Busy Bees Day Nursery at St Andrew's Ridge
Good★ 4.3 on GoogleBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Swindon 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 July 2022. Open since 2000, with 106 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 Swindon
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Swindon 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
SN25 4FDWhat 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.
- 3 April 2025 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 5 July 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children of all ages show they feel safe and secure in this welcoming nursery. They confidently invite staff into their play, talk to them and share their ideas. Children are confident to ask staff for help, for example when they want a white board but cannot reach it. Younger children know the staff are there for reassurance and a cuddle when needed. Staff are quick to respond to the children, showing them respect and interest in what they are doing. Children form friendships and play together cooperatively.
Staff have high expectations of the children. Older children have formed a 'preschool committee' and together they decide how to organise their playroom. They choose to create a 'Chinese restaurant' in the home corner, picking out the resources they need to enhance their imaginations. This boosts their confidence and self-esteem and means they are ready and willing to learn. Young children learn to use knives and forks when playing with play dough, to prepare them for their move to the pre-school room. The centre director provides a broad and balanced curriculum that helps children gain the knowledge and skills they need as they move through the nursery in readiness for their eventual move to school.
Partnerships with parents are positive. Parents report that their children are excited to attend nursery and play with their friends. They appreciate the support they receive with potty training and establishing sleep routines with their children.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- help more confident children learn to take turns in conversation so that the quieter children are more involved in group discussions n train staff to utilise routines more effectively to support and extend children's learning even further.
- 5 July 2022Good
- 25 August 2016Outstanding
- 15 April 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Busy Bees Day Nursery at St Andrew's Ridge
- 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.