The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School

Cambrian Way, Highfield, Hemel Hempstead HP2 5TD
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9.1 27 Reviews
  • The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School, Hemel Hempstead
The nursery has been open since 1986. They carry out the Early Years Foundation Stage, are inspected by Ofsted and achieved `Outstanding'. Parents are welcome to visit the nursery at any time, no appointment needed. All staff are fully qualified and also have first aid and child protection certificates. All staff and students have been police checked. They have a variety of policies and procedures that parents are more than welcome to inspect. At The Bees Knees they understand the importance of providing children with a safe, stimulating and caring environment. The nursery believes that no child, individual or family should be excluded from nursery activities on the grounds of age, gender, sexuality, class, family status, disability, colour, ethnic origin, religion or beliefs. Owners feel that the nursery provides the children with bright, colourful and educational activities and experiences enabling each individual child to reach their full potential.
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Type of Service

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

Owner

  • Kathryn Hay and Teresa Arthur
  • Privately Owned

Person in Charge

  • Teresa Arthur and Kathryn Hay (Owners)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 24

Total Places for Children

  • 60

Age Range

  • from 0 years 2 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Funding & Fees

  • FEES:


    8am to 6pm = £65.00


    8am to 1pm = £33.50


    1pm to 5pm = £32.50


    1pm to 6pm = £33.50


    Full-time = £325.00

  • The above are our normal nursery fees, but the term after your child is 3 years old every child is entitled to 15 hours free nursery education a week for 38 weeks per year. If parents are working then you are eligible to claim 15 hours Childcare Support the term after your child is 9 months old.


    Your child may also be entitled to 2 year old funding or 3 and 4 year old 30 hours funding, please check to see if they are eligible.


    As there are several ways to use the funding please feel free to call the office to discuss the sessions and prices that suit you the best.


    Prices include breakfast, hot lunch, snack and a hot dinner.


    We require a deposit of two weeks' fees. When your child leaves the nursery, this is taken off your last two weeks invoice.


    If your child is funded you will be asked to pay a commitment fee which is returned once your child starts nursery.


    Fees are paid weekly at the beginning of each week, or monthly at the start of each month if you prefer.


    Fees are still payable if your child is absent, but you do not have to pay if the nursery is closed.

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 & Christmas

The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School Reviews (27)

9.1

The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School has a Review Score of 9.1 (9.072) out of 10, based on 6 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School has 27 reviews.

