Busy Bees Hempstead

197 Hempstead Road, Hempstead, Gillingham ME7 3QG
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9.9 82 Reviews
  • Busy Bees Hempstead, Gillingham
Busy Bees at Hempstead provides the perfect environment to offer children the best start to their early education.

The nursery has light and spacious rooms, with separate areas for different ages, and fabulous resources to encourage children's development and ensure they enjoy each day spent there. The team also strive to create a welcoming environment where children are nurtured and prepared for the next stage of their educational journey.

Along with fun-filled nursery rooms, the nursery provides a comforting sensory room, so your child can relax and absorb their senses with colourful lights, the bubble tube and fine motor toys.

The enthusiastic staff work hard to make sure your child is happy and engaged during their time at the nursery. So no matter what they enjoy doing, there will never be a dull moment at Busy Bees at Hempstead.

The team understand how busy family life is, to help support you they provide nappies and wipes along with meals and snacks for your little one to tuck in to throughout the day. You can also book additional sessions through the easy online booking system, Pebble.
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Type of Service

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

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Claire Arkell (Centre Director)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 16

Total Places for Children

  • 76

Age Range

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

Funding & Fees

  • Full day £59.00,
    Am session £33.50,
    Pm session £29.00

  • Fees are inclusive of all meals prepared and cooked by their own in house Chef, Suncream, nappies and wipes

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

Parking

  • Parking onsite, please park on the left hand side when entering the carpark.

Busy Bees Hempstead Reviews (82)

9.9

Busy Bees Hempstead has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.865) out of 10, based on 21 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Busy Bees Hempstead has 82 reviews.

