Busy Bees Formby

A brick-built cycling road and a ball pool give Busy Bees Formby's May 2023 nursery day a recognisable physical character. Children could pedal, climb and move between active experiences, while babies explored through sensory play. Those concrete details matter more than a curriculum slogan: they show how movement and exploration formed part of children's learning.

At its May 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) progressed well with support from a SENCo and outside agencies. That judgement belongs to that visit; a later supervision event also matters to the decision below.

Busy Bees Formby has capacity for 66 children, with an accepted age range of 3 to 60 months. Its address is 21 Elson Road, Formby, Liverpool, L37 2EQ. The practical offer includes weekday opening and an enquiry route specific to Formby.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. In parent language, this connects play with developing communication, movement, relationships and independence, rather than treating nursery as a timetable of formal lessons.

In May 2023, conversation ran through activities: staff asked questions, paused for children's answers and used their responses to build the next exchange. The pause is useful. It gives a child room to think and contribute, rather than simply listening to an adult supply the answer.

Babies explored sensory activities, while older children combined singing with play dough. Learning about celebrations and cultures introduced similarities and differences between people's lives. These were practical ways to connect language, creativity and understanding of others within the nursery day.

Outdoor and Community Life

In May 2023, bicycles on the brick-built road gave outdoor movement a clear purpose. The ball pool added another opportunity for whole-body activity, alongside yoga and climbing equipment. Children who preferred moving could participate through physical experiences as well as quieter play.

The Up room and outdoor space included low climbing equipment and slides at that time. The useful distinction is the type of activity, rather than a promise about how much space each child receives: climbing, sliding and pedalling gave children different ways to practise movement.

School preparation also took a tangible form in May 2023. Older children laid out the table, helped themselves to meals and experimented with school uniforms through role play. Practising these everyday tasks connects independence with the routines children will eventually encounter beyond nursery.

Relationships had a practical structure in May 2023. A key person helped children build familiarity with staff, flexible settling arrangements supported the start of nursery, and room changes received attention too. For a child, moving within a setting can be another adjustment, so continuity between rooms deserves as much consideration as the first separation from home.

Emotional language was part of the same month's daily practice. Children used mirrors to explore facial expressions and discussed how they felt and why. This gives feelings something concrete to attach to, helping children put an experience into words rather than leaving adults to interpret it for them.

Communication with families included information about children's development and ideas for activities at home in May 2023. The SENCo's role also included arranging referrals to external services when needed. These are specific mechanisms: conversations, suggestions and referrals, rather than a general promise that every need will be met in the same way.

In its November 2024 compliance outcome, Ofsted recorded repeated incidents notified in February and July 2024 in which a child was left unsupervised in a toilet area, with staffing ratios met but procedures not followed, and stated that corrective action and deployment refresher training had been taken. The distinction matters: having enough staff did not itself prevent the supervision failures.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas. For families arranging work around childcare, both the daily window and those closures belong in the calendar.

The Formby contact form provides a direct enquiry route, and the branch has an online visit-booking form. New parents can contact the enrolments team on 0330 333 8133; the nursery's telephone number is 01704 834834.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered. The Formby booking form includes 30 Hours working families funding, 15 Hours universal funding for children aged 3 and 4, and 15 hours for 2-year-olds receiving support. Eligibility determines which entitlement applies; selecting a funding category is not a guarantee of a funded place.

Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation. Keep that quotation alongside the proposed attendance pattern so that the financial commitment and the childcare arrangement can be considered together.

• Supervision after repeated incidents. The November 2024 outcome describes action following two toilet-area supervision failures, despite staffing ratios being met. During a visit, ask how staff now hand over responsibility when children use the toilets or move between spaces.
• Development of newer staff. In May 2023, professional development needed more precise targeting, especially for newer practitioners. Ask how individual training needs translate into changes in everyday teaching.
• Settling and room changes. Flexible settling and support between rooms were part of practice in May 2023. Discuss how those arrangements would work for your child's routines and response to separation.

Busy Bees Formby suits families seeking weekday childcare across the year, especially those whose children enjoy active play. The May 2023 account gives concrete examples of movement, conversation and growing independence, with key-person relationships supporting the nursery day.

The repeated supervision incidents require equal weight. Corrective action was recorded in November 2024, but the practical decision should include a clear explanation of how responsibility follows children between spaces. A visit should connect the nursery's learning opportunities with that everyday supervision practice.