Busy Bees Day Nursery at Bishops Stortford St Michaels Mead
Good★ 4.7 on GoogleBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Bishops Stortford for children from birth to 5, open 07:30 to 18:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in December 2024. Open since 1999, with 80 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Hertfordshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Hertfordshire from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
CM23 4FZWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 11 December 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are warmly welcomed into this nurturing environment. An inviting reception area supports children to transition smoothly into the nursery. Staff get to know the children well, with a focus on building strong attachments. This is evident through robust settling-in routines, helping children to feel safe and secure.
Children have an immense sense of belonging. Babies eagerly find photos of themselves, and older children proudly show visitors their family books, which help them to understand what makes them unique.
Staff plan a broad and ambitious curriculum tailored to support children's development across all areas of learning. For example, activities, such as litter picking, and visits to the local park help children build on their understanding of the world around them. The staff team works cohesively to meet children's needs, creating a warm, inclusive atmosphere that children thrive in.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review the implementation of group activities for older children so that they fully benefit from the meaningful learning.
- 11 December 2024Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 14 February 2019Good
- 17 July 2018Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Busy Bees Day Nursery at Bishops Stortford St Michaels Mead
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.