Busy Bees Mardley Hill

1 Mardley Hill, Welwyn AL6 0UE
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9.9 114 Reviews
  • Busy Bees Mardley Hill, Welwyn
Busy Bees Mardley Hill has an incredibly experienced, dedicated and long-standing team that have built up an uncompromisingly strong and positive reputation in the local area for outstanding quality childcare. This beautiful Centre is securely situated within a bespoke home-from-home environment.

The team at Mardley Hill are proud to have hat-trick of consecutive 'Outstanding' accreditations (most recently February 2022), as deemed by their governing body Ofsted. The Centre is also a flagship for Busy Bees and has been deemed as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ since 2012.

The Centre Director and her team pride themselves upon secure and positive partnerships with parents. In addition to this an incredibly strong dedication is also upheld upon the EYFS Framework of which includes: safeguarding, health and safety and learning and development. The team have significant expertise in supporting children with additional needs and they will happily discuss a tailored plan to meet with the individual needs of your child.

The Centre has exceptionally beautiful, well equipped, age-appropriate base rooms and gardens designed with the children's interests and developmental needs in mind.

As well as key EYFS objectives, children learn about designing and building, gardening, singing and dancing, and they are also given endless opportunities to explore, allowing their creative instincts to flow within their amazing surroundings.

If you would like to know more please do not hesitate to contact the Centre Director of Mardley Hill, who will be incredibly happy to discuss your individual requirements. This Centre will provide your child with the best start in life and a personally tailored service that your child deserves.
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Type of Service

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

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Amanda Zienkowicz (Centre Director)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 18

Total Places for Children

  • 52

Age Range

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

Funding & Fees

  • Details of fees are available on the detailed Busy Bees webpage

Opening Times

  • Monday 07:30-18:30
    Tuesday 07:30-18:30
    Wednesday 07:30-18:30
    Thursday 07:30-18:30
    Friday 07:30-18:30

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays

Parking

  • * A private car park is situated at the front of the Centre and can be used free of charge for parents and staff.

Busy Bees Mardley Hill Reviews (114)

9.9

Busy Bees Mardley Hill has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.908) out of 10, based on 11 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Busy Bees Mardley Hill has 114 reviews.

