Busy Bees Norfolk and Norwich Hospital

Colney Lane, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UX
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9.8 84 Reviews
  • Busy Bees Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, Norwich
Busy Bees Norfolk and Norwich Hospital has seven rooms that are equipped and resourced with age-appropriate resources, together with three secure outdoor play areas.

Staff look to see children stimulated and inspired based on their individual interests with a mixture of adult but mostly child-led activities.

Professionals encourage the development of confident learners and a smooth transition into school life.

All meals are home-cooked and consist of fresh, seasonal ingredients and the nursery has received a five star rating for food hygiene.
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Type of Service

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

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Sarah Radford (Centre Director)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 36

Total Places for Children

  • 114

Age Range

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

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 & Christmas

Busy Bees Norfolk and Norwich Hospital Reviews (84)

9.8

Busy Bees Norfolk and Norwich Hospital has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.842) out of 10, based on 39 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Busy Bees Norfolk and Norwich Hospital has 84 reviews.

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Review from Rachael Y (Mother of Child) published on 17 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little boy started with busy bees a couple of months ago, he has settled in so quickly, I was surprised at how well he has done in such a short time, and this is credit to the staff in the bluebells room. I am always well informed about how he is doing during the day, I receive updates and pictures
regularly, the staff are so thoughtful. It is very easy to send them a message if you have any worries or have forgotten to tell them something at handover. I am happy that my boy is comfortable staying there and is growing in confidence everyday he is there. I can go to work and feel reassured he will be well fed, played with and comforted when needed.
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Review from Jessica R (Mother of Child) published on 17 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our little boy started nursery in bluebells room at the start of June, so far we are very impressed with the level of communication we get throughout the day and the kind, caring, empathetic staff that are all in his care. The outside space is perfect and everything inside is clean and well maintained.
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Review from Charlotte A (Mother of Child) published on 14 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter began here at 7 months old in Sept 2024. She has transitioned to 2 classrooms since initially enrolling here and I personally cannot fault the way both transitions were handled. When my daughter moved up for the second time a couple of weeks ago, I was particularly anxious about the impact
it would have on her, as she'd bonded very strongly with her key people. I relayed this concern to staff, it was taken onboard, and was handled with care & consideration. My daughter has happily settled into her new group without fuss and I am very grateful for that. I feel assured that any issues or concerns are taken seriously and dealt with promptly. The staff are approachable and professional and I relax knowing my baby is comforted if and when she needs it. She is fed well, she is entertained and clearly enjoys her days here. Happy to recommend.
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Review from Laura W (Mother of Child) published on 11 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Busy Bees Nursery has been amazing for my little one! In over two years, they've grown so much-happy, confident, and thriving. The caring staff, engaging activities, and warm atmosphere have helped them build friendships and develop essential skills.
The nursery also provides nutritious meals and
snacks, encouraging healthy eating habits. My child enjoys mealtimes and has even become more adventurous with food, thanks to the varied and balanced menu. It's great knowing they're well-fed and supported in developing positive eating routines.
Highly recommend Busy Bees for any parent looking for a nurturing and supportive place for their child!
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Review from L M (Mother of Child) published on 10 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little girl has been at Busy Bees since she was 10 months old, she is now nearly 3. I have always been amazed at the quality of the staff in all the room she's been in. The way they talk to and about my little girl is so lovely. Its as if she is the sweetest, funniest, most special girl in the world.....which
of course she is to me but the staff seem to value her personality, nourish her quirks and are genuinely interested in her development. I can't fault BB and my little girl loves it.
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Review from Emma R (Mother of Child) published on 10 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been at Busy Bees for over a year now and on her third room. Our whole experience so far has been nothing but positive - every staff member is kind, friendly and professional and we appreciate everything they do!
Despite often being upset at drop off, my daughter always comes out happy
and has had a brilliant day! Also, the food they eat sounds amazing and nutritional.
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Review from J T (Mother of Child) published on 10 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child has recently started in Bluebells, and I couldn't be happier with how smoothly the transition has gone. The team has been fantastic in helping her settle into her new routine, and they've also been incredibly reassuring and supportive towards me as a parent. The staff are always on hand for
updates or any helpful information I might need. It's clear they genuinely care - such a great team!
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Review from C E (Mother of Child) published on 10 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child loves Busy Bees and has made so many friends. She's loved all her key workers and the gentle bond they have created with her. The staff are always happy to ease my anxious Mummy brain for which I'm grateful. In the face of minor incidents/accidents, I've always been kept informed and nothing
comes as a surprise. I would however appreciate more parents evenings, as I've only been aware of one since December 2023. This is purely a small thing as key workers have always been happy to book a session to discuss my child's development.
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Review from M G (Mother of Child) published on 10 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son started busy bees in October 2024 and I was so nervous about leaving him but the staff made the whole experience positive. They kept me updated and gave me thorough handovers on pick up.
He's now in snowdrops class and all the staff are lovely and generally care for my little boy. He's learnt
so much since attending busy bees. Their food is incredible and offer a different variety. Twice a year they offer parents evening which is incredible because we can discus our son's development and any concerns.
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Review from Shaun P (Father of Child) published on 10 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been going to Busy Bees from 7 months of age and is still going 8 months later. His development skyrocketed once he started attending and he has loved all the staff who have looked after him during his transitions through the rooms as he has progressed.
The food the children recieve cover
a wide range of ingredients meaning he has been exposed to as much as possible and he seems to eat well every day.
The staff go above and beyond with their care to include hand-made cards and great photos of him during the day that go only to myself and my wife via the app so we can see what he's been getting up to.
Staff have also been sensible and pragmatic when he has shown signs of being unwell - paracetamol is used appropriately and he is not sent home for a mild sniffle or if he's "not himself". I understand this approach is not universal amongst all nurseries!
