Early years · Report card
Busy Bees Day Nursery at Cheadle HulmeOfsted report card, 22 Sept 2026
Ofsted inspected Busy Bees Day Nursery at Cheadle Hulme on 22 Sept 2026, led by Laura Farrell. This is a report card inspection; the lowest area grade was Expected standard. Source: Ofsted (Open Government Licence v3).
Summary
What we read, and from where
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- Achievement verified
Expected standard
- Behaviour, attitudes and routines verified
Expected standard
- Children's welfare and wellbeing verified
Expected 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
22 Sept 2026
- Inspectors verified
Laura Farrell
- Postcode verified
SK8 2JF
- Name on report verified
Busy Bees Day Nursery at Cheadle Hulme
- Safeguarding verified
Met
- URN verified
EY486949
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 routinesExpected
- Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected
- 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 report cards whose lowest area grade is Expected standard.
Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.
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.
Concerns
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
No strong criticism found.
Next steps
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
- This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. p.4
- Leaders should continue to support staff new to their roles to maintain standards and offer quality learning experiences for children. p.5
- Leaders should consider the organisation of transitions to support children's engagement. p.5
What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Communication & language8
“Children's communication and language skills develop.” p.2Parents & families8
“They work alongside parents and share concerns when needed.” p.3Wellbeing & mental health5
“They receive positive praise when they succeed, promoting their wellbeing.” p.3
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 8
- Words of findings
- 1,608
- about usual (typical 1587)
- Reading level
- Fairly hard
- Flesch 53, typical 43
- Average sentence
- 13 words
- Next steps
- 3
- typical 3
- Hedged sentences
- 1%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Busy Bees Day Nursery at Cheadle Hulme
Unique reference number (URN): EY486949 Address: Councillor Lane, Cheadle, SK8 2JF Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 16/03/2015 Registers: EYR, CCR Registered person: Busy Bees Nurseries Limited
p.1
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:
p.1
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.1
Achievement Expected standard
Children make progress from their respective starting points. Staff know the next steps of their key children and target these through learning and play. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities make steady progress. Individual support plans are put in place with achievable targets.
p.2
Achievement Expected standard
Children's communication and language skills develop. Staff appropriately support and model language for each age and stage. For example, staff working with babies use one or two words, whereas staff working with older children have longer conversations. On occasion, staff extend what children can do. For example, they name a koala bear after a baby describes it as a bear. As a result, children develop their vocabulary.
p.2
Achievement Expected standard
As children transition through the setting, they are prepared for the next stage in their learning and development. For example, toddlers learn to share and take turns, and older children develop their independence. Staff take time to share information both in the setting and with local schools. As a result, children are supported from the earliest point.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard
Leaders have established clear expectations for routines and behaviour throughout the setting. There are routines in place throughout the day. Typically, children follow these routines and expectations, although these are not embedded. For example, children do not always help tidy up, which means it takes longer and affects their next learning activity. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported during these routines by being reminded of what will happen next. Staff give verbal instructions, which children can repeat back.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard
Staff share the expectations for behaviour with children. They take time to explain how their choices affect other children and offer alternative actions they can take. Children begin to learn to understand what is expected of them. They are supported to work and play with others. Children receive positive praise when they share. Children enjoy receiving praise, which contributes to the caring relationships they develop with staff. Furthermore, staff are attentive and invite children into games and play. Children benefit from these warm interactions.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard
Leaders work with parents to promote attendance. They share the importance of regular attendance on children's education. They work with parents to overcome barriers they may face by offering flexible sessions.
p.2
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
Typically, care practices are adapted to meet children's individual needs, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. For example, staff show children objects to help them understand what will happen next. This helps children feel prepared and supports their individual needs. Children develop positive relationships with all staff. When children become unsettled, they seek familiar staff for comfort.
p.2
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
Children understand the need to develop their physical skills as they explore the outdoors. Babies' physical skills grow as they learn to pull themselves up and climb on soft play. They learn to explore safely as they are reminded to hold on. Children learn to manage their own hygiene. For example, they wash their hands before eating or after wiping their noses. This means children can look after their own health and wellbeing.
p.3
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
Children take time to explore their emotions and understand how they feel. They look at pictures of different emotions and talk about what makes them feel that way. This supports children's emotional wellbeing. Children build resilience as they are encouraged to persevere and have a go. They receive positive praise when they succeed, promoting their wellbeing.
