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Busy Bees, Stotfold

Ofsted: Good
(Jan 2025)
·
3.7(7 parent reviews) ·The Grange, 70 High Street, Stotfold, Hitchin, SG5 4LD · Central Bedfordshire
Number of places
64 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jan 2025
Local authority
Central Bedfordshire

About this day nursery

Busy Bees, Stotfold, a childcare setting established in 2008, offers a nurturing environment for children aged 0-4 years. 30am to 6pm, it provides a "home-from-home" atmosphere where children feel happy and settled.

The dedicated staff prioritise building strong attachments with children and their families, ensuring each child feels safe and secure with a strong sense of belonging. The nursery is committed to an ambitious curriculum and leaders are dedicated to providing high-quality care and enriching learning experiences for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

The effective support for children with SEND involves close collaboration between staff, leaders, parents, and other professionals. Children have opportunities to spend quality time in the garden, engaging in active play like climbing, running, and riding wheeled toys.

The nursery places a strong emphasis on communication and language development through initiatives like a "book of the week" and consistent use of key vocabulary. Mathematical concepts are seamlessly integrated into children's play, fostering a secure understanding from an early age.

Parents frequently commend staff for going "above and beyond" and value the regular discussions and updates on their children's learning, highlighting strong partnerships between the nursery and families.

What it's like

Children are happy and settled at this home-from-home nursery. Staff take time to get to know children and their families well, with a focus on building strong attachments. As a result of these positive interactions, children feel safe and secure and have a strong sense of belonging.

Good Ofsted ratingNurturing environmentStrong parent partnershipsEffective SEND supportFocus on language and mathsOutdoor play

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm.

Term time / All Year

All Year

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Busy Bees, Stotfold

Last inspected 30 January 2025 · Carly Parkinson

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 are happy and settled at this home-from-home nursery. Staff take time to get to know children and their families well, with a focus on building strong attachments. As a result of these positive interactions, children feel safe and secure and have a strong sense of belonging.

Inspector highlights

  • Leaders are committed to providing high-quality care and enriching learning experiences for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
  • The support for children with SEND is effective, with staff working closely with leaders, parents, and other professionals.
  • Staff promote children's communication and language skills well through a 'book of the week' and consistent use of key vocabulary.
  • Staff are skilled at incorporating number and mathematical concepts seamlessly into children's play.
  • Partnerships with parents are a key strength, with leaders and staff providing various opportunities to engage parents in their children's learning.

Areas to develop

  • 1implement strategies to support smoother transitions between activities, to help children to stay engaged and focused at all times
  • 2support staff to consistently adhere to and maintain hygiene routines, to help children to learn healthy practices.
Inspection #10372290 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents comment that staff go 'above and beyond'.

Parents value the time staff take to discuss their children's day and feel well informed about their children's learning.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Leaders are committed to providing high-quality care and enriching learning experiences for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The support for children with SEND is effective. Staff work closely with designated leaders, parents and other professionals to ensure that children get the support they need.

Outdoor space

Children spend quality time in the garden where they climb, run and ride on wheeled toys.

Parent Reviews of Busy Bees, Stotfold

3.7
(7)
Jade Maria
10 months ago

If your child has any eating issues DO NOT PUT YOUR CHILD HERE! My son had just tuned two when I put him in here, told them he has autism and won’t eat any food with sauce. This lead to 3 separate days where he wasn’t fed on his morning session 8-1 and I didn’t get updated by the staff at all! On those days my son was so hungry he would cry all the way home til I got him food, it got to the point I had to leave snacks in my car when picking him up as I had no clue how he would be. Put a complaint in and all I got was a sorry we failed your son. I was warned about this place after putting my son in here and honestly I would avoid this place like the plague.

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Afrin Ahmed
3 years ago

We had a very bad experience with this nursery when we used them for our one year old. We wouldn’t recommend this nursery for babies and younger children at all as the staff are very inexperienced, permanent staff are less in number, children are left to cry and are neglected. There is no proper supervision of the little babies’ rooms, no cameras, so the inexperienced staff do as they please.

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Janine Vermaak
3 years ago

Supportive staff and approachable , my son enjoyed his pre school year there and was well looked after.

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Katy Austin
2 years ago

My twins are very happy here and very well looked after.

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Reviews from Google for Busy Bees, Stotfold. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: October 2009

  • January 2025Good
  • April 2019Good
  • May 2018Good
  • May 2017Good
  • October 2016Inadequate
  • January 2014Good
  • April 2013Good
  • October 2009Good

Frequently asked about Busy Bees, Stotfold

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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