Busy Bees Harlow

The Greenway, Harlow Business Park, Harlow CM19 5QE
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9.5 86 Reviews
  • Busy Bees Harlow, Harlow
Busy Bees Harlow is a purpose-built, single-storey nursery, designed with endless learning opportunities for children. The children can access the spacious and well-equipped garden areas where they are encouraged to explore their imagination. The nursery also provides a ‘Grow Your Own’ project, in which the children can get involved in digging and caring for fruit and veg.

The experienced and qualified staff are committed to giving children the best start in life and providing excellent care for all children, so they are supported, safe and well looked after whilst at the nursery. With secure key fob access and onsite CCTV, you can be rest assured your child is safe and supported.

To ensure that your child has the best time at nursery, there are a wide variety of fun filled activities and excellent learning resources available to cater for every child’s needs and interests. The nursery team plans and prepares activities in line with the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) curriculum so that your little one can learn whilst having fun during their stay at nursery. Following the EYFS curriculum will help support your child to prepare for the next key stage.

The nursery has a talented Chef who not only prepares delicious and nutritious food in line with the NHS-accredited menus and individual dietary requirements, but also cooks with seasonal produce to give children the opportunity to experience different colours, textures and tastes.
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Kim Shinn and Louise Christie (Centre Directors)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 25

Total Places for Children

  • 121

Age Range

  • from 0 years 3 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Opening Times

  • Monday 08:00-18:00
    Tuesday 08:00-18:00
    Wednesday 08:00-18:00
    Thursday 08:00-18:00
    Friday 08:00-18:00

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays

Busy Bees Harlow Reviews (86)

9.5

Busy Bees Harlow has a Review Score of 9.5 (9.539) out of 10, based on 17 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Busy Bees Harlow has 86 reviews.

