Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

2 Newborough Road, Shirley, Solihull B90 2HA
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9.9 51 Reviews
Busy Little Bees day nursery is located in Shirley, Solihull. It is easily accessible by car or on foot and is moments from the Haslucks Green Road bus stops.

Each child has a dedicated key person to monitor their progress, development and care.

The children are grouped by age. Bumble Bees, for babies aged up to 24 months, provides a sensory environment with activities such as stories, singing and messy play. Babies also have outdoor play and a cosy sleeping area.

The Honey Bees room, for children aged 24 to 36 months, is where children begin to expand their imagination with messy play, creating things with play dough, sand and water. At the nursery, children get involved in role-play, learn about nature and enjoy free-flow play into the multi-sensory garden.

Busy Bees is for children aged 30 to 36 months. They learn about nature and cooking while enjoying messy play and plenty of outdoor activities in the Busy Bees garden. Adjacent to this is the Honey Pot room, the pre-school area for children aged from 40 months to five years. In preparation for school life, the team follow the EYFS framework to build each child’s independence and imagination, as well as their communication and social, physical and emotional development.
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Type of Service

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

Person in charge

  • Helena Waterworth (Nursery Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 12

Total Places for Children

  • 53

Age Range

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

Opening Times

  • Monday 07:30-18:00
    Tuesday 07:30-18:00
    Wednesday 07:30-18:00
    Thursday 07:30-18:00
    Friday 07:30-18:00

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays & 1 week at Christmas

Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley Reviews (51)

Total of 51, showing 1-20
9.9

Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.886) out of 10, based on 19 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley has 51 reviews.

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Review from Elizabeth G (Mother of Child) published on 18 March 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My daughter started at Busy Little Bees Nursery Shirley this month when she was nearly 1. I was so anxious about this but the team were very reassuring and supportive. The lady has been fabulous in the baby room and is always happy to support and accommodate our wishes to help our daughter. The team
always ensure they keep us up to date via the app which shares updates about eating, sleeping and nappy changes. They also share daily photos on their of my child playing which I love seeing. They encouraged me to call if I wanted to speak to the team directly when my daughter was with them which I have done so on occasion. The full team are always kind and polite.
The food offered is good although I would prefer all dishes and desserts to be sugar-free for the babies. However, the team have been more than happy to accommodate with sugar-free alternatives on a few occasions.
Thank you to the team.

Reply from Helena Waterworth, Manager at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you so much for your lovely review - We are glad you feel safe and secure to leave your daughter here with us on her nursery days, she has settled in so well - I will pass your kind words on to the rest of the team.

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Review from B V (Mother of Child) published on 14 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Busy Little Bees Shirley has been nothing short of fantastic. My kid loves going to the nursery and she has developed a strong bond with her key person, who is truly wonderful. Moreover, the staff are incredibly friendly and supportive, making both the children and parents feel welcome and valued. My
kid has become much more expressive and confident in her interactions. We're incredibly grateful for the positive impact the nursery has had on her development. Highly recommended! Thank you Busy Little Bees and team.

Reply from Helena Waterworth, Manager at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you so much for your lovely feedback - we really do appreciate it and use all feedback to enhance the children's experiences at the nursery - I will pass your feedback onto the staff team.

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Review from Nadeem A (Father of Child) published on 14 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Currently, we have three children (a girl and twin boys) who attend this nursery and we have an older child who attended from Jan 2022 to July 2023. Busy Little Bees is a wonderful nursery with wonderful staff. Our children are flourishing in the nursery and we have seen them hit their development milestones
due to the care and attention they receive from the nursery staff. The nursery is spacious, with a wonderful little garden, the preschool attends the local forest school and library and the babies/toddlers have excellent stimulation and activities to keep busy. All the nursery staff are attentive, well trained and really helpful if you have any concerns. Overall, my wife and I would wholeheartedly recommend this nursery to parents.

Reply from Helena Waterworth, Manager at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you so much for such a wonderful review - we love watching all of your children as they continue to grow - I will ensure that I pass your kind words onto the staff team.

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Review from K N (Mother of Child) published on 12 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The happiest mother. I have never been made to feel unease or stress, the nursery is great and a huge credit to my children's development. All the staff have been so supportive of my children. Busy Little Bees Shirley has been outstanding and so professional and ever so helpful at times when we really
needed the help. The staff respect the parents and they always work with the child as an individual. Love them for it and thank you for everything.

Reply from Becky Lambeth, Director at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you very much for such wonderful feedback. It is lovely to hear how happy you are with our setting and staff team.

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Review from L C (Mother of Child) published on 12 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I have no hesitation in recommending Busy Little Bees Nursery. The staff are consistently engaged, helpful and supportive. My son has been attending since the age of 1 and he settled in the baby room quickly. The team were supportive with potty training and during transitions from baby to toddler room,
toddler room to preschool. Thank you so much for everything. We are very happy with this nursery.

Reply from Helena Waterworth, Manager at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you for taking the time to leave us such positive feedback. We value all feedback as this helps us to improve our services where required.