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Total of 82, showing 61-80
Review from Patricia B (Mother of Child) published on 27 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
My son has been attending since he was 1. Now he is on the last year before school.
He has always been very happy, staff are friendly and nice and the overall environment is nice for the children.
However, this last year we are not very happy with the meals as there is no alternative if a child does
not want to eat. 10 hours without eating is too long. You cannot bring anything either from what I understand but I think they should focus more on these things and maybe give the children simpler food rather than curry, strong sauces, etc.
For the rest I would highly recommend this nursery.
Reply from Chloe Wilkes, Marketing Assistant at Busy Bees HempsteadAs an Early Years setting we have to follow the Early Years Code of Practice for Healthy Food and Drink.
The guidelines include how often, how much, and which types of food from each of the four food groups we should provide for the children, these guidelines also help to make sure that the food and drink we provide is healthy and balanced. The food and drink guidelines are underpinned by a nutrient framework.
We encourage a positive and welcoming eating environment, to encourage the children to eat well, and develop good eating habits and social skills. We use the whole day as well as meals and snacks to teach children about healthy eating and encourage a positive attitude towards mealtimes.
Varied menus for meals and snacks are planned in advance, which includes different tastes, colours and textures of food, the consumption of our foods are monitored and if there are particular meals that are not liked we do consider this and adapt the meals if appropriate but still keeping in line with Eat Better Start Better guidance. We offer lots of encouragement around meal times and do offer healthy alternatives if lunches/tea are not eaten. Thank you for taking time to review us.
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Review from Amanda G (Mother of Child) published on 26 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have two children that have been to the nursery and one still attending nursery, all since they were 9 months old. The staff are really friendly and approachable. They reassure me through good communication that my children have had good days. They are very knowledgeable of my child’s development
and have regular parent evenings to discuss what stage your child is at.
My son who is in the preschool room has really come on socially and made friendships with a few children. He enjoys the meals and I am happy with the varied diet.
He has made good bonds with the staff in the nursery.
The Afterschool club staff look after my older two now, they do an amazing job with making sure they are fed and happy. The ladies at club plan exciting activities suitable for my children and there is always an upbeat atmosphere when I collect them. I would recommend the nursery and Afterschool club to friends and family. The nursery staff work hard to create a caring and secure environment.
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Review from Amanda H (Mother of Child) published on 21 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I am always verbally recommending Busy Bees at Hempstead.
The staff are what make the nursery a great place for my child to go.
The atmosphere is always upbeat, even during the snowy days in March.
The food is very good and varied each day and it means my child gets to try lots of different foods,
whether he likes them or not.
The girls in the office are always very happy to help with any request and are always very efficient.
I really like this whole nursery, my son has been since he was 8 months old and he is now over 3 years.
It will be a sad day when my child is old enough for school and we have to leave.
And lastly we love the songs he comes home singing, our favourite at the moment is: Twinkle twinkle chocolate bar.
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Review from Emma R (Mother of Child) published on 20 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Daughter has attended here since she was 2, as a mum, I was worried about leaving her but oh my, she settled in quick as the staff here are lovely and won’t see an upset child. She is now 3 and loves nursery she has learnt so much and has turned into a wonderful child.
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Review from Lauren (Mother of Child) published on 20 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both of my sons attend Busy Bees Hempstead, both since 7-8 months old. Both settled in quickly the staff are so warm and friendly, they have a lovley rapport with staff and are progressing well. They look forward to coming and that is all down the staff and lovely atmosphere created. I have and will
continue to recommend this nursery to others.
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Review from Nancy L (Foster Parent of Child) published on 20 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The whole team are extremely warm and caring and have gone out of their way to help with any individual requests. All areas of childcare are excellent and admin has been very efficient. The children are always happy and enjoy the varied play.
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Review from Lucy B (Mother of Child) published on 20 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Lovely nursery, I’m always very pleased with the staff. My son has always been very happy here and he moved from another Busy Bees nursery and this one is well above most of the others. My only issue is the food is sometimes a little strange taste for their age group.
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Review from Alice C (Mother of Child) published on 20 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been at Hempstead Busy Bees since she was 9 months old. This September she will be transitioning to big school and I can honestly say this is the best nursery we could have chosen!
My daughter has come out of her shell so much over the years and has so much confidence because of the
excellent staff and care provided.
She is always full of beans and has so much to tell me about her day, she absolutely loves it there!
We actually moved house last year and we now have a much longer journey to preschool but we carried on bringing her here as we just did not want her to change as she has made lovely friends and has a great connection with all the ladies!!
She will really miss Busy Bees when she goes to big school!!
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Review from Lou D (Mother of Child) published on 14 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
After viewing a few local nurseries and being an ex-childcarer myself, I thought I’d never find a nursery that met my ridiculous, unreasonable standards. Then I walked into Busy Bees at Hempstead.
The whole homely feel is wonderful. The staff so welcoming. A lovely large garden for the children to
play in. Food is cooked and served in house. I knew within minutes this was my son's nursery. He absolutely loves going here and the staff definitely bring out the best in him for fun and educational purposes.
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Review from Sarah N (Mother of Child) published on 30 November 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Lovely friendly nursery. My daughter loves her morning sessions. Staff are all friendly and welcoming and provide very good care. The nursery is always clean and toys and play equipment always look in very good condition.
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Review from Daniel E (Father of Child) published on 30 November 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
So glad we found this nursery. The staff are all excellent and have a real enthusiasm for their work which shows immediately in the way they interact with the children. Our little girl really enjoys her days there and felt settled in a very short space of time, which I have no doubt is due to the excellent
staff.
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Review from Jessica B (Mother of Child) published on 13 July 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
As soon as I walked into the nursery I just knew it was the nursery for our 2 year old after viewing 5 others in the area. The staff were so friendly and welcoming. My little girl didn't want to leave, she started 2weeks later. She absolutely loves it and we are so happy we found this nursery.
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Review from Maxine K (Mother of Child) published on 6 March 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
We fell in love with this nursery the moment we visited it. It can very daunting for parents to leave their children when returning to work and we wanted to find a place that we felt would feel like home to our daughter and this one is. The moment we stepped in the Baby Bungalow we knew this was the
right one for her and for us. Fast forward 3 years and she still loves it and is now in the Preschool Room. We are so pleased that she has experienced nursery here. The staff are wonderful, always loving and caring. They love what they do and that is important. It will be a sad chapter when she has to leave the security of the nursery and start a new adventure in school.
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Review from Gary M (Father of Child) published on 1 March 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child has settled in very well. Staff are very caring and nurturing, diligent and show keen observations. My child has come on leaps and bounds since starting, he is being stretched developmentally, and has an individual learning plan.
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Review from Michelle (Mother of Child) published on 27 February 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Amazing nursery! Such a warm and friendly atmosphere every time I walk in. Couldn't fault it at all, my daughter has come on leaps and bounds since joining in 2016, especially with her speech and communication, so glad I chose this nursery.
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Review from Sarah C (Mother of Child) published on 16 November 2016 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I was really worried about leaving my 8-month-old daughter at nursery when I went back to work but the staff at the nursery were great. We had a few stay and play sessions where they offered to take my daughter for a couple of hours. This really eased my mind as she thoroughly enjoyed herself each time.
Since she has been attending 2 full days a week she has loved her time there and often cries when I put her in the car to take her home!
All of the staff are really friendly and all know my daughter, it's not just left to her key person. Also, they seem to have a good menu every day all cooked on site. Mostly very healthy but with the odd treat too which is lovely.
The outside areas have been renovated recently and are fantastic. The smaller ones have their own area too.
My daughter is very confident and already taking a few steps at 10 months which I think is due a lot to being around the 'wobblers.'
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Review from Jena D (Mother of Child) published on 16 November 2016 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Choosing a nursery as a parent is always quite a daunting experience. Knowing your child will be happy, looked after and happy is so important. From the moment my husband and I visited Busy Bees at Hempstead, we knew this was the right place! All the staff are so friendly, kind and patient. They helped
with settling in and made every effort to make that transition as easy and comfortable as possible. To hear our little boy come home and talk about all the staff and how happy he is is simply lovely. He has come on so much in such a short time and absolutely loves nursery!
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Review from BG (Father of Child) published on 16 November 2016 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
They have taken both our children from 9 months old and have helped them develop into amazing little people. The services offered are excellent and really help with every facet of intellectual as well as emotional development.
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Review from Amber R (Mother of Child) published on 9 November 2016 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both my children attended this nursery from 9 months old until they left to go to school. Both loved the nursery and it gave them a great start in life. Even now whilst at school, they still mention the girls who worked in the rooms if we drive past the nursery and they have lots of great memories.

