Summary
What we read, and from where
Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.
- Achievement verified
Expected standard
- Behaviour, attitudes and routines verified
Strong standard
- Children's welfare and wellbeing verified
Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching verified
Expected standard
- Inclusion verified
Expected standard
- Leadership and governance verified
Expected standard
- Framework verified
Report card
- Group verified
Busy Bees Nurseries Limited
- Inspection datesingle source
12 Dec 2025
- Inspectors verified
Tina Lambert
- Postcode verified
BN7 1HR
- Name on report verified
Busy Bees Day Nursery at Lewes
- Safeguarding verified
Met
- URN verified
EY486777
Deep dive
What this report says
In plain English
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Grade profile
Each judgement on its scale, weakest to strongest.
- AchievementExpected
- Behaviour, attitudes and routinesStrong
- Children's welfare and wellbeingStrong
- Curriculum and teachingExpected
- InclusionExpected
- Leadership and governanceExpected
Tone of the report
How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.
In line with other reports of this type.
How the report reads, start to finish
Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.
Strengths
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
- Staff set high expectations for children's behaviour and model this very well. p.2
- Generally, the curriculum is of a high quality, which supports children's progress effectively. p.3
- Staff form strong, meaningful bonds with children and help to support children to develop positive relationships with each other. p.5
- This helps children to develop a sense of belonging and allows them to thrive. p.2
- The boundaries and routines that staff put in place prepare children effectively for transitions and have a positive effect on their behaviour. p.2
Concerns
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No strong criticism found.
Next steps
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Communication & language10
“They model rich vocabulary and tune in to what children have to say.” p.3Wellbeing & mental health5
“Children's emotional wellbeing is very well supported throughout the setting.” p.5
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 9
- Words of findings
- 1,512
- about usual (typical 1698)
- Reading level
- Hard
- Flesch 47, typical 43
- Average sentence
- 16 words
- Next steps
- 2
- typical 3
- Hedged sentences
- 5%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Busy Bees Day Nursery at Lewes
Unique reference number (URN): EY486777 Address: St James Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1HR Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 25/02/2015 Registers: EYR, CCR Registered person: Busy Bees Nurseries Limited
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Safeguarding standards met
The safeguarding standards are met. This means that leaders and/or those responsible for governance and oversight fulfil their specific responsibilities and have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. As a result, children are made safer and feel safe.
p.1
How we evaluate safeguarding
When we inspect settings for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes:
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How we evaluate safeguarding
Met: The setting has an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not met: The setting has not created an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not all legal requirements are met.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard
Staff set high expectations for children's behaviour and model this very well. They are warm and gentle and foster meaningful bonds with children. Staff teach children about the importance of friendships and why good social skills are important. This helps children to develop a sense of belonging and allows them to thrive.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard
Staff know the children very well. They understand how to use a variety of strategies when some children may face difficulties in regulating their emotions. For example, staff create a calm environment where children can feel safe and secure. Techniques, such as steady breathing, help children to become less overwhelmed and able to return to their learning and play.
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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard
The boundaries and routines that staff put in place prepare children effectively for transitions and have a positive effect on their behaviour. Regular attendance is strongly encouraged, which helps children establish a routine and be available for learning. Children are polite and kind to each other. Staff are aware of children's different needs and age and stage of development. This helps them to understand the correct expectations of individual children.
p.2
Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard
Children show that they are very happy, safe and secure. Staff have effectively implemented the key-person approach, and this supports children's emotional health. A tactile approach is given to all children, especially babies when attending the setting for the first time. They are cuddled and soothed when hungry or tired. Staff help children understand and talk about their feelings and how to resolve small conflicts and regulate their own behaviour. Any minor altercations are dealt with swiftly and sensitively. They sing rhymes and lullabies and watch over children as they sleep. They are respectful and gentle when approaching children in order to wipe their nose or change their nappy. Staff are constantly reactive to the needs of all children and are quick to respond when a child may need more support, such as children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
p.2
Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard
Hygiene and self-care routines effectively support children to be independent and be prepared for the next stage in their learning. Staff work closely with families to establish a plan for both weaning and toilet training. This provides consistency between home and the
p.2
Expected standard
setting and supports children's individual care needs. Children, including babies, have regular access to the outside areas where they can run around in the fresh air, climb, dig and negotiate obstacles.
p.3
Expected standard
Children thoroughly enjoy a highly nutritious menu of home-cooked foods and snacks. Eating is a social time where staff discuss healthy eating and listen to children's responses about home life. Babies learn to be highly independent in feeding and are praised for using a spoon and trying new foods. Staff are acutely aware of children's allergies and intolerances and how to manage these safely. Staff are extremely vigilant when children are eating.
p.3
Achievement Expected standard
Staff have responsive interactions with children. They model rich vocabulary and tune in to what children have to say. This encourages children to talk and makes them feel valued. Babies are given time to respond to names, gesture and point. Consequently, they have a firm foundation for future language skills. Staff naturally involve older children in discussion as they engage in activities and role play. This helps children to become confident in asking questions and using longer sentences.
