Local authority
Gloucestershire

About this day nursery

Busy Bees Playgroup, located in Brockworth, Gloucester, is a well-established and friendly community playgroup operating from a dedicated room and garden within Castle Hill Primary School. With over 30 years of experience, it has strong ties to the local community and the school.

The playgroup is a registered charity, managed by a volunteer committee comprising parents of enrolled children. Busy Bees provides inclusive care for all children aged 2 to 4 years, embracing diverse cultures and backgrounds, including those with disabilities.

The playgroup is committed to making reasonable adjustments to ensure every child feels safe, welcome, and fully engaged in activities. Operating during term time, it offers flexible session lengths to accommodate various needs.

The nursery actively promotes strong connections with parents and carers, encouraging their involvement in their child's learning journey and the playgroup community.

What it's like

Children happily enter the playgroup and choose from a broad range of experiences, which help them prepare for their next stages in learning. Children develop good language skills and an understanding of behavioural expectations and boundaries, and they gain independence. There are clear routines to help children settle and learn the pattern of the day.

Community PlaygroupTerm-Time OnlyRegistered CharityInclusive EnvironmentAges 2-4

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)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.

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Key facts

Opening hours

Monday 9-12 noon; Tuesday 9-3pm; Wednesday 9-3pm; Thursday 9-3pm; Friday 9-12 noon (pre-school)

Session types

Morning session (9am-12 noon), Full day (9am-3pm)

Age range

2 years to 4 years of age

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Busy Bees Playgroup

Last inspected 30 January 2025

Safeguarding effective
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 happily enter the playgroup and choose from a broad range of experiences, which help them prepare for their next stages in learning. Children develop good language skills and an understanding of behavioural expectations and boundaries, and they gain independence. There are clear routines to help children settle and learn the pattern of the day.

Inspector highlights

  • The curriculum is well designed and provides all children with a broad range of experiences.
  • Children confidently explore the environment, which supports their interests and next steps in learning.
  • Staff provide a safe and secure environment for children to play and learn.
  • Children benefit from forming strong bonds with familiar adults, who know them well.
  • There are good partnerships with parents.

Areas to develop

  • 1guide staff to consistently use the communication methods that they have identified to better support children's engagement and understanding
  • 2develop further opportunities for children to respond to questions, to help them think and solve problems.
Inspection #10382406 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

There is effective support for meeting children's individual needs, such as reviewing routines and developing the environment to enable all children to access the curriculum. The inspector observed staff interactions with children and discussed children's learning and how staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Outdoor space

Children love cuddling under a blanket in the outside area to read a favourite book. Children learn how to keep themselves safe. They thoroughly enjoy the task of checking the outdoor area before use and talk about potential dangers, for example the wet slide.

Inspection history

Date: July 2004

  • March 2025Good
  • January 2025Good
  • June 2019Good
  • June 2019Good
  • July 2016Good
  • June 2016Good
  • November 2015Requires improvement
  • February 2011Good
  • January 2011Good
  • September 2007Good
  • July 2004Requires improvement

Frequently asked about Busy Bees Playgroup

About the setting

Busy Bees Playgroup registered in 1980. It operates from a room within Castle Hill Primary School in Brockworth, Gloucester. The playgroup operates each weekday during school term time. The playgroup provides free early years education. There are six staff who work directly with the children, of whom three hold an early years qualification at level 5 and one holds a qualification at level 3.

URN
101780
Registered person
Busy Bees Playgroup (Brockworth) Committee
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises
Previous rating
Good

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