Busy Bees York

Eccles Close, Rawcliffe, York YO30 5XJ
Review Us
9.2 32 Reviews
  • Busy Bees York, York
Busy Bees is a calm, homely and welcoming nursery with caring staff.

The large, purpose-built nursery, fully refurbished in 2017, is accessed only by a secure key fob system, with age-appropriate rooms all having access to outdoor areas including an enclosed woodland walk.

The long-serving staff team has a comprehensive range of qualifications, the majority holding Level 3 in Childcare and the Foundation Class has a Qualified teacher.

The staff team develops strong relationships with their key children's parents, giving daily feedback to keep them informed of their child's progress.

Nursery chefs are committed to providing nutritious and healthy meals for the children including any dietary requirements, using fresh ingredients which are locally sourced. The nursery achieved the highest possible rating for food hygiene being awarded 5 out of 5 stars by City of York Council.

The knowledge and expertise of the staff team at York is complemented by assistance from the National Support Centre with dedicated departments such as Health and Safety, Catering, Estates and an EYFS Childcare Team.

Even more reasons to love the nursery
Outstanding Ofsted January 2020
Online learning journal system in conjunction with ParentZone
Baby Development Group
Shake and Write – dance activity to support the physical skills needed for handwriting – exclusive to Busy Bees
Wake and Shake – exclusive to Busy Bees, a singing and dancing activity to give your child a healthy start to the day
Kinder Musik - An interactive music and movement programme.
Large baby area with individual rooms suitable for all areas of development including a separate sleep room
Great travel links and easy access from all main roads to York
Exciting outdoor areas including giant sand pit and Woodland Walk
Large car park for drop off and collection
A 10% discount to all York NHS Foundation Trust employees as from 1st January 2018
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Cheryl Flintoff (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 25

Total Places for Children

  • 120

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 York Reviews (32)

9.2

Busy Bees York has a Review Score of 9.2 (9.247) out of 10, based on 9 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Busy Bees York has 32 reviews.

