Busy Bees Market Harborough

Torch Way, off Northampton Road, Market Harborough LE16 9HL
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8.2 11 Reviews
  • Busy Bees Market Harborough, Market Harborough
Busy Bees Market Harborough offers skilled childcare within a safe and secure environment, helping parents to organise their busy lives while ensuring their child enjoys an environment dedicated to learning through play.

Suitable for children from six weeks to five years olds, the purpose-built nursery has a large outdoor area, including soft surfaces and wildlife areas that children adore exploring. Extended opening hours are available to parents and nutritious meals are served by a quality cook.

Type of Service

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

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Abigail Stearman (Centre Director)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 25

Total Places for Children

  • 118

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

Busy Bees Market Harborough Reviews (11)

8.2

Busy Bees Market Harborough has a Review Score of 8.2 (8.210) out of 10, based on 2 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Busy Bees Market Harborough has 11 reviews.

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Reviewer Connection to Busy Bees Market Harborough
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Total of 11, showing 1-11
Review from C S (Mother of Child) published on 28 August 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We absolutely love Busy Bees Market Harborough! Our Daughter wakes up, even at weekends, asking to go. The centre director and her team are always on hand, helpful and very supportive in ensuring she gets the care she needs as well as developing her skills and abilities. We have been really impressed
with our daughters development in the 3 years she has been there and love getting her regular updates. We're really happy with the interaction the app gives us and love seeing daily insights as well as updates on what she is learning and reading so that we can follow at home.
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Review from J A (Father of Child) published on 22 August 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Over the past 12 months, I've seen my daughter progress really well at Busy Bees.
From day one, she's run in with excitement every morning, never stalling even for a proper goodbye.
She's fed well, has multiple favourite activities and is rarely ready to leave immediately.
I've seen her advance from
a shy baby who spent all her time with one key worker (the amazing Christmas) to being completely comfortable with everyone in the room who generally has one of the louder more excited voices.
All the staff make a huge effort with Isla and I'd recommend Busy Bees to anyone looking for full time childcare.
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Review from Rachel E (Mother of Child) published on 3 July 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both our children have thrived at Busy Bees, Market Harborough. It’s a lovely space with lots of room and outside areas. The staff are lovely too.
Communication is easy and the office is quick to reply to any emails. I would definitely recommend.
Reply from Emily Graves, Digital Content Assistant at Busy Bees Market Harborough
Hello, thank you so much for taking the time to leave us such a wonderful review! We’re glad you’re giving your little one's the best start in life with us.
40 years of Busy Bees – 40 years of best…
read more
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Review from Niki R (Mother of Child) published on 27 January 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Having moved into the area I was struggling to find a nursery as good as my previous.
Busy Bees was recommended by a relative who had looked around a few other local nurseries.
The main selling point for me was that its not on a main road so away from fumes and how welcoming all the staff are.
Am
yet to have a little girl who doesn't want to go there.
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Review from Stephanie S (Mother of Child) published on 21 October 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son loves it! He started in January at 9m and instantly settled in and has flourished since. He is so happy when I drop him off and has a great bond with the staff there who really care about the children and their development. They are always on hand for queries, questions or concerns. They have
parents evenings along with parent partnership meetings to help feedback to each other. They are always doing creative things with play, using a variety of techniques, water, sand, paint, bubble sand to name a few to keep them engaged and stimulated. There is an app that I can track his food and nappy changes on along with nursery observations which is great as we can work on the same things at home with him to help him. There is a good-sized car park which is helpful at busy drop-off times, an on-site cook who prepares amazing meals with a six-week menu rotation, and a separate room for them to sleep in. It’s a lovely, fun, warm environment. I can’t rate the manager and her team highly enough!!
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Review from Gemma T (Mother of Child) published on 29 November 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son started at Busy Bees a year and a half ago and really enjoys attending. He settled in really quickly and staff were very good at putting us all at ease during this transition period. I feel that he has bonded well with all staff who take the time to get to know the children. They are always willing
to spend time discussing any issues and have provided some useful advice when we’ve had concerns.
The children get involved in a variety of activities and have lots of opportunity for play, learning and getting outdoors. Regular updates are provided on what our son has been doing, as well as meals, sleep etc.
It’s often the little things that stand out, like staff making sure your child is at ease at drop off, or the time spent discussing things of specific interest with the children. These reassure us that the children are cared for by the staff.