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Review from M S (Mother of Child) published on 22 September 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter rejoined Mardley Hill after a break (due to Covid) and has settled back in really well. She is really enjoying being in the setting and we have seen such improvement in her social skills since spending time at the nursery and looks forward to going (we have to say hello to Busy Bees if we
are just driving past!) From a parent perspective, the admin side of things is efficient and we receive great communication from everyone in the team. We would have no hesitation in recommending.
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Review from Stuart B (Father of Child) published on 22 September 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Look no further. The team are simply wonderful! Our daughter thoroughly enjoys her visits and even after a long break of a year, she settled straight back in. While we were away the staff kept in contact which was really thoughtful and appreciated. Good variety of healthy meals. Plenty of stimulating
items in the rooms and activities to help children develop.
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Review from Koleta G (Mother of Child) published on 29 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Busy Bees at Mardley Hill is a wonderful, cosy nursery in a pretty setting. All the staff are very welcoming and accommodating and seem to have bonded really well with our three and a half year old twin daughters, who at times can be a bit reserved when it comes to a new environment. They always come
back from nursery very cheerful and happy singing lots of new songs, telling stories and bringing home some very interesting arts and crafts that they have done that day. Parents are provided with a lot of updates and feedback about the children via the app and face to face on drop offs and pick ups every day. Busy Bees at Mardley Hill have also taken all the necessary precautions during the pandemic to make children and their parents feel safe and well looked after. We are very grateful to happen to live close by to such a great day care.
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Review from Lucy S (Mother of Child) published on 27 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We decided to start our child at this nursery earlier this year due to Covid-19 and him having such a lack of time with other children to develop and learn from them. We have seen our child come on leaps and bounds since starting Busy Bees at Mardley Hill and that’s from the help of all the staff too.
We get updates and pictures of all the activities he is doing and whenever he learns something new. We find this also really helpful so we can replicate the same sounds or interactions at home to continue to assist with our child’s development. The director and her team have always made me feel so calm and at ease with the nursery transition and my little one is so settled now and excited every time we get to the front door! I couldn’t recommend them enough. They go above and beyond to promote fun whilst learning, working on kindness and relationships, activities inside and outside, provide great diversity of food and create a really warm environment for your child to be in!
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Review from Jenny R (Mother of Child) published on 27 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Fantastic nursery, can highly recommend! The staff are super efficient, great with the kids and always go the extra mile! The hours of the nursery actually mean parents can work! I have two children there, my eldest was a bit slower physically with running and jumping and the staff have been incredible
at helping her to strengthen her leg muscles. My youngest has just been potty trained and the staff were fantastic at encouraging this. They respond to any individual needs such as, if you want your child to nap less at nursery so they sleep better at night. Cannot recommend this nursery highly enough!
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Review from Graham S (Father of Child) published on 23 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Great Nursery, my son loves going each week. Lovely caring staff who give regular updates on the app, I can't fault it. Great that you can drop off from 7:30am which is so great for dropping off before work. Covid-19 protection has been great in the last twelve months as well.
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Review from Emily B (Mother of Child) published on 23 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Busy Bees at Mardley Hill have been incredible for our daughter, it took her a little while to settle and the team remained patient, making her comfortable. She now absolutely loves it and can't wait to go in and play. She has come on so much from seeing what the other children do and always comes home
having done something new at the end of the week. Sadly our daughter has recently had to have an operation, resulting in a full body cast and we couldn't have asked for more from the team adapting her surroundings and looking after her and us! They did this so well so that we don't have to worry. Couldn't recommend them more.
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Review from Laura W (Mother of Child) published on 3 October 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Mardley Hill is a wonderful clean, safe environment with staff that take care of the children as if they were their own.
Mardley Hill was the only nursery we visited where we felt at complete ease the moment we went in to view. Our daughter was comfortable and happy to sit and play with the staff
