Busy Bees Nursery

Priory Road, Newton Hall, Durham DH1 5HW
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10 185 Reviews
  • Busy Bees Nursery, Durham
Busy Bees Day Nursery provides quality and inspirational learning for children up to eleven years old.

They provide a nurturing and caring environment where everyone feels welcome and valued in their own right. They have established an enviable reputation for delivering a high-quality childcare service and this is recognised by both parents and Ofsted.

The children are cared for in a stimulating environment where each child can reach their full potential. Children are actively encouraged to explore, learn, communicate and interact with one another.

Busy Bees is very proud of its staff who you will find are enthusiastic, dedicated and highly qualified and this is what makes the nursery so special.

There are extensive separate gardens where the babies and children can explore and feel safe, but most of all have fun.

There is an open door policy to ensure there is effective communication at all times between the nursery and parents/carers.

The staff would love to show you around their wonderful nursery.
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Type of Service

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

Owner

  • Busy Bees (Durham) Ltd
  • Privately Owned

Person in Charge

  • Carey-Anne Bonser (Nursery Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 64

Total Places for Children

  • 170

Age Range

  • from 0 years 0 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 Bees Nursery Reviews (185)

10

Busy Bees Nursery has a Review Score of 10 (9.966) out of 10, based on 33 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Busy Bees Nursery has 185 reviews.