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Review from Lara-Faith A (Mother of Child) published on 17 April 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This has to be the best nursery in the area. They are caring and understanding of my child's needs. They cater for all with their onsite kitchen and chef. They have outstanding facilities. They have so much room for all the kids and the staff are super helpful, friendly and informative. When I went
back to work full time I had never left my child with anyone else and they were very reassuring and sent me updates of how my child is doing through the day via the app. I honestly wouldn't choose anywhere or anyone else to leave my son with.
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Review from Rebecca (Mother of Child) published on 21 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have used Busy Bees at Market Harborough for nearly 3 years now for both of my children, and have been very happy with it. My children have always been well cared for and happy - sometimes its a struggle to get them to leave!
The building is spacious and light and the recently refurbished outside
area has lots of age-appropriate activities for each room to access independently.
The staff are caring and approachable, the meals are varied and nutritious, the manager is very accommodating, and the nursery has a very good value full-time rate. I would definitely recommend this nursery to others.
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Review from Cloe H (Mother of Child) published on 30 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both our boys have attended Busy Bees and have been very happy there. The needs of different aged children are well catered for and they are the only nursery that I know of the go the extra mile to get them ready for school from the Spring before they start. Staff are more than approachable with their
open door policy to management, flexible and communication is good and on the rare occasion that I have questioned something, it has been resolved quickly. In my opinion, the management team have gone the extra mile for us, supporting my youngest externally with speech therapy as well as ensuring they work with him on improving his speech on a day to day basis. On a practical level, Busy Bees provides longer cover than any other nursery in the area and whilst I don't often use them fully, its very comforting to know they are there. I am also confident that my children are completely safe whether in the building or playing in one of the free flow gardens. Thanks to managemetn and team.
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Review from Natalie W (Mother of Child) published on 16 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child has been with this nursery since he was 6 months old, going from a morning a week through to full time. The staff are approachable and professional and helped me as a new mum. I love that my child is excited to go into the nursery and loves his key worker. I am kept up to date throughout the
day as to what he has been doing, what he’s been eating and when he’s been sleeping. With an ever-changing work schedule, the manager has been very accommodating with me changing booking patterns.
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Review from tracy w (Mother of Child) published on 6 December 2016 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child has attended this nursery for 2 and a half years and has been cared for by all the staff in the nursery at some point. I have found the staff to be professional and friendly. My child has built really good bonds with them and looks forward to her sessions.
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Current Review Score: 8.2 (8.210)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 8.2 (8.210) out of 10 for Busy Bees Market Harborough is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 2 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 3.2 out of 5 from 2 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 5.000 for Busy Bees Market Harborough is calculated as follows: ( (24 Excellents x 5) ) ÷ 24 Ratings = 5
  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 3.21 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Busy Bees Market Harborough is based on 2 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 = 3.125
    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 118 number of registered child places is 23.6. 2 Positive Reviews ÷ 23.6 = 0.085
  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)

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Meet the Team (1)

Abigail

Abigail Stearman

Job Title: Centre Director

My name is Abigail Stearman and I have worked in the Childcare sector for over 15 years.


I joined this particular nursery in January 2010 so feel I have great links with the parents and the children that currently attend.


I have my Level 5 in Childcare with a B-Tec National Diploma in Early Years and I also have a Team Leading and Management qualification.


I have lived in and around Market Harborough for over 25 years meaning I know the area very well which has helped me as Centre Director to forge some great relationships within the local community.

Frequently Asked Questions about Busy Bees Market Harborough

What is the Age Range of Children that Busy Bees Market Harborough accepts?

Busy Bees Market Harborough accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Busy Bees Market Harborough Open?

Busy Bees Market Harborough is open: 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.

How many Children does Busy Bees Market Harborough have capacity for?

Busy Bees Market Harborough has capacity for a total of 118 Children.

How far is Busy Bees Market Harborough to the centre of Market Harborough?

1.0 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 Bees Market Harborough to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Busy Bees Market Harborough has an Enhanced Service - more info.