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Review from J P (Mother of Child) published on 10 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our little boy loves all the staff and is always happy when we pick him up. They seem to go out of their way to get to know your child and genuinely care about their happiness and wellbeing. I love the daily updates and the opportunities to do messy play and other Montessori type activities.
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Review from Gemma F (Mother of Child) published on 10 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child loves going to this nursery. The staff are wonderful, facilities are really good, environment is clean and welcoming and the food and meals offered are so fresh and varied! My child has been here for over a year and all communication with key workers in each room he has been in has been clear
and informative and his learning and development has really been supported by the activities offered and by the interaction he has had with other children and the staff involved.
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Review from Kelly S (Mother of Child) published on 10 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has attended Busy Bees since he was 10 months old and he's now three. It really feels like he is part of the family and clear to see the relationship he has built with the staff and children alike. He loves going to nursery in the morning, has a great variety of healthy food (which to our amazement
he eats!) and now that he is older it's fantastic to see the development activities that the staff encourage. His key worker provides us with updates on development milestones and tailors activities to engage him in learning preparing him for school, with clear boundaries but also lots of reward and praise. We couldn't be happier with the care he receives and will be sending our second son once he is ready. Thank you!
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Review from N C (Mother of Child) published on 10 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
The staff in Sunflowers have been great at engaging my child and the activites are really tailored to their age. They spend so much time outside and have lots of messy play which they love! I get lots of updates throughout the day and calls when needed. My child loves it and I feel I can raise concerns/questions
as needed.
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Review from L J (Mother of Child) published on 10 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been with busy bees since she was 11months, she's now in oak trees (pre school) and I've been so impressed with the learning which is encouraged in the room, she surprises us daily with her knowledge of things taught at nursery and the staff are so engaging with the children, involving
them about what they would like to learn about. The food is really good too - she is exposed to such a varied diet at nursery, more than I would have thought to do at home. I can't praise the staff enough.
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Review from A C (Mother of Child) published on 24 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My eldest has been in Bluebells almost 2 years ago, and currently, my youngest is in this room. The staff have changed a lot during this time, but everyone has been very caring and nurturing towards my kids, and mindful of my difficulties as a mother going through the settling-in process with my children.
There are new activities organised every week, regular updates and photos on the app and both my children have loved it in Bluebells. Special shout out to one member of staff who has been there since my first child, and is a lovely, caring person who my kids have bonded with.
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Review from Rogan M (Father of Child) published on 4 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
My son started when he was 6 months old and spent 4 years within the care of Busy Bees Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. He loved his time there and the care shown by all staff was always great. They went above and beyond with him and always made sure to know about his interests and he did not always like
the transition period of leaving us to go in, but was always shown love by his key people to make this smoother. He was prepared for school so well and loved his key person and still talks about her now!
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Review from Emma C (Mother of Child) published on 4 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Although our little girl has only been going to Busy Bees - bluebell room for a month, we have noticed so many developmental milestones since going. She seems to be really enjoying the activities (especially painting) and the staff have been so kind and helpful along the way. Thank you bluebell room
for making my transition from maternity leave back to work so much easier.
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Review from N G (Father of Child) published on 26 September 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter attended Busy Bees Norfolk and Norwich Hospital for four days a week for almost four years before leaving to go to school and we couldn't have made a better decision. The set-up from babies to pre-school is designed to provide them with the best start that they can have. The facilities,
including the outdoor spaces, are ideal and, most importantly, the staff have been a pleasure to deal with and clearly have the needs of the children at the core of what they do - strong relationships with the staff have been a key part of our daughter's journey. This wasn't our local nursery but even with the travel, if we had to make the decision again, then we would choose Busy Bees Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, no hesitation.
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Review from T T (Father of Child) published on 4 October 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5
This is a reflection of the past 1.5 years.
The nursery is in a modern multi-story facility with its own kitchen. While I do see they regularly update the furniture and toys, there has been an incident where emergency repair was needed. The nursery has been there for 10+ years.
The outdoor area is
fantastic. Spacious with a summer house, and large artificial playground flooring with things to play with. The menu was exceptional. They rotate with a good variety of cuisines and thoughtful ingredients.
While I think the staff in the rooms are capable, it has concerned me with staff turnover. My child went through 5-6 key persons and changed rooms 3 times. I appreciate sometimes people feel poorly or just want to switch jobs. The nursery does have bank staff, yet they seem to have been struggling to maintain their workforce.
I would say staff are caring and safeguard the children well yet I feel that they are too busy to provide specific feedback/advice at handover or via the app.
Reply from Emily Graves, Digital Content Assistant at Busy Bees Norfolk and Norwich Hospital
Hello, thank you for taking the time to review our nursery, we are pleased to hear you are happy with the facilities we offer throughout the nursery, along with the nutritious meals we provide. We…read more
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Current Review Score: 9.8 (9.842)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.8 (9.842) out of 10 for Busy Bees Norfolk and Norwich Hospital is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.8 out of 5 from 39 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 39 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 4.842 for Busy Bees Norfolk and Norwich Hospital is calculated as follows: ( (401 Excellents x 5) + (58 Goods x 4) + (8 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 467 Ratings = 4.842
  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 Norfolk and Norwich Hospital is based on 39 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 114 number of registered child places is 22.8, which has been reached with 39 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

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Awards / Recognitions (1)

Meet the Team (1)

Sarah

Sarah Radford

Job Title: Centre Director

Welcome! I am Sarah and I'm the manager of Busy Bees, Norwich Hospital. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, and I look forward to meeting you and your family

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