The staff are friendly and warm and it was comforting knowing that they would be well looked after and enjoy their day whilst away from me whilst I worked. I have lots of paintings and crafty bits from their days at nursery along with a folder documenting their days. Also, an added bonus was when they did a full day at nursery I didn't have to cook an evening meal as they were well fed by their chef!!
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Review from Katie D (Mother of Child) published on 4 November 2016 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The nursery staff all genuinely care about the children in their care. When we moved into the area my two children started at the same time, one was 10 months and the other 2 years 10 months so they started in the baby room and toddler room. They moved through the rooms with the help of settling in
sessions which really helped their transition. My children learnt a lot of social and communication skills which prepared them for school, both children have progressed to school age now but they often say they miss nursery and they remember their carer's very well. The opening hours are good (which was a big factor in choosing the nursery) and the staff are really keen to help if you have any concerns, they go the extra mile to reassure you and never mind if you telephone to check if your child is settled and enjoying their day.
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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.865)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.865) out of 10 for Busy Bees Hempstead 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 21 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 21 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 4.865 for Busy Bees Hempstead is calculated as follows: ( (223 Excellents x 5) + (24 Goods x 4) + (5 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 252 Ratings = 4.865
  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 Hempstead is based on 21 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 20 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews, 0.05 Points for the next five Positive Reviews, and finally 0.025 Points for the next ten Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.050, 7th = 0.050, 8th = 0.050, 9th = 0.050, 10th = 0.050, 11th = 0.025, 12th = 0.025, 13th = 0.025, 14th = 0.025, 15th = 0.025, 16th = 0.025, 17th = 0.025, 18th = 0.025, 19th = 0.025, 20th = 0.025) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 = 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 76 number of registered child places is 15.2, which has been reached with 21 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 (1)

Meet the Team (1)

Claire

Claire Arkell

Job Title: Centre Director Joined: 2014

Hello my name is Claire Arkell and I am the Nursery Manager at Hempstead Busy Bees.


I have been with Busy Bees since they acquired the Kinder sites in March 2014.


I have been in childcare now for 11 years and hold a NVQ 3 in Children's Care Learning and Development. I have worked in a number of nurseries and for the last 9 years have been working at Management level. Along the way I have gained a lot of knowledge and experience which I reflect in my day to day practice, using this to guide the staff team and share my experience.


I attend regular training to improve my practice including, First Aid and Safeguarding.


It fills me with pride when you can see how the children flourish and develop in our care and become the individual people with shining characteristics that they are.

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