Busy Bee Pre-School

Two rooms, each with its own outdoor play area, give Busy Bee Pre-School a clear division between its youngest children and those preparing for school. Honeypot houses the two-year-olds; Beehive is for preschool children. The single-storey building in Fleetwood also has accessible entry, with resources stored at children's height so they can make choices for themselves.

At its 6 December 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good, found safeguarding effective and judged that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) received good support through collaboration with families and professionals. There were also specific improvements to make, especially in teaching younger children and celebrating children's own backgrounds.

Busy Bee has capacity for 39 children aged 24 to 60 months. Its term-time calendar makes it a setting to consider for families whose childcare needs follow the school year.

Rooms and Ages

Honeypot gives two-year-olds a room of their own, while Beehive accommodates the preschool children and includes a carpeted space for stories. Both rooms have cushioned reading spaces and separate outdoor areas, allowing books and outdoor play to sit alongside the rest of the day.

Across the setting, low storage units let children reach toys themselves. Pictures and written labels identify what belongs in each box, making choosing and putting things away part of everyday independence. Younger children also have baskets for sensory exploration. These are concrete ways to support children who are still learning how to select and use resources.

Learning and Activities

EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, including developing language, physical skills and personal and social skills through everyday activities. Observations and progress discussions help staff identify what a child can do and what to work on next. Each child's Learning Journal brings together photographs, observations, comments and contributions connecting home with preschool. Parents have a termly opportunity to discuss progress and next steps.

In December 2024, children made pictures and invented stories linked to books they had read. Conversations extended beyond naming objects: staff explained the purpose of a book's spine and introduced braille. Such examples show how a familiar story can become a starting point for drawing, conversation and new ideas.

Physical activities connected small movements with larger ones. During December 2024, children practised cutting with scissors indoors and balancing outside. A shared floor puzzle also gave staff a practical opportunity to help children take turns and help one another. These examples combine learning a skill with learning how to participate alongside other children.

Outdoor and Community Life

Everlawn artificial grass covers the outdoor space, and a metal shed stores equipment for movement and play. Children can use bikes, explore tunnels or play with hoops and balls. Sand, water and construction materials add other possibilities, with activities responding to children's interests.

Outdoor play takes place daily, including in wet weather, with puddle suits provided. For families who value time outside, that is a useful part of the routine rather than an occasional change of scene.

Relationships and Communication

In December 2024, staff used children's interests to shape play, including dressing-up clothes connected with familiar characters. They also learnt words from children's home languages to help those speaking English as an additional language settle. That gives a concrete example of adapting interactions to the child rather than expecting every child to start in the same way.

Independence was practised through small everyday tasks. During December 2024, children helped themselves to snacks and poured drinks, while staff supported recognition of their own names. These routines gave children opportunities to do things for themselves alongside adult support.

The current team is qualified and experienced in caring for young children. Busy Bee belongs to the Early Years Alliance, receiving guidance and updates for practitioners. In December 2024, the preschool employed seven childcare staff; that is a staffing snapshot, rather than a statement about today's deployment.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Support follows a graduated response, meaning that help can move from everyday provision to extra input and then specialist intervention according to a child's needs. A key person can identify an area needing additional attention, such as speech and language development, and progress discussions involve parents.

Speech and language referrals require parental consent, as does requesting a visit from the local authority inclusion teacher. Other professional links include health visitors, educational psychologists and portage workers. For a family needing additional support, the useful detail is the route from observations to agreed action and outside advice.

The building provides access for children and adults with disabilities. Indoors, non-slip flooring covers both rooms, with softer spaces for reading. Those physical arrangements sit alongside the individual support process.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term time, for 38 weeks each year. This calendar matters as much as the daily hours: families needing care through school holidays will need to account for the term-time arrangement when planning their year.

Busy Bee Pre-School is at 219 Poulton Road, Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7 7BS. Enquiries can be made by telephone or through the contact form. Accessible parking spaces support bringing children to and collecting them from the setting.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes universal provision of 15 hours a week for three- and four-year-olds, alongside 15 hours for eligible two-year-olds. Eligible working families can access 30 hours for children aged two, three and four. The setting operates its funded provision within its term-time calendar.

Eligibility conditions matter: the two-year-old and working-family offers do not apply automatically to every family. When planning attendance, distinguish the entitlement a child qualifies for from the hours the family needs. Current prices should be obtained in a written quotation.

• Teaching for younger children and children's backgrounds. In December 2024, teaching for younger children was less consistent, and opportunities to explore children's own heritage were insufficient. During a visit, ask how younger children's activities now sustain their involvement and how family backgrounds shape the day.
• The term-time calendar. The preschool operates for 38 weeks, with a 9am to 3pm opening window. Match that pattern against working hours and school-holiday childcare needs before committing.
• The full cost of attendance. Funded entitlement is offered, subject to the relevant eligibility conditions. Ask for a written breakdown covering any additional hours, food, consumables and joining charges so the complete arrangement is clear.

Busy Bee suits families seeking term-time preschool care, with a separate room for two-year-olds, daily outdoor play and a structured route for discussing development and arranging additional support. Accessible premises and resources within children's reach give those arrangements practical substance.

The December 2024 Good judgement provides a positive overall assessment, with specific reservations that matter when choosing care for a younger child. Teaching for younger children and the way children's backgrounds are represented deserve attention alongside the setting's outdoor routine and communication with parents.