Busy Bees Day Nursery at Portsmouth
Good★ 4.7 on GoogleBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Portsmouth for children from birth to 5, open 07:30 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 August 2023. Open since 2004, with 126 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 Portsmouth
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Portsmouth 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
PO6 4SFWhat 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.
- 12 February 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 30 October 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 7 August 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children flourish in this warm and nurturing nursery. They form positive relationships with staff. Babies have good bonds with their key person. They receive plenty of cuddles and reassurance to help them settle. Older children are confident to enter the nursery. They are enthusiastic learners and explore the environment around them. Children behave well. They show kindness and respect to each other as they share toys. Staff help children to understand the rules of the nursery and how to keep themselves safe. For example, staff help children to spot
'sneaky toys' that could be a trip hazard as they tidy up.
Staff carefully plan for children's learning following their interests. They skilfully engage in children's games. For instance, staff include counting as babies roll balls back and forth to each other. Staff extend older children's knowledge of mathematics. For example, children learn how to compare volume. They use words such as 'full' and 'empty' when filling and emptying containers. Children thoroughly enjoy having the free access between the inside and outside. They confidently choose what they would like to play with throughout the day.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to consistently implement strategies for children with SEND
- strengthen information-sharing with parents so that they are aware of what their children need to learn next and how learning can be continued at home.
- 7 August 2023Good
- 19 November 2019Good
- 28 November 2018Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Busy Bees Day Nursery at Portsmouth
- 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.