Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive

31 South Drive, Harrogate HG2 8AT
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9.9 66 Reviews
  • Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive, Harrogate
Busy Bees Harrogate, South Drive offers the ideal nursery environment for children to play, learn and explore whilst being provided the best start in life. From a well designed array of activities to the experienced and welcoming team, Busy Bees Harrogate is a great option for families in the local community.

The enthusiastic team ensures that every child’s nursery experience is fun, enjoyable, and safe with a range of fun-filled activities tailored to suit every child’s interest’s and needs. The fun does not stop inside, with a refreshing outdoor area where your child can explore and take safe risks whilst supervised by staff. So, whether your child enjoys the indoors or outdoors, be rest assured they will enjoy every moment during their stay at nursery.

Busy Bees follow the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) framework to help support your child so that they are prepared when making the leap to school. The experienced team select resources and activities in line with the EYFS framework, aimed to engage your child and promote development in all areas.   

You can continue the fun at home by using the ‘UP!’ App. The app is especially for parents of Busy Bees and holds an extensive amount of activity inspiration, experiences or advice and information for you and your child to enjoy.
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Samantha Crichton (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 15

Total Places for Children

  • 52

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

Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive Reviews (66)

9.9

Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.892) out of 10, based on 17 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive has 66 reviews.

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Total of 66, showing 1-20
Review from B D (Mother of Child) published on 20 November 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter recently started at South Drive after us making the decision to move her closer to where she is likely to start school. It's been the best decision, she has settled in so well and come on so much in the few months she has been attending. From the first visit to the settling in session,
all of the staff have been incredible. So welcoming and helpful. Samantha the manager couldn't have done more to help with the transition. One thing that massively stood out was during her first visit, Gabbie one of the staff didn't greet me first she got down to my daughters level and introduced herself to her first. The way they treat the children is brilliant.
Reply from Samantha Crichton, Manager at Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive
The children have and always will be at the forefront of what we do here at South Drive, Thank you so much for such a lovely review. Many thanks, Samantha
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Review from B B (Mother of Child) published on 20 November 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter was initially very afraid of going to nursery, and it was quite challenging for us as parents. However, after choosing Busy Bees Nursery, everything changed for the better. She quickly became interested and excited to go each day, which was such a relief to see.


The teachers are exceptionally

kind, patient, and supportive, creating a warm and nurturing environment where children feel safe and happy. I have complete peace of mind knowing she is well cared for and genuinely enjoys her time at the nursery.


I am truly grateful to the wonderful team at Busy Bees Nursery for making such a positive difference. I would highly encourage any parent looking for a caring and engaging nursery to choose Busy Bees Nursery with full confidence.