p.3
Achievement Expected standard
Staff actively promote children's independence and resilience. They offer praise, and they delight when children accomplish a task, however small. This helps children to recognise their own achievements and have high self-esteem. Children who face barriers in their learning are given the support to make progress and to be ready for the next stage in their education.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Leaders provide a child-centred curriculum that covers all of the 7 areas of learning of the early years foundation stage. Staff are responsive to children's emerging and changing needs, and they provide a mixture of adult- and child-led activities. There is a focus on supporting children's emotional health alongside academic skills. As a result, all aspects of a child's growth are considered in the planning.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Adaptations for those children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are thoughtfully considered. This contributes to the progress made by children with SEND. The environment in the setting supports babies' freedom to explore and become independent in skills such as crawling, walking and choosing what they would like to play with. Mathematical language and concepts are weaved throughout the curriculum. For example, babies learn that there are 5 fingers on a doll that they are bathing. Older children are encouraged to count out the cutlery that they are handing out. They use basic estimation as they decide how many plates they will need for the children in the room. Staff have created a language-rich environment. They use storytelling, rhymes and discussion to support children's emerging vocabulary and language skills. Generally, the curriculum is of a high quality, which supports children's progress effectively.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
However, some staff are at different stages in their professional development, which means that, occasionally, the delivery of the curriculum is not as suitably sequenced as it could be. Leaders are aware of the inconsistencies that sometimes affect the quality of the curriculum and have prioritised this as an area for improvement.
p.4
Inclusion Expected standard
Leaders identify any barriers that children may face in their learning. Parents are encouraged to share important information about their children. This allows staff to adapt methods and support children's unique potential effectively. For example, staff work hard to celebrate children's culture and close the language barrier for those who speak English as an additional language. Outside agencies provide strategic plans that precisely meet the learning and development needs of each child.
p.4
Inclusion Expected standard
Leaders ensure that staff are fully trained to monitor children's progress. Staff use assessment, observations and information from parents to help identify children's existing knowledge and to develop their next learning goals. These tailored interventions that acknowledge areas of strengths and/or areas for improvement help children to access a curriculum that is inclusive for all children.
p.4
Inclusion Expected standard
Staff gather information from parents in order to purchase resources and provide broader experiences for those children who are in receipt of additional funding. Consequently, any gaps in children's learning and experience are reduced, and children are ready to successfully progress to the next stage in their education.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Leaders identify areas for improvement and highlight the setting's strengths. They have worked hard to implement changes that better support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and have made some changes to leadership since the last inspection. Staff report that they feel well supported in their roles and that the whole leadership team is proactive in helping to create the correct work–life balance by shortening some working days. Leaders offer a comprehensive training programme that supports staff effectively to progress through the company.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Parents appreciate the advice and support that they receive, particularly for families of children who may face barriers to their learning. They are happy with the progress their children are making and feel that staff go the extra mile to make them feel welcomed.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Leaders implement policies and procedures that support children's mental health, wellbeing and welfare. They are regularly reviewed and adapted and create a safe learning environment for children effectively. Leaders communicate regularly and clearly with parents. This helps to build trust and ensure learning consistency between the home and the setting.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Outside professionals, such as speech and language therapists, are invited into the setting to provide staff with strategies that enable them to precisely target children's individual learning and development needs.
p.4
Compulsory Childcare Register requirements
This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.
p.5
Register
When we check if settings meet the Compulsory Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Staff ensure that children feel welcomed at the setting. They provide a variety of well- planned activities and learning opportunities that help all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, to thrive. Children's emotional wellbeing is very well supported throughout the setting. Staff form strong, meaningful bonds with children and help to support children to develop positive relationships with each other. Staff are kind and gentle and encourage children to express their opinions. This has a positive impact on the way children both treat each other and behave.
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Leaders identify where there are gaps in children's learning and development effectively. They provide a more targeted approach for those children who face barriers in their learning. Consequently, learning is adapted for each child's age and stage of development, which helps them make progress and to be ready for the next stage in their education, such as moving on to school.
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Staff are attentive and responsive to the unique learning and development needs of all children. For example, young children who enjoy sensory play learn simple mathematical language, such as 'full' and 'heavy', during a water play activity. Older children develop muscle strength as they make large shapes and letters with pens.
p.5
Inspector:
Tina Lambert Leaders ensure that parents are aware of the positive impact that children's attendance has on learning outcomes. Regular information is given to families, such as daily routines, assessment and how to continue children's learning at home.
p.6
Next steps
Leaders should strengthen strategies to enable staff to more precisely support children's learning and development.
p.6
About this inspection
The inspector spoke to leaders, practitioners, parents and children during the inspection.
p.6
About this inspection
We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that the provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.
p.6
Address:
St James Street Lewes East Sussex BN7 1HR
p.7
Address:
Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises
p.7
Address:
Registered person: Busy Bees Nurseries Limited
p.7
Address:
Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 08:00 - 18:00
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Facts and figures used on inspection
This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection.
p.7
Exceptional
Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it.
p.8
Strong standard
The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them.
p.8
Expected standard
The setting is fulfilling the expected standard of education and/or care. This means they are following the standard set out in statutory and non ‑ statutory legislation and the professional standards expected of them.
p.8
Needs attention
The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements.
p.8
Urgent improvement
The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care.
p.8
Urgent improvement
services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.
p.8
Urgent improvement
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Urgent improvement
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Urgent improvement
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Urgent improvement
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