Overall Experience
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Date Published
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Reviewer Connection to The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School
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Total of 27, showing 1-20
Review from Nicola T (Mother of Child) published on 11 September 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Amazing nursery! Highly recommend. Staff are fab and my daughter loves attending! She has developed so much since being here and I always feel confident knowing she'll be well looked after! Best decision we made sending her to the bees knees!
Reply from Kathryn Hay, Owner at The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School
Thank you so much for such a lovely review. We love having your daughter at nursery. Thank you.
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Review from Victoria Z (Mother of Child) published on 2 September 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been attending the nursery for over 3 years and for us as parents and for him it has been a really pleasant experience. He enjoys all the different activities at the nursery while learning boundaries and the early years curriculum. He has also formed really nice bonds with so many friends.
All the members of the staff are really lovely, kind and caring. We have also felt supported as parents when we needed the most. The nursery has been a wonderful, calm and very helpful part of our lives for so long and I have to say that we'll definitely miss it when it is finally time to move on! Thank you so much for looking after our son.
Reply from Kathryn Hay, Owner at The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School
Thank you so much for such an amazing review, so kind of you to take the time.
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Review from S D (Mother of Child) published on 3 July 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I've now used the nursery for all three of my children and I wouldn't send them anywhere else. The staff are fantastic and I love the nursery just as much as the kids do. My youngest currently goes three days a week.
Reply from Kathryn Hay, Owner at The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School
Thank you so much for writing such a great review, the staff are really pleased, thank you.
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Review from Holly H (Mother of Child) published on 3 July 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Such a brilliant nursery. I have sent all three of my children here and have never had a problem the staff are so lovely and friendly couldn't wish for a better setting for my little girl. She always comes out happy and smiling and tells me everything she has done in the day I highly recommend The Bees
Knees Day Nursery to everyone.
Reply from Kathryn Hay, Owner at The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School
Thank you so much for such a lovely review we really appreciate it.
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Review from Gaby M (Mother of Child) published on 2 July 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I absolutely love the nursery and am so glad I sent my little boy here. The staff are super friendly and always happy to answer any questions. I always feel happy to drop my little boy off knowing he's going to be safe and the staff really encourage him to do different activities. I'm so happy with
how much my little boy has learned so far being with the nursery and how nice it is to see and hear how well he is doing, I would personally recommend this nursery it's just amazing.
Reply from Kathryn Hay, Owner at The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School
Thank you so much for you kind words, this means so much to us.
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Review from D S (Mother of Child) published on 1 July 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are so lucky to have found such a caring, nurturing and lovely nursery for our little girl, she has thrived since joining and loves her friends and teachers, is always so happy to go in and speaks about her day with excitement. The staff are amazing and have been there a long time - they clearly
love their jobs and create such strong bonds with the children. We will be sad to leave them this year for school.
Reply from Kathryn Hay, Owner at The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School
Thank you so much for your kind words. This means so much to us.
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Review from Ellie P (Mother of Child) published on 10 July 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School to anyone and often do. My daughter is about to leave after 4 very happy years and my son will stay until he starts school. Both really love going and run in each morning and out each evening telling me what they've been up to.
It's a fantastic nursery, small, nurturing and they really do care about each and every child there. The staff are all lovely and many have been there a long time providing amazing continuity for the children. Very happy with the care my children receive while I'm at work
Reply from Kathryn Hay, Owner at The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School
Thank you very much for taking the time to write such a lovely review.
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Review from Jemma T (Mother of Child) published on 20 June 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I cannot recommend The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School highly enough. My daughter has been attending since she was 7 months (August 2022) and she loves it. She runs in every morning and is always happy and smiling when she leaves. The love and care provided by the staff is faultless and provides
the comfort you need as a parent knowing your child is in a nurturing environment. The app is great at tracking her development activities and provides real time information on meals, naps etc.
Reply from Kathryn Hay, Owner at The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School
Thank you so much for taking the time to write us such a lovely review.
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Review from Richard B (Father of Child) published on 21 April 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Fantastic nursery. Couldn't be happier with the care and nurturing they've been providing for my son. Their team is top notch and I don't hesitate to recommend them to anyone interested in real quality childcare. My son has been fully cared for, entertained and educated and I am so very grateful for
everything you all do for us. So many activities and opportunities for growth and development and their communications to us as parents are frequent, useful, thorough and clear. Just brilliant.
Reply from Kathryn Hay, Owner at The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review and for such a fantastic one too, thank you.
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Review from Tyrone M (Father of Child) published on 10 March 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter loves going to The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School, she is very happy (when entering and leaving the premises), and enjoys going in every day. Her teachers are very encouraging of her and she has developed in specific areas over the last few months which makes me very happy as a parent.
Highly recommended!
Reply from Kathryn Hay, Owner at The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School
Thank you so much for your lovely review. This means such a lot to us.
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Review from Sam H (Mother of Child) published on 26 July 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My twin girls have been going to The Bees Knees since they were 13 months and have loved every minute of it. From our very first visit, we knew we could trust the staff to give our girls the very best care and it's been the same over the last three years! All the staff genuinely care for all the children
and have built a loving and caring environment for the children. The activities and learning are varied and the theme days are a big hit which again, always vary. The management team are always on hand and can't do enough for you when you need them. The nursery was open throughout COVID and whilst some activities had to stop/change - the care and dedication to making life as fun and normal for the children remained. I am so pleased we chose The Bees Knees for our girls, we are coming to the end of our time there which is really sad but I know they have been in the best care and had an amazing