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Review from Imogen N (Mother of Child) published on 4 September 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We now have two children at Busy Bees and are so happy with our experience. Our eldest has thrived and we can see how her time at nursery has helped encourage her love of learning. I have no doubt she will be as ready as she can be for school next year in no small part because of the way the nursery
is set up to steadily familiarise the children with what to expect, introducing lessons and structure but most importantly fun. Having our youngest just started with babies has given us a real appreciation of all the hard work that goes in from the staff to adapt the days to match the needs of the children they are looking after. We are still getting there with our youngest in terms of settling in but I have complete faith that the team looking after her will help her adjust and be as happy as her big sister is.
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Review from Charlotte H (Mother of Child) published on 27 August 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have two children at the nursery. One is just about to start school in September and they could not have prepared him any better! I have another child in the baby room and I love dropping my child off with the staff in there - there are never tears. Everyone working there is kind and approachable
and we couldn't ask for better people to care for our children.
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Review from Kelly S (Mother of Child) published on 27 August 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter absolutely adores the pre-toddler room and has absolutely thrived there under the care of some fabulous staff. Two members of staff, in particular, are fantastic with my daughter, I feel that they really know her and respond well to her needs. I know my daughter is completely herself at
Busy Bees and at pick-up, all the activities she has been involved in are centred around what she enjoys doing. It is surprising how much outside space the nursery has considering its location. I love the atmosphere of the nursery and all staff, from the chef to the management team to the room staff, are so friendly and welcoming.
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Review from N C (Mother of Child) published on 21 August 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been at Busy Bees for a few months now, at first, he was a little reluctant but now he goes to his key worker with open arms. His key worker is lovely and she always provides really good feedback at the end of each day with what my son has done, how he's eaten and slept. The app is really
helpful, I can see photos or updates of how much he's eaten, nappy changes etc.
They had no problems with me calling every day when he first started nursery and I was feeling a little anxious leaving him. He absolutely loves being outside and they really make a point of the children having a lot of outside time.
Unless our circumstances change, I imagine we'll be with Busy Bees through to preschool!
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Review from L A (Mother of Child) published on 19 August 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have been so happy with the care our daughter has received in the York Busy Bees setting. She has been in the babies, pre-toddler and toddler room; she is about to move into preschool and each room and all members of staff have exceeded our expectations.
They know her, they clearly love her and
they are doing all they can to help develop her skills and knowledge too.
The centre is clean, organised and friendly. Even the centre manager knows the names of all the children and greets them each morning in such a lovely way.
The food is varied and healthy, activities change daily and the rooms are set up differently each day with exciting stations and themes. They have also just updated all outdoor spaces and they look great!
Safety of all children is paramount at the York Busy Bees and in the current climate that makes us feel at ease leaving our little one.
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Review from James M (Father of Child) published on 13 August 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The food here is amazing and the staff do a really good job of looking after my son. He always comes home happy and looks like he's had an enjoyable day. He only does two days a week but has come on loads since he joined here.
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Review from Emma T (Mother of Child) published on 24 June 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
From the moment we looked around Busy Bees, we knew it was the right place for our daughter. The staff have always been so friendly, they know the children and families really well which makes it a really personalised experience. The communication on the app is great and they work hard when your child
is transitioning to the next room. Can't thank them enough for giving our daughter the best start to her early education.
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Review from Laura Y (Mother of Child) published on 24 June 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child has been going to Busy Bees York for nine months now. I could not be happier with the care and support she has been shown. She has just progressed from the baby room to the toddler room, they made sure that she moved at the right time for her. The workers are fantastic and show so much care
and love to the children. I wouldn't want to send her anywhere else and would highly recommend them!
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Review from K F (Mother of Child) published on 19 January 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Fab nursery. My little boy loves going and loves his key workers old and new + everyone else he comes across. I genuinely know he is loved and well cared for here and never hesitate to leave him. All the workers are lovely and seem to genuinely love every child.
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Review from Hannah H (Mother of Child) published on 4 November 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter thrived at Busy Bees York. The focus on care and development is second to none and the preparation they provided for starting primary school was invaluable. My daughter left after three and a half years with very fond memories of the team and her experiences at nursery/pre-school.
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Review from P H (Father of Child) published on 28 September 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have until recently had two children in Busy Bees. It was the third nursery for my son due to moving houses. I was worried as he can shy. But Busy Bees have been great. The staff are all very supportive and attentive. The facilities are ideal. The handling and communication of the pandemic were very
good. I don have a bad word to say.
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Review from R T (Mother of Child) published on 20 September 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has enjoyed Busy Bees from the baby room all the way through to preschool. It's a fantastic experience and the daily feedback and communication are really informative. Busy Bees and all the staff have really encouraged my little one to thrive.
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Review from Jenna P (Mother of Child) published on 20 March 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been at Busy Bees from the age of nine months. He is very well looked after by all. The staff are lovely and very caring and it is an overall brilliant nursery. Lots of activities on a daily basis and observations so you can also see how much of a nice day your little one has been having.
Would definitely recommend.
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Review from Lauren S (Mother of Child) published on 6 March 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been in the baby room since he was eight and a half months old, and I am so happy with his care. All the staff in his room greet him with a big smile, and even those that work in other rooms have taken the time to learn his name and say hello. He is now 15 months old, and has been supported
so much throughout his development.
He is so comfortable there and has a lot of fun. He is provided with lots of fun activities, and we have used the parent app at home to continue what he does at nursery. The menus are varied and he enjoys a lot of his food. The app is also really useful for keeping track of his day.
Would strongly recommend Busy Bees to anyone looking for a nursery.
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Review from Kat (Mother of Child) published on 28 October 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My baby girl started at Busy Bees in January 2019 and I was nervous as it had only really been me as her carer. All the staff were so warm and welcoming and she absolutely loves going to Busy Bees. She’s always doing activities, playing music or outside playing. The variety of food she gets is excellent
and I enjoy picking her up to hear all about her day.
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Review from Amy H (Mother of Child) published on 28 October 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This nursery/preschool is second to none and hands down the most incredible team, premises and execution of curriculum. My son has attended since 10 months old and is now in preschool. We could not be happier with the care and teaching provided here, well managed by the management team.
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Review from Lindsey G (Mother of Child) published on 26 December 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both of my children have attended Busy Bees in York and I can not recommend them enough. They are very passionate about the children and all the ladies in the room are absolutely great when it comes to listening to each child's need. They have always gone above and beyond for me and my family. I can
not thank them enough for looking after my boys especially my youngest who required some additional care.
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Review from Chris M (Father of Child) published on 30 January 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Excellent experience from day one. All the staff members have made us feel 100% comfortable in sending our child to Busy Bees.
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Review from C L (Mother of Child) published on 30 January 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have been extremely satisfied with all aspects of Busy Bees in York.
The staff all know our little boy inside out and have been nothing but kind, caring and professional. It was a daunting prospect leaving him with strangers for the 1st time but he loves being there and has come on leaps and bounds
in his development. It is kept clean and the décor/equipment is 1st rate. It feels extremely secure and safe.
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Review from Lucy G (Mother of Child) published on 30 January 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Since starting nursery, my son has been very happy.
The staff are lovely and my son is happy to see them on a morning.
Busy Bees has such a warm and friendly atmosphere. My son's development skills have improved a lot since starting.
I would 100% recommend Busy Bees to family and friends.
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Current Review Score: 9.2 (9.247)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.2 (9.247) out of 10 for Busy Bees York 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 9 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.3 out of 5 from 9 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 4.972 for Busy Bees York is calculated as follows: ( (105 Excellents x 5) + (3 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 108 Ratings = 4.972
  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 4.275 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Busy Bees York is based on 9 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 = 3.9
    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 120 number of registered child places is 24. 9 Positive Reviews ÷ 24 = 0.375
  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)

Cheryl

Cheryl Flintoff

Job Title: Centre Director Joined: 2001

Hello, My name is Cheryl and I'm the Centre Director here at Busy Bees York.


I'm a long-standing member of the Busy Bees family with over 20 years of service. I joined Busy Bees in 2001 starting from college as an Early Years Educator and have worked my way up through the company, becoming a room manager and then Assistant Centre Director before taking up the Manager role in September 2022.


I hold a BA (Hons) degree in Early Childhood Studies and have completed an NVQ in management. I have gained lots of experience and knowledge doing various training courses to aid in my own development. I am passionate and dedicated to creating a positive and enriching environment to enable my staff team and children to grow, learn and flourish in their own development.  

Frequently Asked Questions about Busy Bees York

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

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

What Days & Hours is Busy Bees York Open?

Busy Bees York 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 York have capacity for?

Busy Bees York has capacity for a total of 120 Children.

How far is Busy Bees York to the centre of York?

2.4 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 York to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Busy Bees York has an Enhanced Service - more info.