Reply from Samantha Crichton, Manager at Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive
This is such a lovely read, Thank you for choosing us to look after such an important part of you! Many thanks, Samantha
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Review from F T (Mother of Child) published on 13 November 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are so pleased to have chosen Busy Bees South Drive for our child - the staff are extremely attentive and caring, and always cheerful, offering stimulating and varied activities.
As first time parents all new starts make us apprehensive, but we've felt so reassured by the team from day 1, and seeing
how comfortable and happy our child and the other children in the group are, really makes us appreciate how well the nursery is run.
Reply from Samantha Crichton, Manager at Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive
Thank you so much for such a lovely review of South Drive.
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Review from A B (Father of Child) published on 26 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Lovely staff are great with the children. Both of our children have been happy attending the nursery. It's a smaller building compared to most which gives it a homely feel. The children sometimes go down to the stray which is nice for them.
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Review from Alex H (Father of Child) published on 19 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We switched our child from a large nursery to Busy Bees South Drive for its more personal, family-style care-and haven't looked back. With smaller groups, staff quickly learn each child's likes and routines (their favourite toy is already a nap staple!). The cosy, home-like setting and detailed daily
updates via their app make us feel connected to their day. Flexible, child-led activities-outdoor play, sensory trays, simple experiments-keep them engaged. Busy Bees South Drive offers the warmth and attention every little one deserves.
Reply from Samantha Crichton, Manager at Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive
Hello,Thank you for your response - It is really lovely to hear such positive feedback.
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Review from E A (Mother of Child) published on 11 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I cannot recommend Busy Bees South Drive more. From day one, both our children have been incredibly happy here and love going into nursery every day. The staff are incredibly warm, nurturing and clearly passionate about their work. They genuinely care about each child as an individual, fostering their
unique personalities and supporting their development in every way. The nursery itself is bright, clean and well-equipped with a fantastic range of indoor and outdoor play areas. Our children love exploring the garden, engaging in creative activities and learning new skills through play. The communication with parents is excellent. We receive regular updates on our children's progress and feel fully involved in their learning journey. The staff are always approachable and happy to answer any questions we may have.
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Review from M H (Father of Child) published on 11 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Friendly faces every morning, wide range of activities, staff care about the kids. Even when the snow and ice were here, the team made it in to open the nursery, clear the paths etc., which makes a big difference for working parents!
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Review from Ruth P (Mother of Child) published on 11 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter is in her last year at Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive having started there just after her 1st birthday. Out of all the nurseries we viewed, this was the standout, by far.
She has loved going there and has created such special bonds with her key workers and other members of staff. They
have fostered great relationships between the kids and my daughter has met some friends for life at the nursery.
Now she's in the foundation class, they are really working on getting them ready for school and setting them up for success!
The manager has always been understanding and caring and will always advocate for all of the kids, exactly the same if and when issues do arise.
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Review from E J (Mother of Child) published on 26 July 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff at Busy Bees South Drive are all amazing, friendly, and genuinely care for the children, creating a nurturing environment where every child feels valued.
The nursery is managed exceptionally well, with excellent organization and attention to detail in every aspect. The management team ensures
everything runs smoothly and efficiently.
Communication at Busy Bees Nursery is outstanding. News and information are consistently communicated promptly and clearly, keeping parents well-informed and involved in their children's activities.
Overall, Busy Bees Nursery provides a positive and enriching experience for both children and parents. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a well-managed, caring, and communicative nursery. We love it!
Reply from Danni Catton, Manager at Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, it's really amazing to read how happy you are with the nursery.
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Review from L R (Father of Child) published on 26 July 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child could not be happier in nursery. He runs in each morning to hug his teachers and has made some wonderful relationships. He considers his room leads his friends. Sometimes he tells me he isn't ready to come home at pickup.
Reply from Danni Catton, Manager at Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive
Thank you so much for taking the time to do a review, we are really happy to hear how settled your child is at nursery.
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Review from Gina W (Mother of Child) published on 26 July 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The team at Busy Bees South Drive are fantastic. They are always caring and attentive around the children's needs. They clearly go to a lot of effort to ensure the kids are getting a wide range of engaging activities. They have taken the time to get to know my daughter and we have felt involved in developmental
updates and working towards milestones collaboratively with the team.
Reply from Danni Catton, Manager at Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive
Thank you so much for taking the time to do a review, it's so great to read how happy you are with the nursery.
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Review from J G (Mother of Child) published on 14 June 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
They really know my little boy. He has an amazing relationship with his key person and he loves going to nursery. I've felt totally confident leaving him there since day one. I would recommend this nursery to anyone, the manager and staff really make it.
Reply from Danni Catton, Manager at Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review, means so much knowing how happy you and your child is at nursery.
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Review from Naomi C (Mother of Child) published on 14 June 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter joined the nursery at the start of pre-school age from another nursery and transitioned really well with no hiccups. After a few incidents with other children in the room, her dad and I raised concerns which were dealt with by the manager of the nursery. Steps were taken to ensure that our
daughter enjoyed going into nursery every day and that it was an environment where she could flourish.
She enjoys going to nursery and has forged some lovely friendships. She often talks positively about the staff and what she has learnt. The nursery focuses on the age-appropriate learning and I can see that my daughter is constantly growing and learning in preparation for 'big school'.
She looks forward to going each day so I know that I can relax when working knowing that she is enjoying her time there.
Reply from Danni Catton, Manager at Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive
Thank you for taking the time to send this review, we appreciate your feedback and are really pleased to know that you're all happy.