time. Thank You Bees Knees!
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Review from Helen C (Mother of Child) published on 18 July 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have two children attending The Bees Knees. The staff are always happy and smiling. So quick to respond to any concerns or enquires. They have helped my son so much as he was a lockdown baby and found it hard to settle. But they have spent so much time helping him with his speech and he is a different
child now. They also were extremely accommodating when I first inquired about my children attending the nursery, as the nursery they originally attended closed down, with very short notice. I couldn’t ask for a better nursery for my children.
Reply from Kathryn Hay, Owner at The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School
Thank you for your lovely feedback. We are always grateful for any new ideas and suggestions for our menus please let us know any ideas that you have where we could improve on this.
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Review from Heena T (Mother of Child) published on 18 July 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter had severe separation anxiety and she was never left alone before with anyone. I was extremely nervous when she started the Nursery. The first few weeks were very challenging and all the staff there were very empathetic and showed a lot of patience. Gradually, my daughter started building
confidence and she has flourished ever since then. The staff are very caring, kind and understanding of your requirements. The management is very responsive and they will get back to you very shortly with any of your queries. The thing I most like about this Nursery is it provides a very homely environment and is not very commercial goal-oriented. Staff put so much effort into organising parties and activities for the little ones. The staff also dress up as per the theme and have a delicious menu for the babies to enjoy. We are very pleased that we have found this nursery.
Reply from Kathryn Hay, Owner at The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School
Thank you Heena for your lovely feedback, it means so much to us. The menus do change and we try adhere to all children's catering needs, please let us know how we can improve this for you.
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Review from D W (Mother of Child) published on 18 July 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been attending this nursery for two years now. The dedication, patience and support that the entire staffing team gives to every child and their family is amazing. My daughter enjoys going so much that she asks when she's going next, and is so proud when sharing about her day. I would
like to say thank you to all staff for the amount of work they do and continue to do.
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Review from Hollie B (Mother of Child) published on 18 July 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I can’t speak more highly of this amazingly, caring and wonderful nursery! All the staff are wonderful and take so much care in all the children. They are very attentive and so friendly. I’m so glad I was recommended this nursery and I would highly recommend to everyone!
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Review from Carly B (Mother of Child) published on 18 July 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I couldn’t recommend The Bees Knees Day Nursery enough, my two eldest boys attended the nursery they are now 10 and 7! So when we had our son, I knew I didn’t want him to go anywhere else. The ladies are all so lovely. I feel confident leaving him there, knowing he’s in safe hands. We also get constant
updates of how he’s doing, which really puts your mind at rest.
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Review from Robert B (Father of Child) published on 11 July 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Absolutely fabulous! They’ve taken great care of my daughter over several years. She loves it there and all the staff. She’s developed superbly over her time there. The staff are lovely and can’t do enough to help. Thoroughly recommended!
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Review from Nino C (Mother of Child) published on 8 July 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I would recommend Bees Knee Day nursery 10000%. They really care for kids. We came here from a different nursery where kids were neglected and staff were cheating. Here they soon built our trust with the nursery. Managers are there always for you and keep you in the loop of everything. My boy is so
happy to go there and learnt and developed so much. I am so grateful to everyone. The best nursery with the wonderful staff.
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Review from Hope G (Mother of Child) published on 8 July 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our son has been going to The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School since he was 7 months and is now 3, our baby is soon to join. We couldn’t be happier with our experience. The staff are so friendly, welcoming and approachable, they take the time to bond so lovely with the children and give them a positive
early years experience with love, fun and learning. They are supportive with our child’s routine, needs and adapt accordingly. Throughout Covid they were super reassuring and it is just what you need to feel when you are dropping off your most precious cargo in the mornings. We hear lots of lovely stories from our son and see pictures of his progress on the app each day. Anything the staff can do to help they will. I’ve recommended the nursery to a few local mums and after looking at quite a few it was always going to be the Bees Knees for us!
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Review from Mayura B (Mother of Child) published on 8 July 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter started at The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School when she was 9 months old. I was so reluctant at first as I felt she was too young but the staff at Bees Knees reassured me and proved to me that she is well looked after. She is always happy to go to nursery and her development is very
good (thanks to all the staff). Nothing is too much trouble, I would highly recommend Bees Knees as they do amazing jobs.
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Current Review Score: 9.1 (9.072)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.1 (9.072) out of 10 for The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 6 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.1 out of 5 from 6 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 4.972 for The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School is calculated as follows: ( (70 Excellents x 5) + (2 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 72 Ratings = 4.972
  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 4.1 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School is based on 6 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 = 3.6
    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 60 number of registered child places is 12. 6 Positive Reviews ÷ 12 = 0.5
  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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Frequently Asked Questions about The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School

What is the Age Range of Children that The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School accepts?

The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School accepts Children aged from 0 years 2 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School Open?

The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School 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 The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School have capacity for?

The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School has capacity for a total of 60 Children.

How far is The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School to the centre of Hemel Hempstead?

0.9 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 The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. The Bees Knees Day Nursery & Pre School has an Enhanced Service - more info.