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Review from Katherine G (Mother of Child) published on 12 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son adores all of the staff here, he began at 11 months and is a totally different child. He struggled to settle initially but within a month he was napping independently and would get excited at drop off!
The staff are so caring and patient, and genuinely care for my son and his well-being at
all times. His key worker is particularly fantastic and has taught him some brilliant new skills whilst he's been there. They manage his dairy allergy brilliantly and are regularly checking in for any changes or updates.

Reply from Helena Waterworth, Manager at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you so much for your lovely feedback. It is always nice to hear such positive comments about our staff team. We are very proud of them and all of their hard work.

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Review from Y N (Mother of Child) published on 12 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter absolutely loved this nursery.
The staff are always so friendly and the communication is excellent! The nursery always has a range of activities which makes it exciting for the kids. My daughter would always come home singing new nursery rhymes or saying new sentences which is really nice
to hear.

Reply from Helena Waterworth, Manager at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you for taking the time to leave us such positive feedback. We value all feedback as this helps us to improve our services where required.

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Review from Ulrike S (Mother of Child) published on 12 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son loves going to Busy Little Bees Nursery. Great staff that actively engages with the children. Good communication between nursery and parents.
Only a small outdoor space, but lots of stimulating indoor activities tailored to the interests of the children.
Well looked after facilities and equipment.

Reply from Helena Waterworth, Manager at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you for taking the time to leave us such positive feedback. We value all feedback as this helps us to improve our services where required.

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Review from H P (Mother of Child) published on 12 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little one started at the nursery when he was 11 months old. As a first-time mother and it being a massive change for both of us, choosing a nursery we both felt happy with is a huge responsibility. He settled really well into nursery and the routine there has helped with the structure at home. The
nursery gives him lots of opportunities to develop his learning and allows his free choice through fun activities. They follow the NC and the updates on the app are great for understanding what his day has been like. The team at the nursery are very friendly, communicates messages effectively and approachable. Due to my work schedule, he also attends the morning breakfast session and has to be picked up late so from the start it was important we picked the correct facility for us and Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley definitely was. Highly recommend it to any parents.

Reply from Helena Waterworth, Manager at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you for taking the time to leave us such positive feedback, he really has settled well into nursery. We value all feedback as this helps us to improve our services where required.

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Review from S K (Mother of Child) published on 5 September 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am incredibly grateful for the outstanding care and support my child has received at the nursery. From day one, the staff have been amazing, creating a nurturing environment where my little one has thrived. The team's dedication and the fun learning activities have truly prepared my child for the
next step of starting school. Thank you for all you do!

Reply from Helena Waterworth, Manager at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you for taking the time to leave us such positive feedback, he really has settled well into nursery. We value all feedback as this helps us to improve our services where required.

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Review from M F (Father of Child) published on 5 September 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Overall, positive experience, nursery team is very supportive and has helped my child to quickly learn and acquire new skills.
Care and safeguarding are also adequate and staff are very friendly and usually willing to receive feedback and act positively towards improving any identified issues.

Reply from Helena Waterworth, Manager at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you for taking the time to leave us such positive feedback, he really has settled well into nursery. We value all feedback as this helps us to improve our services where required.

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Review from Toni B (Mother of Child) published on 5 September 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Brilliant nursery. My daughter always goes into nursery happy and smiling. She loves all the staff that take care of her. The nursery is really good at activities which my daughter loved to tell me about every day, her favourites being forest school and dance class.
We are so sad she's leaving Busy
Little Bee's to go to school, my daughter said she wants to visit all the staff after school every day.

Reply from Helena Waterworth, Manager at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you for taking the time to leave us such positive feedback, he really has settled well into nursery. We value all feedback as this helps us to improve our services where required.

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Review from A G (Mother of Child) published on 7 December 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Staff are so lovely and friendly. They always make drop-off as smooth as it can be. I would like a few more photo updates as sometimes my child is sad on drop off and it's reassuring to see photos of them happily playing. The nursery is very good at updating us on events upcoming and any changes. Lots
of good activities and areas to play.

Reply from Helena Waterworth, Manager at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you so much for your lovely review - we are so glad that he has settled in so well. We welcome your feedback as well, and we do aim to have at least one photograph on the diaries per session for every child, but adding photos can be quite time-consuming, and we feel that our practitioners' time is much better spent caring for, interacting with and supporting the children throughout their nursery sessions with us. I will pass your kind words on to the rest of the staff team.

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Review from D W (Father of Child) published on 15 November 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This is a great nursery, our little boy absolutely loves going and the staff are always super pleased to see him! He's come on leaps and bounds since starting and we're always very happy and confident in the quality of care that the team provides.

Reply from Helena Waterworth, Manager at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you so much for such a lovely review - we always love a smile from him every day, and he is constantly growing in confidence! I will ensure that I pass your kind words on to the team.