Overall Experience
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  • 9
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Date Published
  • 86
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Reviewer Connection to Busy Bees Harlow
  • 76
  • 10
Total of 86, showing 1-20
Review from Corina S (Mother of Child) published on 29 September 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son recently graduated from Busy Bees in August, and I couldn't be happier with his experience there. Over the time he spent at the nursery, I've seen wonderful progress in his development - not only academically, but also in his confidence, communication, and social skills.
The staff are truly
dedicated, warm, anattentive.They always made my child feel safe, supported, and motivated to learn. I especially appreciated how well they communicated with parents, keeping us involved in every step of the journey.
Busy Bees is not just a place for children to learn, but a nurturing environment where they feel valued and cared for. I am very grateful to all the teachers and staff for their patience, professionalism, and kindness.
I wholeheartedly recommend Busy Bees to any parent looking for a high-quality nursery children can thrive and reach their potential.
Thank you very much for all the support!
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Review from C G (Mother of Child) published on 18 September 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Staff are always friendly and supportive. They build great relationships with both children and parents. My son has loved each key worker he has had and it is great to know he is looked after so well. He loves the garden and being outdoors and they always make time for outdoor learning.
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Review from Aliyah R (Mother of Child) published on 15 September 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
I would recommend this nursery to anyone! The staff are lovely and caring. My son loves this place he's in the 2-3 group and the staff are wonderful especially three members of staff, in particular. Very welcoming and listen to any concerns/request you have.
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Review from R B (Mother of Child) published on 15 September 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
I am very happy with how my son has settled in. His key worker was very hands on and I was happy to receive a lot of photos and updates whilst he was at nursery. Definitely made me feel at ease that he was happy and enjoying his day.
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Review from R B (Mother of Child) published on 15 September 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Really impressed with how much my son is thriving in Bumble 2, he loves every moment there and is excited to move up soon. Three members of staff, in particular, have invested so much time into him and we appreciate all the comments, photos and updates they share. They genuinely care about him and it's
lovely to hear about his day and the activities he has done with them.
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Review from A H (Mother of Child) published on 15 September 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
As 1st time mum you always worry about the welfare of your child, specially when they are so tiny and vulnerable, busy bees staff do put you at ease I can't thank one member of staff, in particular, enough for her profissionalism and care for my little one.
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Review from T H (Mother of Child) published on 15 September 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Busy Bees Harlow deserve all the credit for the amazing work they do!
They made my son feel right at home from the day he started and allowing him to flourish. He has the best time there and it's evident everyday by how excited he is to go to nursery. Each staff member is his second family and holds
a special place in his heart!
Communication has always been second to none, updating us with lovely pictures and milestones achieved within the setting aswell as the healthy meals and snacks my child has eaten via their amazing App!
The staff retention speaks for itself, its clear that the staff are dedicated, caring and passionate for thier line of work.
We couldn't have picked a better nursery that gave us the reassurance of knowing our child was in a safe, fun, happy environment and that gave him the tools to now prepare him for school!
The staff are absolute gems and are very rare find! Keep up the amazing work!!
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Review from Andrea M (Mother of Child) published on 15 September 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This nursery has helped both my children grow, learn and become more independent. My oldest (34m) absolutely loves her key person and is upset if she isn't in that day for any reason. She has really made my child feel comfortable at nursery.
The staff seem to bond with the kids, putting them at ease
and making it feel like a safe space for them, even the younger class (16m).
The app is amazing as I can get real time notifications and updates of when my child has had their nappy changed, how much and what they ate and I can also see pictures of them having fun etc.
The food is always nutritious and fresh which I love, which has also made them open to trying a wider variety of fresh foods at home too.
I would highly recommend this nursery to anyone!
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Review from Jessica B (Mother of Child) published on 20 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We love this nursery. The staff are so friendly and amazing with my son. He has been attending since he was 10 months old (he is now just over 2) and he is thriving. He struggled to settle when he changed to the 2-3 year room and the staff were so patient with him (and myself) until he settled. They
keep me informed throughout the day of his activities which is great. I also love the development reviews so we can make sure everyone is working together, at home and at nursery, to teach my son new skills. The new Bee Curious curriculum is fantastic too. My son loves Time to Rhyme and the Book of the Moment. I know when there is a song change just by the fact my son will start singing a new song at home. Couldn't recommend then enough!
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Review from Mavis O (Mother of Child) published on 20 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Fabulous Nursery. My two children who are currently in secondary school attended this setting 11-12 years ago and because they were well looked after I decided to take my 3rd baby to Busy Bees and I haven't regretted doing that. My son is well looked after,staff are nice,clean environment,activities
done with kids,feedback given during pick ups,managers and the rest of the staff are genuinely interested in my child's wellbeing especially the staff directly assigned to look after my child when he is at the setting. This staff is kind and caring as well as the rest of the staff. My child was shy when he started but currently he is coming out of his shell due to his experience at the nursery. I highly recommend Busy Bees Harlow to all parents residing in Harlow as it's the best in Harlow.
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Review from L L (Mother of Child) published on 4 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Happy with Busy Bees Harlow. My son has settled really well all the staff are lovely, so overall very happy with everything. The food is really nice too my son always eats everything so he seems very happy with it.
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Review from Corina S (Mother of Child) published on 19 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I really wanted for my son to attend this nursery because I heard it's the best nursery in Harlow and I do not regret that I picked it. In a few months, my son has learned English and has changed completely in a good way. I don't have words to thank all the staff for their attention towards my son.
Everyone is very lovely and I definitely recommend this amazing nursery.
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Review from M S (Mother of Child) published on 18 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Busy Bees Harlow have been great in helping my daughter settle into nursery coming from a childminder. Comforting her and me and ensuring that it is a seamless transition. In the 3 weeks, I can see a massive improvement in her confidence, independence, and intelligence.
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Review from Agnieszka B (Mother of Child) published on 18 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I'm quite happy with the service the nursery provides. My child is settled totally and likes coming every day. I can see a huge difference in his development, especially when he learns new skills I didn't know how to teach him.
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Review from Ashleigh R (Mother of Child) published on 18 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Staff are always friendly and supportive. They are knowledgeable and caring. My child runs into the nursery every day showing he is happy to be there and enjoys his time. The app is great and updates are regular and informative. Photos posted to the app show my child is engaging and socialising well.
The food is well prepared and nutritious. Although expensive, you get what you pay for!
The only bad part is that the outside space could be bigger or have different areas to play in as it only has a small fake grass area.
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Review from Emma L (Mother of Child) published on 18 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Over the moon with the service Busy Bees Harlow provide. My daughter is so happy there and I drop her off knowing that she's well cared for. The systems they have in place are easy and effective. The staff are friendly and caring. Highly recommend.
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Review from P T (Mother of Child) published on 18 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both my daughters have attended Busy Bees. We were very picky when choosing a nursery and they ticked all the boxes. The key workers are all amazing and my daughters love them. We have never had any concerns and have seen such growth in their development. Highly recommend them for anyone looking for
a place to send their little ones.
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Review from Sarah M (Mother of Child) published on 1 November 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter started here at 9 months old. It was incredibly challenging to start leaving her at nursery but every single member of staff we met made it easier. They are all so friendly and welcoming, you can tell that they love what they do. They were so patient with my daughter as she got used to things
and so thoughtful with their updates in the app during the day. We visited several nurseries and this was the best one for us. The second we walked in, we could tell how well-run it was and how great the people were. Now that we've been there a while, we are even more assured that we made the right choice. The team create some wonderful activities for the children and they take time to incorporate things that build on their interests at home or family days out. My daughter has gone from a baby to a cheeky toddler and she is learning so much each day at Busy Bees. I couldn't be happier with every aspect of the nursery and I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing how my child continues to thrive there.
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Review from S M (Mother of Child) published on 18 September 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Busy Bees have meant so much to our family, they are kind, thoughtful and caring. My child absolutely loved the nursery and we are very sad to leave. The nursery is led well, and the staff are visibly motivated and happy. I have no hesitation in recommending the setting, and am thankful for our time
there.
Reply from Emily Graves, Digital Content Assistant at Busy Bees Harlow
Hello, thank you so much for taking the time to leave us such a wonderful review! We’re glad you have given your little one the best start in life with us. Best wishes, Busy Bees
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Review from Mairead L (Mother of Child) published on 21 August 2023 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have been using Busy Bees for six years now, and I have only positive things to say. Both my children have been extremely happy in their time here. They are very content going to the nursery and are always smiling at the end of the day. The staff are amazing and keep us updated on development and
learning. I would highly recommend Busy Bees Harlow to my friends. I am very sad that my time attending the nursery with my children is coming to an end. Keep up the fantastic work.
Reply from Emily Graves, Digital Content Assistant at Busy Bees Harlow
Hello, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us such a wonderful review! We’re glad you have given your little one the best start in life with us.
40 years of Busy Bees – 40 years of best…read more
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Current Review Score: 9.5 (9.539)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.5 (9.539) out of 10 for Busy Bees Harlow is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.8 out of 5 from 17 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.7 out of 5 from 17 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.837 for Busy Bees Harlow is calculated as follows: ( (172 Excellents x 5) + (27 Goods x 4) + (3 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 202 Ratings = 4.837
  2. 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5'). The 4.702 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Busy Bees Harlow is based on 17 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4
    2. 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 121 number of registered child places is 24.2. 17 Positive Reviews ÷ 24.2 = 0.702
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (1)

