Busy Bees Day Nursery at Dorking Chichester Road
Good★ 4.3 on GoogleBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Dorking for children from birth to 5, open 07:45 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 January 2025. Open since 2008, with 44 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 Surrey
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Surrey 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
RH4 1LRWhat 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, 15 January 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children receive a warm and friendly greeting from staff when they arrive at nursery. Those who need extra reassurance, receive this from staff who know them the best. This helps children to settle, feel secure and commence their play. Babies learn about themselves and their friends, such as when they explore photos of each other. Babies recognise themselves and identify others in the pictures, and staff extend this interaction by singing songs. Babies enjoy story times and sit together with staff who read the age-appropriate books. This helps children to develop a keen interest in early literacy and aids their communication and language development.
Toddlers show great perseverance in being independent. Staff understand the individual abilities of each child, which enables them to offer challenge. For example, they know who can achieve putting on their outdoor clothing and who will need a little support. Toddlers receive the support they need to resolve disputes about sharing toys. Staff teach them to use a timer, and toddlers are beginning to do this themselves. This helps children to manage their emotions and to learn to share and take turns.
Pre-school children develop strong relationships with each other and work together.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen staff's understanding of the importance of providing children with explanations as to the consequences of their actions n enhance the planning of outdoor experiences for younger to ensure that children remain engaged in their learning.
- 15 January 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 8 August 2019Good
- 28 May 2014Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Busy Bees Day Nursery at Dorking Chichester Road
- 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.