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Review from Kristina C (Mother of Child) published on 24 May 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Sending our two daughters to this nursery was a great choice! Every day, they come home brimming with smiles, tired from a day filled with fun activities. The school excels at providing a variety of messy play activities, which my kids absolutely adore (and I'm secretly relieved to not deal with at
home!). The staff are amazing, really caring and great with kids. They are exceptional at nurturing not just the educational growth of the children but also their emotional well-being. It’s clear they genuinely care about each child. We are grateful to have found such a wonderful setting for our girls during these important early years!
Reply from Danni Catton, Manager at Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive
Thank you for this review, it's really lovely to read that your children are happy and settled and that you are pleased with the nursery.
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Review from Anne D (Mother of Child) published on 15 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
A fantastic experience with Busy Bees. Our son settled in fast and has built really strong relationships with the staff based on their caring and personal approach to each child. The range of activities they cover and the balanced menu they offer all add to the overwhelmingly positive feedback for them.
He loves nursery and talks all evening about his day there!
Reply from Danni Catton, Manager at Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, I'm so happy to read how settled your child is.
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Review from A H (Mother of Child) published on 15 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff at this nursery are out of this world! They go above and beyond for the children in their care and as a result, the children thrive at nursery. I have never worried about the happiness of either of my children while they are at nursery - it’s like an extension of home. The relatively intimate
size of the building helps children to feel secure and makes it familiar to them which I think helps a lot with settling and continued happiness. They have a wonderful outdoor space which they use as much as possible and it’s near the stray for lots of trips to see the trains. The staff create a very active atmosphere and keeps the children engaged in art and science projects, as well as reading and circle time. A fantastic nursery that we are lucky to have.
Reply from Danni Catton, Manager at Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive
Thank you so much for your comments, I will be sure to share them with the team - it means a lot to see how happy you are with the nursery.
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Review from K T (Mother of Child) published on 15 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Lovely team, and great activities, especially the messy ones I don’t want to do at home!
My child is settled and enjoys attending. Small personal nursery where the children are well known by their key workers.
Would recommend.
Reply from Danni Catton, Manager at Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, I'm really happy to see how settled your child is and that you would recommend us.
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Review from Helen R (Mother of Child) published on 22 June 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been attending Busy Bees South Drive for 18 months and she adores it. There is very rarely a tear or hesitation at going into her room - even after holidays or Christmas! She gets involved and enjoys all the activities the staff put thought into preparing. Her speech has come on leaps
and bounds and I've no doubt this is thanks to nursery and it is lovely to now hear her speak about her friends and the staff members names with such fondness. The food she is exposed to is varied and nutritious, which is important to us. When we chose South Drive it was purely on a good gut feel and everyone, children and staff alike, seemingly very happy and I can confirm this is the case. The manager is very approachable and listens to any concerns you have. Would recommend South Drive to any parents.
Reply from Emily Graves, Digital Content Assistant at Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive
Hello, we love reading feedback like this! Thank you for sharing it with us; we will pass on your lovely comments to the team at Harrogate South Drive.
40 years of Busy Bees – 40 years of best…read more
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Review from K M (Mother of Child) published on 7 February 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have a daughter at Busy Bees now and have had the pleasure of my two older children enjoying the setting too. It has been a giant hug for our children and us and an extension of home with nutritional food and fun play activities each day. I love finding out what she has been up to each day and if
I cant wait for pick up then there is a great app I can log into to find pictures and information about her day.
With some staff there for a considerable time, it shows the space not only works for children and the parents/carers, but also the staff, who seem genuinely happy. I couldn't be happier and recommend the nursery to anyone who asks.
Reply from Danni Catton, Manager at Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive
What lovely feedback, thank you; will share with the team.
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Review from Jenny K (Mother of Child) published on 7 February 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
The staff make the nursery special and, as a parent, you are happy to know your little one is in safe hands.
It's a nursery with a family feel, everyone knows each other and you know they get to know your little ones like you do.
Reply from Emily Graves, Digital Content Assistant at Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive
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 the best start in life with us. Best wishes, Busy Bees.
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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.892)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.892) out of 10 for Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive 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 17 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 17 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 4.892 for Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive is calculated as follows: ( (181 Excellents x 5) + (22 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 203 Ratings = 4.892
  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 Harrogate South Drive is based on 17 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 17 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)

Samantha

Samantha Crichton

Job Title: Centre Director Joined: 2012

I started working at Busy Bees in 2009, completing my NVQ, in 2010 I started my family and re-joined after my maternity leave at Busy Bees South Drive. I worked hard to develop my career here progressing to Room Lead, Senior Room Lead then Assistant Centre Director. I was asked to step into the Centre Director role in February 2025 officially securing the role in March 2025. I have a strong passion in providing a safe, homely feeling nursery whilst still offering the best opportunities for children in our care. After spending many years as support SEND I have a big interest in supporting families and children that have SEND needs and thoroughly enjoy watching all children develop and grow into young children ready for their big move to school.
Having my own family really allows me to ensure the care provided is what you would look for as a parent and really understand and support families to settle into nursery life. Having worked with Under 5's for over 15 years I have a great knowledge of child development and love that Busy Bees gives me the opportunities and support to enable great outcomes for all children

Frequently Asked Questions about Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive

What is the Age Range of Children that Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive accepts?

Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive Open?

Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive 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 Bees Harrogate South Drive have capacity for?

Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive has capacity for a total of 52 Children.

How far is Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive to the centre of Harrogate?

0.5 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 Harrogate South Drive to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Busy Bees Harrogate South Drive has an Enhanced Service - more info.