Busy Bees Day Nursery at East Malling
Good★ 4.3 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in West Malling for children from birth to 8+, open 07:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in April 2023. Open since 1997, with 74 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 Kent
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Kent 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
ME19 6DYWhat 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, 3 April 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children develop good levels of independence. All age groups of children enjoy free access to their dedicated garden area. Babies show delight as they go down the slide and beam a great smile. Toddlers make great use of the obstacle course. It provides challenges for children, and staff are fully aware of when a child may need further support. For example, the older and most able children can climb up and over the frame, but others need support from staff, who are on hand. Preschool children squeal with excitement as they play a game of chase. Staff build learning opportunities into the fun game, such as mathematical concepts.
Babies enjoy the warmth of a cuddle from staff when they wake from their sleep.
This gives them the time they need to assess their surroundings and to build bonds with staff. Children learn to manage their behaviour. Toddlers have simple 'golden rules' to follow, and staff reinforce this visually. Staff readily celebrate children's achievements, and this positivity transmits to children, who mimic it in play. For example, they congratulate their friends, saying, 'Well done, you've done it!' Preschool children show what they have learned over time. For example, they understand which flying insects are yellow and black and that architects design buildings. This shows a good level of vocabulary and understanding.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- build on the organisation in the baby room to provide children and staff with even more stability n embrace children's cultural backgrounds and heritages more effectively to support their awareness of similarities and differences.
- 3 April 2023Good
- 10 August 2017Good
- 26 June 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Busy Bees Day Nursery at East Malling
- 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.