Published: 11/08/2026
Busy Bees at Farnborough IQ, where children feel ‘safe and secure’ in a ‘welcoming and inclusive setting’ has been praised by Ofsted in its latest inspection.
Achieving a ‘Strong Standard’ across all categories, the nursery team was recognised for its ‘highly effective key-person system’ where the team all know the children really well, helping them to feel comforted and supported.
Located on Farnborough Business Park, inspectors noted that babies and toddlers show ‘high levels of motivation’ and are ‘confident communicators’, continually using new vocabulary in their play. Babies smile and babble with their key person, exploring their environments with confidence. Toddlers display ‘superb sharing’ and the older children are curious and ‘competent communicators’, developing their ‘speech, language and using new vocabulary in their play’.
The nursery is led by Jo McGowan, who brings over 14 years of experience, alongside a longstanding team with more than 350 years of combined service, providing trusted high-quality care for families in the community.
Jo McGowan, Centre Director at Busy Bees Farnborough IQ, said: “We are over the moon to have achieved a Strong Standard! This is a testament to our longstanding team who truly understand children’s individual needs and can provide them with the best support and care. It is a wonderful recognition of the caring, nurturing environments we strive to create for children every day and create a special place where they feel happy and valued.”
Inspectors also applauded the nursery’s strong partnership with parents, who described the nursery as ‘calm, consistent and nurturing’. Families spoke positively about the support their children receive and valued the advice they guidance provided by the team on how to continue their children’s learning at home.
A parent whose daughter attends the nursery, said: “As working parents, the greatest gift Busy Bees has given us is peace of mind. We have always known that our children are happy, safe and cared for, which is something every parent hopes for when they leave their child each day. We will always be incredibly grateful to the team at Busy Bees Farnborough for the care and support they have given our family. The staff take the time to get to know every child as an individual, and it's clear how much they care. They have helped shape our children's early years in the most positive way, and we couldn't recommend the nursery more highly.”
The nursery’s inclusive culture was given a special mention providing ‘highly effective’ emotional support for children and parents. Additionally, the team go above and beyond to support children with special needs and/or disabilities, ensuring they are well prepared for their next stage of learning.
To find out more about Busy Bees Farnborough IQ and to book a visit, please call 0330 333 8133 or click here.
To view the full report, click here.