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Review from Lisa B (Mother of Child) published on 14 November 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Busy Little Bees Shirley has been the perfect fit for our son. He has settled in wonderfully and has developed so much confidence since joining.
The staff are friendly, caring and always willing to help.
There are so many different activities for the kids to get involved in every day. There is a
lovely outside space too which is a great addition.
Not only do the staff provide the best care but also teach our little ones so much.
I can't recommend this nursery enough.

Reply from Helena Waterworth, Manager at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you so much for such a wonderful review, he really has settled in so well and is growing in confidence all the time, and we can't wait to watch as he continues to thrive. I will ensure that I pass your kind words on to the staff team.

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Review from Adam A (Father of Child) published on 14 November 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My child has been at the nursery for a few months now and is really enjoying it. The feedback we get daily from the team is always detailed and positive. Since starting nursery he has developed some excellent skills, including perfecting his crawling and he has learned how to share. We could not ask
for anything more, and we will highly recommend Busy Little Bees - Shirley to everyone we know.

Reply from Helena Waterworth, Manager at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you so much for your lovely review - he really has settled in so well, and we can't wait to watch as his confidence and development grows. I will ensure that I pass your kind words on to the staff team.

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Review from Khadijah M (Mother of Child) published on 14 November 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Busy Little Bees Shirley is a very caring and amazing setting. Their manager and all the staff go above and beyond to ensure children have a great time. My little one is always very excited to go to nursery and staff are always on hand to make sure he has the most fun and productive day. I love how
there is always a theme in the rooms to reflect seasons and their stage of learning. They were kind enough to order some sensory toys to help engage my little one further and help with his learning. They always take feedback from parents and always update parents on how their children are getting on. Everyone is always happy to help and so kind. Very lucky to have found this setting and very happy with everything so far indeed!

Reply from Helena Waterworth, Manager at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you so much for your lovely review, we are so glad that he has settled in so well and thriving with us! I will ensure that I pass your kind words onto the staff team.

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Review from Hayley D (Mother of Child) published on 14 November 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Wonderful nursery and staff. The best thing we ever did for our daughter was send her to Busy Little Bees, wish we had sent her sooner. Our daughter loves the nursery and has built great relationships with the staff. They're kind, caring and nurturing.

Reply from Helena Waterworth, Manager at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you for such a lovely review - she really has grown in confidence since she started with us and we know she will continue to thrive! I will ensure that I pass your message on to the nursery staff.

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Review from Julia P (Mother of Child) published on 14 November 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son hasn’t been at nursery very long but since he has started at this nursery, he has gained a lot of confidence. They have helped him learn new things. The staff are amazing, very reassuring and help him with his needs.

Reply from Helena Waterworth, Manager at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you so much for such a lovely review - he really has come on since he started and we can't wait to watch him grow in confidence! I will ensure that I pass your kind message on to the staff.

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Review from L W (Mother of Child) published on 23 March 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Cannot fault this nursery - in the last 12 months I have seen my son thrive, becoming a social and independent boy thanks to the staff. March has seen lots of activities for the children to really learn and have fun. I have nothing bad to say about this nursery and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it
to other parents.

Reply from Helena Waterworth, Manager at Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Thank you so much for such a lovely review. It has been lovely to see him grow in confidence! - I will ensure that I pass your kind words onto the staff team.

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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.886)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.886) out of 10 for Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 19 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 19 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:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.886 for Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley is calculated as follows: ( (204 Excellents x 5) + (22 Goods x 4) + (2 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 228 Ratings = 4.886

  • b) 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 Little Bees Nursery - Shirley is based on 19 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 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

    • ii) 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 53 number of registered child places is 10.6, which has been reached with 19 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

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Awards / Recognitions (0)

There are currently no awards/recognitions posted yet for Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

Meet the Team (2)

Helena

Helena

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 2021

Helena has worked in nurseries for 24 years and in a management role for 15 years, she has a level 3 in childcare as well as a BA Hons in Early Childhood Education and Early Years Professional Status. Helena would love to show you around our beautiful nursery, and she will be able to give you all of the relevant information.

I have three grown up children of my own so I know how challenging and rewarding being a parent can be. I recognise that the parents and carers are key partners in developing children’s interests and are key to healthy happy children.

I love watching the children learn and be enthused by all the wonderful activities that we provide for them in our nursery setting. My passion is finding each child’s unique interests and developing these through natural play as well as outdoor play.
... Read more
Lisa

Lisa Poole

Job Title: Deputy Manager

Joined: 2016

I joined the team at Busy Little Bee's Hall Green branch in May 2016 and moved to the Shirley branch in 2022 when I was promoted to Deputy Manager. As well as supporting Helena as part of the management team, I lead my team in the baby room too.
... Read more

Frequently Asked Questions about Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley

What is the Age Range of Children that Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley accepts?

Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley Open?

Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley is open: Monday 07:30-18:00, Tuesday 07:30-18:00, Wednesday 07:30-18:00, Thursday 07:30-18:00, Friday 07:30-18:00.

How many Children does Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley have capacity for?

Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley has capacity for a total of 53 Children.

How far is Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley to the centre of Solihull?

3.0 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 Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Busy Little Bees Nursery - Shirley has an Enhanced Service - more info.