Busy Bees Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Dartford for children from birth to 5, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2023. Open since 1999, with 35 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
DA4 9HPWhat 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, 13 January 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are warmly welcomed by a friendly and nurturing staff team. They happily come straight into a well-organised and safe environment. New children are supported to say 'goodbye' and settle quickly to play. Children have many opportunities to freely explore the resources and join with their friends to play.
Children have good relationships with staff. They enjoy engaging in and initiating conversations with them as they use their imagination in the role-play area.
The manager works closely with the staff team to set clear learning intentions based on children's starting points and needs. Staff have clear expectations for all children and adjust the environment and activities to ensure they meet them. For example, they create small, quiet areas with resources to support children with sensory needs. They roll balls down tubes or explore activity boards, twisting and turning cogs. Children enjoy exploring different areas.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen staff support and help them understand how to encourage younger children's participation in group activities to help develop their communication and language n review the organisation of routine activities so that children are consistently engaged in meaningful learning and do not spend extended periods of time waiting.
- 13 January 2023Good
- 27 March 2017Good
- 13 January 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Busy Bees Pre-School
- 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.