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 Matt D (Father of Child) published on 15 September 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Words cannot really describe how grateful we are to you all for helping us raise, educate, and care for our children. Both have flourished under your care, and whilst we are really excited about the next stages, we are also really sad to be leaving you all. You have made us all part of the family for
the last six years. We are especially grateful to all key workers that have put up with our two. Without a doubt, every one of you, have had a positive impact on our children. We are so proud of both our children and a big part of that is down to you guys. We really can not thank you enough. We will definitely pop in and see you from time to time. We wish you all the best of luck in the future. You are an amazing team and we are lucky to have met you all.
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Review from Tracy K (Mother of Child) published on 8 September 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been going to Busy Bees Mardley Hill for over four years now. She was ten weeks premature so when she started at nine months I was very worried but the staff at the nursery made us feel so welcome and nothing was too much trouble. They welcomed her and we very quickly became part of
the Busy Bees family. She has learnt so much being there and they have helped her grow into an amazing little girl ready for school. During her time there she has had quite a bit of change at home but Busy Bees was always there, they were even there for us as parents when we were having a bad day and needed a chat. She is now starting school and I'm already missing the great team that is there! The learning journey she has been on I cannot fault and the food that she has eaten has been great and helped her try new things. All the teachers there are amazing and really care for the kids, I look forward to keeping in touch with everyone.
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Review from Pat W (Grandmother of Child) published on 23 August 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My granddaughter has been with the nursery for four years and I have collected her twice a week. She has been looked after extremely well and the staff have been both friendly, kind and very helpful to me. She has learned so much in her time there and this has prepared her for the next step of going
to school. The food is always varied and nutritious. I would not hesitate to recommend this nursery and the lovely staff. They will all be missed.
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Review from Helen M (Mother of Child) published on 22 August 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Thank you for your hard work, dedication and support - my son has had a wonderful year at Busy Bees thanks to you all! We have only ever been greeted by smiling, friendly faces from the team and it is such a warm and welcoming atmosphere. You are all doing a brilliant job and have made the last year
so enjoyable and the transition to nursery an easy one for us all. Thanks again. Our daughter can not wait to start.
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Review from Dean D (Father of Child) published on 16 August 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter has been in the nursery for two years now and now she is approaching three years old, we are very saddened to have to move on due to a house move. I would recommend this nursery to everyone! The staff are very friendly and professional. Our daughter has become very fond of the staff there
and she will thoroughly miss them when we move. The manager and staff were lifesavers when we had our daughter in the hospital and they really stepped up last minute to look after our her. I can now only hope the next nursery we move to will be half as good. All the best guys and we will visit when we are back in the area. Thanks.
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Review from Rachel C (Mother of Child) published on 26 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I absolutely love the nursery and all of the staff. My son is so happy here, he waves me off each morning with a big smile. The staff are wonderful with the children and my son has learnt so much here over the last 6 months, he is thriving.
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Review from Toral O (Mother of Child) published on 26 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been attending this nursery for about 2.5 tears and we couldn’t have been more pleased with the standard of care that our little boy has received. All the staff are amazing and work to very high standards, they always ensure everything is in place for our son with special needs (Downs Syndrome).


Time

and time again they go over and beyond our expectations, this nursery truly is amazing!
We have seen such a huge difference in our son's development and confidence, he loves going to nursery every day. The facilities are lovely, rooms very spacious, lots of activities for the children, a lovely outdoor garden and not to mention the yummy freshly cooked meals provided on site.


I cannot recommend this nursery enough, will be very sad when my boy leaves to go to school next year.

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Review from David L (Father of Child) published on 13 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The manager and her team have looked after both my children, my daughter who is now at school still gets excited the days she comes with me to pick up her brother from nursery and say hello to everyone.


The five children who left the nursery and joined the same school as my daughter are doing well

and this is no doubt in part to how the nursery prepared them.


My little boy enjoys the nursery and it is obvious the staff care about the children, and the children think of the adults as friends.

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Review from Paul R (Father of Child) published on 7 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter currently attends Busy Bees at Mardley Hill in the Pre-School and my eldest daughter also attended. They both started at a year old and were looked after right through from Baby room to Pre-School. This is a great nursery and the Pre-school has had an amazing refurbishment and there is
so much for the children to do. The garden is also amazing and most evenings my daughter doesn't want to come home! Definitely recommend the nursery.
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Review from Louise C (Mother of Child) published on 7 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been attending this nursery since she was 10 months old. I've come to see the nursery staff almost as part of our family my daughter talks so much about them when she comes home. A telling feature about the nursery, when our family had some difficult times recently, the manager personally
contacted us to offer support and to look after our daughter should we have needed a break or the time. They didn't have to do this as they are extremely busy and as can be seen from other comments a popular nursery. Other features which are useful and not found in other nurseries is the early opening of 7:30 am and 6:30 pm closing. All in all great place and highly recommend I will be devastated when my daughter leaves to go to school.
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Review from Andy (Father of Child) published on 2 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Great nursery, such friendly engaged staff, they all know each of the children, and can't do enough to help.
Having tried one or two nurseries in the area, we couldn't imagine putting our 21-month old into any other place. She comes back so happy from a fun day and fills up with the yummy food they
serve. All the staff are great at looking after and interacting with the kids.
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Review from Richard J (Father of Child) published on 2 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
An amazing nursery with an amazing set of staff. They always seem to go the extra mile for you and your children.