p.3
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
Mealtimes are managed safely. Safer eating training has been refreshed to ensure children are always safe. They learn about different foods and how to eat healthily. Babies are supported as advice around weaning is shared with parents and carers. Children's health, safety and wellbeing are promoted through a shared understanding from leaders of their responsibilities and approach.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
There is an established curriculum within the setting. Leaders have designed the curriculum to cover all areas of learning, while having a changing focus as children develop and grow. For example, babies focus on physical development, whereas older children build on prior learning with more advanced concepts. This means children benefit from a curriculum tailored to their age and stage of development. Staff generally adapt the curriculum so that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities can access learning that meets their individual needs. They assess children's progress and identify their next steps. Staff generally use these next steps when planning activities. Staff are engaging and children enjoy sharing their learning and play. For example, children make marks using vehicles in sand. Staff describe the tracks and talk about how they differ from tracks made in the water.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Children's language is developed throughout the setting. Babies babble and use single words, whereas older children engage in longer conversations with staff. Staff ask questions to further children's learning and understanding. For example, staff ask babies to find parts of their body and toddlers what might happen as they explore the outdoor area.
p.3
Inclusion Expected standard
Staff quickly identify children's individual needs. They work alongside parents and share concerns when needed. Leaders seek further advice and support from external agencies to implement in the setting. As a result, children benefit from this consistent approach. Staff put support plans in place for children and review them regularly to check that the support meets their needs. They monitor progress and typically make adaptations when needed. Staff get to know their children and families well. They understand the different barriers children may face and work to overcome them. For example, staff learn key phrases to support children who speak English as an additional language. Additional assessments are completed for children who face barriers to their learning. This helps staff identify children's needs more precisely and typically leads to further support.
p.3
Inclusion Expected standard
Leaders spend additional funding appropriately to support children's individual needs. The impact of spending is monitored to ensure it is used effectively. Leaders have built positive working relationships with external professionals. For example, speech and language therapists and physiotherapists have provided care and shared their expertise with staff. This means that children's different needs can be met.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
There have been recent changes to the leadership structure. Leaders notified Ofsted of an incident in which staff did not follow the plans in place to support children at mealtimes. Following the incident, leaders took steps to improve practice. All staff received safer eating training and further training on meeting children's individual needs. This strengthened mealtime routines, and staff now follow safer eating requirements and guidance.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Leaders understand the setting's context, strengths and areas for development. For example, they know that they have an experienced team but are working to improve this by recruiting new staff with different areas of expertise. Leaders work alongside staff to identify training needs. Staff have regular supervisions where they are given the opportunity to develop their own knowledge and skills. They report that their workload and wellbeing are considered as they are supported to complete training.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Leaders use additional funding effectively to meet the needs of children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Positive working relationships with parents and carers and external agencies mean that children are supported and receive consistent care. Parents report that staff take time to get to know children and care about them.
p.4
Compulsory Childcare Register requirements
This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.
p.4
Register
When we check if settings meet the Compulsory Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:
p.4
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Laughter can be heard throughout the setting, showing that children are happy and settled. As they arrive, children are greeted warmly by staff. They excitedly wave to staff, showing the positive relationships they have built. Children happily greet leaders and share their interests. Staff take time to get to know children and learn their likes and dislikes. This helps children feel valued by caring staff.
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Children enjoy their learning. They benefit from attentive staff who see every opportunity as a teaching and learning moment. Children actively engage in activities designed with their next steps in mind. They develop friendships as they play cooperatively with peers. Activities are planned to support children to learn names quickly. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive support promptly because staff identify their needs early and put individual support plans in place.
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Children learn the skills needed for the next stage in their development. For example, they become independent as they put on their coats. Older children take on responsibilities such as giving out cups at mealtimes. This helps them develop independence and practical life skills. Children learn to be kind to each other. From an early age, they learn to share and include their friends in play. They speak to each other respectfully, as this has been modelled by staff. Children use their manners as they ask for help. This helps children thrive in a positive environment.
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
The importance of regular attendance is shared with parents and carers. Children benefit from regular care and education. They learn how to keep safe and to tell staff when they feel worried or sad. This helps them to build trusting relationships with staff and feel confident sharing their concerns.
p.5
Next steps
Leaders should continue to support staff new to their roles to maintain standards and offer quality learning experiences for children. Leaders should consider the organisation of transitions to support children's engagement.
p.5
About this inspection
The inspector spoke with leaders, staff and parents during the inspection.
p.5
Address:
Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises
p.6
Address:
Registered person: Busy Bees Nurseries Limited
p.6
Address:
Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 07:30 - 18:00
p.6
Facts and figures used on inspection
This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection.
p.6
Age range of children at the time of inspection
We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.
p.6
Age range of children at the time of inspection
We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. The provider will be able to give parents further information about this.
p.6
Exceptional
Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it.
p.7
Strong standard
The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them.
p.7
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.7
Needs attention
The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements.
p.7
Urgent improvement
The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care.
p.7
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.7
Urgent improvement
If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .
p.7
Urgent improvement
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p.7
Urgent improvement
T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted
p.8
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