Meet the Team (2)

Kim And Louise

Kim And Louise

Job Title: Centre Manager Joined: 1996

Hi,
We are Kim and Louise, Joint Managers here at Busy bees Harlow and between us we have over a whopping 40 years experience in childcare, NNEB and NVQ Level 3 qualifications and are both NVQ assessors. We have been at Harlow since 1996.
During this time we have enjoyed working with every age group of children as nursery nurses and deputy managers, and we now job share the role of Manager, enjoying working alongside the most amazing, caring and educated staff we can find.
Our specialist skills include child protection training, mentoring our team and our Busy bees initiatives, Wake & Shake (Kim’s fav), Grow your Own(Louise’s fav) Busy Babies, Babble to Chatter, Imagination Station and completing our NDNA Quality Assurance award.
Our own 4 children have attended Busy Bees Harlow and experience of the wonders of Busy Bees and nursery life just like your child can.
So why not come and meet us and see how much fun your child could have here at Harlow.

Hayley

Hayley

Job Title: Assistant Manager Joined: 2014

Hi my name is Hayley, I joined Busy Bees in 2014. After completing Level 3 in childcare, I worked as a childminding assistant. Alongside this, I attended Anglia Ruskin University, where I graduated with a BA Hons in Education and Childhood Studies (Level 6). I have 11 years’ experience working within childcare, I am first aid at work and paediatric first aid trained. I am based in our 3-5 year old rooms, I love watching the children's personalities grow and helping to support and prepare the children for their transitions into school. Alongside this I am the nurseries EYFS representative, helping to support and monitor the education and planning in each age group. I am also the nursery SENCo and help support the children, staff and parents where required.

Frequently Asked Questions about Busy Bees Harlow

What is the Age Range of Children that Busy Bees Harlow accepts?

Busy Bees Harlow accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Busy Bees Harlow Open?

Busy Bees Harlow is open: Monday 08:00-18:00, Tuesday 08:00-18:00, Wednesday 08:00-18:00, Thursday 08:00-18:00, Friday 08:00-18:00.

How many Children does Busy Bees Harlow have capacity for?

Busy Bees Harlow has capacity for a total of 121 Children.

How far is Busy Bees Harlow to the centre of Harlow?

1.7 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Busy Bees Harlow to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Busy Bees Harlow has an Enhanced Service - more info.