and other children whilst we took our tour. Two years on she is absolutely thriving under the care and guidance of the Mardley Hill team.
The manager and her staff are friendly and approachable in every way allowing for the utmost support. During the recent lockdown, the manager kept us up to date at every stage with the nursery developments, supported us with home learning activities and she and the team ensured that every child’s return to nursery was into a safe, loving environment.
I would not hesitate to recommend Mardley Hill to anyone, it is a wonderful nursery that encourages children to express themselves, develop character and become wonderful caring people.
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Review from Cat R (Mother of Child) published on 11 September 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter, age 2, has been at Busy Bees for three months now and she have loved every minute! It is lovely to drop her at the door knowing she will have a lovely day and she always comes out with a huge smile on her face.
The nursery offer great communication and it is lovely to always have an insight
into what she has been up to. The staff are all very friendly and approachable and it is very much like joining a large family. I would highly recommend the setting to anybody looking for childcare.
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Review from Helen J (Mother of Child) published on 11 September 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son (12 months) started at Busy Bees 6 weeks ago and he settled in immediately. Having been at home for so long during lock down, with only us for company, I was unsure how he would adapt to a new environment, different adults and even other children. I needn't have worried, he's never been happier!
Every day when we collect him, he gives the biggest smile and babbles away in the car as if he's telling me what he did during the day. Undoubtedly his happiness is due to the wonderful staff who are so caring, imaginative and professional. The team's collective long-service and experience makes all the difference to me. (I looked at a couple of other nurseries, just to compare, and it was always the staffing that fell well short of the Busy Bees benchmark.)
It's lovely to get photos during the day on ParentZone to see what they've been doing. The team set up creative activities, cook lovely food (which he always eats) and take them outside. I'm excited to see how my son continues to develop.
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Review from Sarah W (Mother of Child) published on 9 September 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I can’t recommend Mardley Hill enough. The staff are amazing and have been there for a long time. They don’t have the high staff turn over that lots of nurseries seem to have. Their communication with parents is extremely comprehensive, and it is lovely to see photos of my daughter doing a wide variety
of activities and having so much fun.
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Review from Olga M (Mother of Child) published on 9 September 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This is an amazing nursery - both of my children have been going there full time. The staff are so friendly, kind and excellent when dealing with kids. My eldest daughter has learning difficulties, and the nursery staff were able to recognise this and provide additional support.
Highly recommend to
anyone.
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Review from Sid P (Father of Child) published on 9 September 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
These formative years are crucial in my view to lay the foundations of how a child will socialise. The manager and her team at Busy Bees are simply unsurpassable. They give so much structure, love and importantly guard rails to help our little boy. He loves being there, and I have to say that the overall
experience is amazing. I may also ask for the chef to provide a doggy bag, as the food is also second to none. I could not recommend an environment for your child/children better than this place. My son will be set up for school once it arrives thanks to the care and love received here.
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Review from Katie M (Mother of Child) published on 3 November 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both my sons go to nursery at Busy Bees (3&1), my eldest starting when he was 11 months. I have always felt at ease leaving them knowing they are in great hands. The nursery has such a welcoming environment and the staff all lovely and really personable. Both my children come away happy and content
each day and I would highly recommend to other families.
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Review from Jessica W (Mother of Child) published on 23 October 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son (first born) started nursery at 9 months old when I went back to work. I was naturally very apprehensive about handing him over to someone else! I had heard from multiple and unrelated friends that they were very happy with Busy Bees and my husband and I got a really good impression when we visited
as well. I have been very happy with how our son has been getting on. The staff are so kind and lovely, the food/nutrition is excellent and the activities and facilities seem very good! We would definitely recommend it!
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Review from Neema T (Mother of Child) published on 22 October 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are thrilled that our daughter (2 years, 4 months) has settled in so well and smoothly at Busy Bees Mardley Hill.