Overall Experience
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Date Published
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Reviewer Connection to Busy Bees Nursery
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Review from Sally R (Mother of Child) published on 6 January 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Busy Bees is an amazing nursery with staff that go above and beyond for the children and parents. They follow all of their policies to ensure the safety of children. My daughter started in September 2024 when I returned to work after maternity leave, I was feeling anxious about leaving her but the staff
made me feel completely at ease which made my return to work much smoother. My daughter has settled in brilliantly and her development has thrived since starting Busy Bees. She enjoys going every morning and she comes out every day happy. The staff ensure there are engaging activities to support their development and offer a continuous range of activities on a daily basis. I couldn't recommend the nursery enough, the staff are amazing and should all be very proud of the fantastic job they do.
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Review from Alexandra J (Mother of Child) published on 6 January 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This nursery is so kind and caring. The hard work the staff put in every day to care for each individual child is incredible.
They work alongside parents to create a bespoke care plan for each child to help create a journey through nursery that they will thrive upon!
My child is safe and happy here
and has so much fun.
I love how they communicate with parents about their meals etc. throughout the day so I can see what my daughter is up to and how her day is going!
I would strongly recommend.
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Review from M G (Mother of Child) published on 3 September 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child is leaving this nursery after four lovely years of attending part-time.
It's full of amazing staff and nothing is ever too much trouble. All very approachable. The rooms are well laid out, full of open-ended opportunities for play. Lovely outside area and each room is well thought out. Carers
follow the child's interests and I've always got a happy child on collection.
Thank you for the last four years.
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Review from Laura A (Mother of Child) published on 13 August 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Just about to come to the end of nine years of sending my two children to Busy Bees. It's a fantastic nursery with great staff and wonderful facilities. After nine years, Busy Bees feels like family to us. We're so sad our youngest child is ready to start reception and they'll definitely be tears on
her final day! Wouldn't hesitate to recommend the nursery to any other parents.
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Review from Manu S (Father of Child) published on 8 August 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We couldn't be happier with our experience at Busy Bees. The staff are incredibly caring and attentive, creating a warm and nurturing environment for my daughter. She looks forward to attending each day and has made wonderful progress. Highly recommend this nursery to any parent!
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Review from Iain T (Father of Child) published on 1 August 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We looked around at a few Nurseries before we settled in Busy Bees but we just had a great feeling about it. I am so delighted that we were proven right as our little boy has been so happy and engaged throughout his time there. The staff have been so caring, considerate, friendly and professional throughout.
The Nursery Manager actually went above and beyond so often in supporting us with great advice around applications and paperwork when we were struggling to get our heads around it all. What an amazing nursery. We are actually sad our son is now leaving for School but we will definitely be back for School Holiday Clubs between School terms. I cannot recommend Busy Bees enough and it deserves so much more than just a 5-star rating. Ofsteds exceptionally high scores for Busy Bees are not wrong.
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Review from N J (Father of Child) published on 1 August 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have had both of our children attend Busy Bees Nursery and they have received excellent care during their time there. They have developed their educational and personal skills which has prepared them well for transition to primary. The staff are very kind and caring and have taken excellent care
of them both at all times. Our little boy has loved his visits to the local care home, singing and dancing for the residents. The garden is great for the children to play in and has plenty of activities for them to do. The food provided has always been of an excellent standard and if you arrive to collect during tea, they have always provided a takeaway container to have at home. We would highly recommend this nursery to anyone considering it for their child.
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Review from S H (Mother of Child) published on 1 May 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My eldest attended Busy Bees Nursery a few years ago and it was an obvious choice for my youngest. His development has come on immensely since attending and even with his recent health issues, the staff have been outstanding with the help and support they have given him and us during a very difficult
time. The staff are all so kind and caring and our son looks forwards to going each morning. I would highly recommend Busy Bees to any parent looking for a nursery.
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Review from Sarah H (Mother of Child) published on 2 April 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little girl has attended Busy Bees for a year now and during this time has developed so much, on so many levels. She struggled a little when she first started and again when she moved rooms but the support during this time (for both us and my child) was incredible. She absolutely loves nursery now!
She is happy, confident and eats foods we can’t get her to! The staff are always so happy and enthusiastic and I have always felt everyone I have come across genuinely loves and cares for my child. We love Busy Bees!
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Review from Clare R (Mother of Child) published on 25 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Once we visited Busy Bees, we knew it was the nursery we wanted our children to go.
My eldest didn’t get a great deal of time as he started in March 2020 went back for August then started school.
My youngest is thoroughly enjoying his time in the little bumbles room now. He’s coming on leaps and
bounds and loving every minute while making friendships with both staff and other little people. Both boys took a little time settling in especially the youngest but the staff were absolutely brilliant with both myself and children.
The kitchen staff do an absolutely amazing job of offering a variety of dinners, I’m always a bit jealous when I see what’s been on the menu.
I can honestly say from the beginning of our Busy Bees journey in 2020 I cannot fault anything and the staff are all worth their weight in gold and will bend over backwards and more to ensure both children and parents are happy.
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Review from Maria K (Mother of Child) published on 22 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been attending Busy Bees for almost two years and we are so happy with the experience. The staff are amazing, so caring and reassuring. When our little one joined we had just moved to Durham and everyone was very supportive of her settling in. My daughter's first language wasn't English
at the time, but her special carer made every effort to learn a few words of Spanish and make her feel welcome and at home. They developed a beautiful bond and her support (and that of the entire Busy Bees team!) made a hugely positive impact on her settling into a new country. We can't recommend Busy Bees enough. Our little one goes into nursery each morning happy and excited, and that is everything to us.
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Review from M B (Mother of Child) published on 25 January 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little boy has attended Busy Bees Nursery for 2 years now and I can honestly say that the level of care and support he has had had been outstanding. He has grown in so many ways; emotionally, socially, confidence (to name but a few!) The skills he is learning at this nursery have been crucial in