Consistently great experience over the last 4 years with both of my children. Well done everyone.

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Review from Abigail P (Mother of Child) published on 2 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This is a wonderful nursery. Warm, bright, well equipped and well maintained. Above all, the staff are fantastic - all extremely professional and friendly towards me as a parent, and I can tell my daughter adores the staff in her room. She only attends 1 morning per week, and only for 4 months so far,
but talks about her key worker during the week with me (only 18 months so just tells me she wants to give her a cuddle!) Could not be happier with the service for both myself and my daughter.
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Review from D F (Grandmother of Child) published on 2 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My granddaughter absolutely loved this nursery - she was always made to feel very welcome and the staff team were absolutely fantastic! My granddaughter has now left for primary school and they too can see how much she has benefited from the fantastic care and education within Busy Bees Mardley Hill
- thank you to the whole team, I really appreciate all you have done for her....and us!
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Review from Helen T (Mother of Child) published on 2 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We couldn't have found a better nursery for our daughter. She loves going there. Every member of staff knows every child's name and genuinely cares. I have seen such growth since she has been there, both mentally and physically.


The family atmosphere is obvious from the minute you walk in the door

and as soon as we did, we knew it was the right place. I would highly recommend this nursery to anyone looking for a safe, happy place for their child to learn and grow. The food is also amazing! Thank you.
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Review from Lena H (Mother of Child) published on 2 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I moved my daughter to Mardley Hill from another nursery last September and immediately noticed a huge change in my daughter's happiness.


The staff and managers are exceptional, so friendly and generally very happy people. They are incredibly attentive and professional and have many long-standing

staff members, which makes the nursery feel like a family.


All meals are prepared and cooked freshly on site, and are nutritious and healthy; The cook has catered to my daughter's food allergies seamlessly.


All the staff who care for my daughter treat her as an individual, encouraging her to develop her own personality and interests, and they look after her with such warmth and attention.


I cannot recommend Mardley Hill Busy Bees highly enough. This nursery, in addition to being 'outstanding' in all the way you would expect, is also a rare gem.


It is hard to put into words how grateful we are as parents for the support, care and welcome the nursery has shown to our daughter and also to us.

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Review from Maria T (Mother of Child) published on 2 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My oldest son attended the nursery between 2013 and 2016. His younger brother has been attending the nursery since 2016. The nursery has great opening hours and doesn't fine you for being late, unlike other nurseries which is a great relief for a working parent trying hard to juggle work and children.
The nursery staff is truly amazing, warm, kind, caring and genuinely interested in your child. Some members of staff have been working there for years.


The nursery manager shows great leadership and ensures that every member of team upholds the nursery values. The children do a wide range of activities as they progress through the nursery. Once they reach pre-school academy (around 3 years old) they can do French, multi-sports. A company specialising in teaching children about the environment and wildlife comes to the nursery regularly and brings small creatures (frogs, insects, etc) for children to see. Over the last five years, the nursery became like a family to us.

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Review from Tim (Father of Child) published on 2 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This nursery is simply outstanding. My wife and I felt very nervous about placing our child in a nursery during our long working weeks. However, from our initial open day visit, we felt the warmth and care that everyone at Busy Bees has and exudes in abundance! Putting our child into nursery at Busy
Bees Mardley Hill was absolutely the best decision we could have made.


Everyone is so friendly and they do everything possible to make our child feel at home (which she does). The nursery has a very homely, relaxed feel which others we visited did not. Our child has grown in confidence and developed amazingly in the 6 months she has been there. Certainly the best nursery around and deserves a 10/10 rating!

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Review from Lisa S (Aunt of Child) published on 2 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The best nursery I have ever encountered. The whole staff team are undoubtedly the most dedicated and driven of individuals - together they ensure our children receive the very best every day. The meals are fantastic and very nutritionally balanced, the facilities are also great and include a fabulous
outdoor area which the children visit numerous times every day. The manager is very professional and easy to approach her senior team are also nothing short of amazing. There really is no wonder this nursery achieved an outstanding grading from Ofsted for the second time - they truly deserve this.
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Review from Susanna P (Mother of Child) published on 25 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son returned to the Nursery in May after treatment for a brain tumour, which has left him with some physical disabilities. The Nursery has been fantastic in supporting my son (and us as a family) and his integration into preschool, ensuring he has everything he needs from equipment to outstanding
care and love. The Nursery team have worked seamlessly with physios, hearing specialists and speech and language experts to ensure staff are able to help him the best way they can. The Nursery team have blown my expectations out of the water and we are so grateful for everything they are doing for my son. If you’re looking for a nursery where your child will receive outstanding care in a happy, supportive environment Busy Bees Mardley Hill is for you.
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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.

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