Busy Bees Nursery

Priory Road, Newton Hall, Durham DH1 5HW
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Top 20 award
10 197 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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Funding & Fees

Contact Busy Bees Nursery to get a personalised quote.

Contact Busy Bees Nursery to get a personalised quote.

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 (197)

10

Busy Bees Nursery has a Review Score of 10 (9.994) out of 10, based on 39 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Busy Bees Nursery has 197 reviews.

Overall Experience
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Date Published
  • 197
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Reviewer Connection to Busy Bees Nursery
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Total of 197, showing 81-100
Review from Chris H (Father of Child) published on 1 November 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are absolutely delighted with the level of care for our baby. Busy Bees provides a warm, welcoming and friendly environment. She loves coming to nursery each day and loves visibly growing in confidence. As working parents, our minds are totally at peace with our daughter at Busy Bees. The app is
a brilliant way to communicate throughout the day so we know how she is getting on. Perhaps the best aspect of her care is the genuine interest shown by all the staff who work here. Everyone loves the children, knows them by name, and takes the time at the start or end of the day to talk. Busy Bees is an excellent nursery and one we would recommend to other families wholeheartedly. Keep up the brilliant work.
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Review from Nicola D (Mother of Child) published on 13 August 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We cannot praise Busy Bees enough. Our daughter loves her nursery and teachers and we are so happy that we chose this nursery for her. The staff are all wonderful, caring and attentive to her needs and she loves the girls in Honeys.
My husband and I work variable shift patterns and the nursery have
been very accommodating in allowing us to flex our sessions around them throughout lockdown when things have been difficult for all. We’ve really appreciated the feedback, updates and photos via the ParentZone app. It’s lovely to see what they’ve all been up to so that we can share her experiences at home.


Our daughter has grown in confidence so much in the 8 months she has been at Busy Bees and we look forward to watching her further blossom during her final year in Bumbles, before starting school.


We would 100% recommend this nursery to anyone.