It's been over 2 months and she seems so content, has made friends with her peers, and developed relationships with the staff and has an excellent diet, spends so much time outdoors

exploring, and is taking part in so many physical and developmental activities every single day. The care, attention, and personally-tailored approach that she receives from all pre-school staff and other nursery staff has been absolutely outstanding. This truly makes our lives that bit easier during the week/work days knowing our daughter is so safe, secure, healthy, and thriving. The chef is also amazing - she has diligently created new and nutritious meals especially catered to a vegan diet.


My husband and I feel that so much of this is down to, the manager, and her approach to running the place at all levels. Thank you, we really appreciate it.

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Review from Yvonne L (Mother of Child) published on 22 October 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Mardley Hill is honestly a magical, unique place. Our son has been here for over a year since he was 8 months old and we still remember the day we viewed it. We were made to feel so welcome, our son was cared for while we were shown around and spent an hour with the team. Their commitment, genuine care
and passion for the children’s welfare and development were readily evident in abundance. The values at the nursery are weaves into everything they do. Our son has thrived beyond belief here and it is evident he has learned and developed one dry visit. The care is holistic and the nursery support parents too where needed. They go above and beyond and we are so, so lucky to have found this special little haven to help us shape our sons early years. Makes me well up even thinking about this place and the wonderful staff!!!
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Review from James M (Father of Child) published on 21 October 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our son loves his time at Busy Bees so very much and the staff are absolutely incredible. The team are so diligent about the development of all of the children at the nursery and they make me as a parent feel so very relaxed about our sons time at nursery. I can't recommend this nursery enough and my
wife and I are so very happy we made the decision to send our son to Busy Bees in Mardley Hill.
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Review from Juliet C (Mother of Child) published on 21 October 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff are exceptionally open, kind and friendly and have become important members of our life. The Nursery offers my child many different opportunities and as a result, he comes home with fantastic new words, ideas and experiences each time. The children genuinely seem to care for each other and
enjoy each others company - a nature installed by the staff. The Nursery offers lots of opportunities for parents too which has helped expand our social lives following a relatively recent move to the area. I am always sorry that I cannot stay and be looked after and fed at Mardley Hill for the day!
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Review from Joanna G (Mother of Child) published on 21 October 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I can't recommend Busy Bees at Mardley Hill highly enough. My daughter attended from the age of 2.5 up until she left to start primary school, and we were so grateful to find such an exceptional nursery with such amazing management and staff. Nothing is too much trouble for them - the manager and her
team took the time to really get to know my daughter and their warmth and engagement was second to none. The learning opportunities on offer were also fantastic - my daughter learned French, did every kind of sport and the kids even enjoyed visits from a chap with exciting animals! Special shout out to my daughter's key worker, who was the most kind, attentive and engaging person we could have hoped for. Busy Bees Mardley Hill is such a wonderful environment for children, and I hope it continues to go from strength to strength.
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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.908)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.908) out of 10 for Busy Bees Mardley Hill is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 11 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 11 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 4.908 for Busy Bees Mardley Hill is calculated as follows: ( (121 Excellents x 5) + (8 Goods x 4) + (2 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 131 Ratings = 4.908
  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 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Busy Bees Mardley Hill is based on 11 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 52 number of registered child places is 10.4, which has been reached with 11 Positive reviews. Points = 1
  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 (6)

Meet the Team (5)

Amanda

Amanda Zienkowicz

Job Title: Centre Director Joined: 2005

I have been working at Mardley Hill since 2005 and I am really enjoying my time spent here. I have a Foundation Degree in Early Years - a course that enabled me to expand my knowledge of child development and embed this within our Centre. I enjoy being part of an outstanding team as we do our very best to ensure the service we provide is second to none. I truly love my role at Mardley Hill and enjoy a strong partnership with all the families who attend.

Terri

Terri Baker

Job Title: Administrator Joined: 2007

I began working at Mardley Hill in 2021 and thoroughly enjoy my role. I have a great deal of Administrative experience. I have worked within many Busy Bees Centers supporting as an Admin. In my spare time, I enjoy meeting with my friends and spending lots of time with my three beautiful children and going away with my husband. I work every Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 am - 1:30 pm and I am always available to speak to parents should they require any advice on childcare vouchers, government funding etc.

Samantha

Samantha Scully

Job Title: Assistant Centre Director Joined: 2014

I joined the team at Mardley Hill in 2014. and I am the Room Manager of the Buzz Room. I am the SENCo for the Centre and feel incredibly privileged to be a part of the children's lives and impact on their learning and development could not think of another career I would rather have! My role is to ensure the smooth operation of the Buzz Room at all times; managing a team of dedicated individuals who share the same vision of high-quality childcare as myself.

Katie

Katie Chambers

Job Title: Buzz Room Manager Joined: 2014

I joined the Mardley Hill team in 2022. I am proud to be the Room Manager of the Buzz Room - I adore my role and the diverse opportunities this brings. I am very knowledgeable on supporting families with a smooth transition to starting their nursey experience. Mardley Hill is a huge part of my life - we are a fantastic team and together we continue to strengthen positive relationships with each and every family who attend our Centre.

Georgia

Georgia Quinton

Job Title: Bombos Room Manager Joined: 2014

I have worked at Mardley Hill since 2019. I was promoted to Room Manager in 2022. I'm currently completing my Level 5 degree in child care, and am really enjoying undertaking enhanced levels of responsibility. I am a caring and dedicated member of the team and very much enjoy watching the children learn, develop and grow during their time with us. I have undertaken many courses relative to care and education in my early years and am truly dedicated to my role and the children within my care.

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