preparing him for school. What I love the most is how happy he is going there! As a parent, this is the most important thing for me. Seeing my little boy go in every day with excitement and with a smile speaks volumes! Once I drop him off on a morning I can continue my day with confidence that he is happy and with a team of professionals who care.
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Review from Janine D (Mother of Child) published on 12 January 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Coming towards the end of my maternity leave, I viewed a number of different nurseries and Busy Bees was by far the most inviting and well-resourced one that I looked at. I knew straight away that I wanted my daughter to attend, and she started in September 2023. Since then, she has come on leaps and
bounds. The children are given lots of opportunities, indoors and outdoors and the bonds that the staff seem to have with the children are amazing. The staff are so accommodating, and they always try to sort out any issue or problem straight away. My daughter is so settled and goes in without a backward glance, which makes drop-offs so much better. I would recommend the nursery to anyone, it is brilliant!
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Review from Sophie B (Mother of Child) published on 2 October 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Letting go of your babies after maternity leave is always daunting. However, all the lovely staff at Busy Bees Nursery put my mind at rest straight away. In 2018, my daughter started nursery at 11 months old and she absolutely loved it. She came on leaps and bounds. She created such amazing bonds with
many of the staff and I was sad to see her leave to go to school. Luckily for me, my son is now at Busy Bees and he also loves going to nursery. I couldn’t be more thankful for how amazing the staff have been!
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Review from Stephanie H (Mother of Child) published on 2 October 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I was very sad about my child starting nursery but once I stepped in the door of Busy Bees Nursery, I fell in love and knew my son would be in the best hands.
The staff are absolutely amazing, they are all so kind and tend to your child's needs 110%. I absolutely love the place and so does my son.
We
have found our second family, they also made the transition for me so much easier as a mother who was very emotional, they were extremely kind and kept me at ease with the whole process.
And the best part is, they don't miss a thing with any child. They see the potential in each individual child and help them all grow in their own unique way. It's absolutely amazing, the work they do.
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Review from Laura S (Mother of Child) published on 23 August 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
It can often be a difficult decision choosing a nursery for your child, however choosing Busy Bees was easy. As soon as we visited we sensed a lovely atmosphere and it was apparent immediately that it was the right nursery for our daughter. As a nursery, the staff go above and beyond to ensure children
are safe, well looked after, and have lots of fun!
My daughter attended Busy Bees from being 9 months old and has only recently left to start her school journey, throughout her time at Busy Bees, I always found staff to be very approachable, knowledgeable, and reassuring but even more importantly they genuinely cared and made sure every child felt special, this resulted in my daughter feeling very happy and content during her time there, she formed some fantastic relationships with staff and other children that have now become friends.
Overall I would highly recommend Busy Bees to any parent currently deciding on a nursery - it was the best decision we made!
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Review from C M (Mother of Child) published on 23 August 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has attended since February 2023 age 11 months. She has settled in really well, the staff are friendly and have got to know her. Staff are interested in what the children like and what they are learning at home.
The nursery has ensured that they know all about her health needs and allergies.
Despite multiple food allergies they provide the same or very similar meals to the other children. Nursery have taken the time to understand her allergies and it’s been no problem for them to adapt the food offered. They have excellent procedures in place to ensure food is checked during and after preparation in the kitchen and again before served in the nursery room.
There are lots of daily activities on offer for the children to play and learn.
The outdoor area is amazing, the best nursery garden I have seen with lots to do and explore. The baby area outside is a great opportunity for all babies to get some fresh air in all weathers.
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Review from Ashleigh P (Mother of Child) published on 26 July 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has attended this nursery since she was 10 months old, she is now nearly 4 and leaving to start school. My son also attended since he was 10 months old. I can't recommend this nursery enough, all of the people who work here are so kind and friendly. Considering how many children attend,
they always know your child's name and welcome them every morning, making drop offs so easy. You can drop your children off safe in the knowledge that they are treated with the same love and affection a parent would give. Busy Bees will always hold a special place in our hearts. Thank you for everything.
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Review from Laurie D (Mother of Child) published on 2 July 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our little boy is 12 months old and has been attending Busy Bees since he was 9 months old. He has settled into nursery so well and we couldn’t be happier. It is so reassuring knowing how well he is taken care of and how content he is whilst there.
Having recently visited the nursery for their ‘stay
and play’ session, it was very clear and lovely to learn that he is not the only child who obviously feels the same way. As when other parents/carers left their children not one child (to my knowledge) was upset - which I feel speaks volumes of how content they all are whilst under the supervision of staff there. All staff myself and husband have come into contact with from reception to the classroom have been amazing and are truly a credit to the nursery. We can’t wait to see how our little boy is going to learn and grow with the amazing support he is given from the nursery, we couldn’t ask for more from them!
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Review from R G (Mother of Child) published on 21 May 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My husband and I couldn’t be happier with Busy Bees Nursery and would recommend it without hesitation to anyone looking for a nursery in the area. Our little boy has attended since he was 12 months old. From day one, it was clear that the staff work enormously hard to make the children’s nursery experience
as fun, stimulating and reassuring as possible - activities are creative and always related to what is going on in the ‘wider world’. The indoor and outdoor space is brilliant - designed to encourage independent and imaginative play, and the children spend a good amount of time outside most days. The team know that communication with parents and carers is vital to a trusting relationship, and they go out of their way to make sure that communications are regular, relevant and honest, from daily updates via the app to weekly newsletters and always making time for the all-important chat at pick up time. We couldn’t have asked for a better start to our nursery journey. Thank you, Busy Bees Nursery!
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Current Review Score: 10.0 (9.966)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 10 (9.966) out of 10 for Busy Bees Nursery 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 33 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 33 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 4.995 for Busy Bees Nursery is calculated as follows: ( (393 Excellents x 5) + (2 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 395 Ratings = 4.995
  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 4.971 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Busy Bees Nursery is based on 33 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 170 number of registered child places is 34. 33 Positive Reviews ÷ 34 = 0.971
  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.

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