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Review from Fiona K (Mother of Child) published on 22 July 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little boy will soon leave Busy Bees to start school and that will be the end of a five and half year association with the nursery for our family. During that time the nursery staff have provided excellent care for my children and I’d be happy to recommend Busy Bees to anyone seeking childcare in
the Durham area.
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Review from Melissa M (Mother of Child) published on 20 July 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our little girl has been going to this nursery since September 2017. The staff are amazing and their care is second to none. Our little girl is now leaving to start school but our little boy will be joining in September! Thank you so much for all you's have done Busy Bees!
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Review from Donata L (Mother of Child) published on 16 July 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The Busy Bees Nursery is a really great place where I leave my child every day with complete peace. The staff are extremely warm, competent, creative and carefully observing children. My son loves to walk here. In nursery, importance is attached to healthy eating, physical activity, and positive values
are consolidated in children. My son is bilingual thanks to this nursery, we can speak Polish at home, only in nursery my son speaks English, what more could you want. I recommend it all!
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Review from Simon S (Father of Child) published on 1 July 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our son loves going to Busy Bees - he has great fun, learns so much, and always comes home happy with a story to tell. The staff are always extremely helpful and considerate and do a wonderful job. Highly recommended.
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Review from Lauren M (Mother of Child) published on 29 June 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little boy has attended since September 2020 at the age of 8months. Since then the nursery has had a huge impact on my son's development and has brought him on loads. The care he receives is outstanding, the quality of food supplied for the children is outstanding and the staff at the nursery are
all outstanding. It certainly meets the Ofsted rate of outstanding. Would certainly recommend this nursery.
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Review from Anna P (Mother of Child) published on 29 June 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter transitioned to busy bees from another nursery when she was 2. The staff were so supportive when she joined her new childcare setting and she's loved being at busy bees from day one. The staff are all absolutely brilliant, so positive, caring, and supportive. The food is great with my daughter
regularly eating way more variety whilst at nursery than she does at home. Finally, the level of creativity that my daughter experiences whilst at nursery is amazing, the activities that fill her day are so varied and engaging. I'd have absolutely no problem recommending busy bees to others.
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Review from Stephen R (Father of Child) published on 17 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We were delighted with our daughter's time at Busy Bees. They played a great role in her development and she made many friends. The staff are friendly and approachable and go above and beyond. They have shown real care in knowing our daughter well and understanding her needs. She always came home full
of stories about her day, telling us all of the wonderful things she had done and learned. I would recommend Busy Bees to anyone and will always remember the role they played in our lives.
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Review from Pablo L-A (Father of Child) published on 7 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have been bringing our three years old twin little girls to Busy Bees Nursery since November 2020. During this time, I only have good words to say about the nursery. My daughters really love going there and they enjoy all the activities they do. The feedback from the nursery is amazing, which we
get almost in real-time, of what the kids are doing and eating, with a lot of pictures too!
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Review from Helen S (Mother of Child) published on 27 January 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been at Busy Bees since she was 9 months old. She’s now almost 2. I have been thrilled with the nursery since my very first visit - which happened to be the day they were being inspected by OFSTED and received OUTSTANDING - and I have to say I wasn’t a bit surprised! Working in Education
myself, I was quite particular about what I was looking for my little one and I do think I’ve found that at Busy Bees. Outdoor opportunities galore, child-led learning, well-trained, friendly staff, excellent and speedy communication and flexibility. It’s clear staff understand how children communicate, play and learn and this feeds into the environments provided for the children; the invitations to explore and the planned activities. The ParentZone app keeps me up to date throughout the day on meals, naps, snacks and learning. I love getting photos of what she’s up to whilst I’m working. My older (school-age) children have also accessed the wrap-around care and LOVED it!
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Review from Helen R (Mother of Child) published on 15 January 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little boy started Busy Bees in October 2020 and I can honestly say, it was the best decision we have made. He has a wonderful time every time he is there, it makes working so much easier knowing he is happy and incredibly well looked after by the fabulous staff and management team. Management are
extremely helpful and always attempt to accommodate to any changes in our schedule, and the carers couldn’t do enough for my son; they have a genuine connection with him that makes me very happy to know he is getting plenty of love when he is at nursery. There are a range of activities they provide for him that encourage all areas of his development, he is always exploring something new and exciting and reading the daily feedback on the app is very reassuring for me. The app also provides photos, as well as other necessary information so I always know what's been happening throughout the day. I would 100% recommend Busy Bees nursery to anyone.
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Review from Kimberley C (Mother of Child) published on 13 November 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Outstanding nursery for all ages, from baby to school. I have used the nursery for 5 years for 3 children who all attend still, the nursery itself and the breakfast and after school. I can honestly say all the staff go above and beyond not only for the children but also the parents. They become an extended
part of the family for the children and care for them in that way. I have moved to different areas but could never imagine them being in any other nursery. I checked out a few before my first started but all their facilities beat everyone I looked at, the outdoor area is outstanding.
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Review from Stefanie K (Mother of Child) published on 12 November 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are genuinely happy that we chose Busy Bees for our daughter. She started going at one year old and we were nervous about how she would settle in after having spent the months before starting nursery just with us due to the pandemic. However, everything has been going extremely well and we love how
the staff treat the children with warmth and care. She absolutely loves going to nursery and we feel that she is thriving in the environment. The staff are always happy to take into account her needs (how and when she goes to sleep, her dietary requirements, the kinds of activities she enjoys). Busy Bees has been forthcoming when we needed to make a change to our bookings. We also very much appreciate all the steps taken to ensure everyone's safety in times of Covid-19. We would definitely recommend Busy Bees!
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Review from Alison W (Mother of Child) published on 19 October 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been going to Busy Bees since December 2019. He is just about to change to the Butterfly room. All of the carers in the nursery are lovely, so informative and caring. My son took a while to get used to going and cried every time he went, it wasn’t a problem at all, the carers were so loving
to him, settled him and I never had to worry how he was, as I got regular updates on the ParentZone app. He now loves going, gets excited when he sees the building. The attention to detail over the Covid virus and the actions they have in place to protect the children, themselves and parents are amazing. First-rate care for all children, I highly recommend Busy Bees.
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Review from Laura G (Mother of Child) published on 16 October 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little girl has been going to Busy Bees for only three months but I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a nursery.
They have been so attentive and helpful throughout and made me feel at ease.
I know that my little girl is being well looked after and I get updates throughout the
day.
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Review from Georgia R (Mother of Child) published on 16 October 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son started this nursery after six months of lockdown, so I was very worried about how he would settle. However, Busy Bees were great at making my son feel welcome and adapting to his needs during such a hard time. The communication from the staff has been amazing and helped to also put my worries
as a mother at ease. Thank you so much Busy Bees for helping my son grow in confidence and independence. I would highly recommend.
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Review from Eleanor M (Mother of Child) published on 16 October 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son's first visit to Busy Bees reassured me we had chosen the right place. Every member of staff is so caring which is the reason he settled so quickly. He lights up when he arrives on a morning and we feel totally reassured he is in the best hands. We feel the staff genuinely care about him and
his well being. They have been incredibly accomodating with changing some of his days at very little notice. We are constantly informed of his day and love seeing pictures and details of activities. They always take the time out at the end of the day to give such detailed feedback about his day. Definitely the best place for our son.
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Review from Catharine M (Mother of Child) published on 8 September 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Busy Bees is a fantastic nursery. I have always been very pleased with the standard of care, the activities offered and especially impressed with the dedication, friendliness and care of the staff. I have been very impressed with the way they have handled reopening the nursery since the pandemic and
providing some much-needed normality for the children, while implementing all the necessary saftey measures. My son is very happy there and his older siblings also loved their time at the nursery. I would highly recommend Busy Bees.
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Review from Celia O (Mother of Child) published on 3 September 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The Busy Bees Nursery is amazing. I was nervous to leave my 6 months old at first but within a couple of days, my little girl shone with happiness. The entire staff from the reception, to the kitchen and obviously all the childminders always have a smile on. They have an amazing rapport with the children.
I can't thank them enough for all their care and not to forget their adaptability.
Also, we receive a daily report of all activities and meals, and a precise summary of the routine of our child (naps, nappies, overall well-being, etc.). We receive photos from time to time of special moments in the life of our little one. We have been reassured from day 1 that she would be well taken care of and that we would be made aware of any noticeable event.
My girl is excited to go there every day; she throws herself into the arms of all her adult friends. She is smiling and laughing when she sees them: that in itself is the true and best review that can be given to the Busy Bees staff!
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Current Review Score: 10.0 (9.994)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 10 (9.994) 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 39 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 39 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 4.994 for Busy Bees Nursery is calculated as follows: ( (464 Excellents x 5) + (3 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 467 Ratings = 4.994
  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 Nursery is based on 39 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 20 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews, 0.05 Points for the next five Positive Reviews, and finally 0.025 Points for the next ten Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.050, 7th = 0.050, 8th = 0.050, 9th = 0.050, 10th = 0.050, 11th = 0.025, 12th = 0.025, 13th = 0.025, 14th = 0.025, 15th = 0.025, 16th = 0.025, 17th = 0.025, 18th = 0.025, 19th = 0.025, 20th = 0.025) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 = 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, which has been reached with 39 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.

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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.