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.

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Date Published
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Review from Abigail T (Mother of Child) published on 26 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both my children have been to Busy Bees. The staff are great and work hard to make sure that they are happy, settled and thriving. This has been particularly true with my youngest who has special educational needs. Staff have taken on board advice from us and other professionals that have supported
her development and we have in turn benefited from the input of nursery staff. The nursery has a good atmosphere and there is a lovely outdoor space for activities too. Staff are very friendly and approachable.
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Review from Lynsey N (Mother of Child) published on 19 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I cannot rate Busy Bees more highly. My son is now in his 5th room preparing to start school in September and the time he has spent at busy bees has been educational and full of fun.


The staff are very approachable and friendly with a great wealth of knowledge and I have never thought he was in

anything but the safest of hands.
All staff greet my son and family by name on arrival and when leaving and will go above and beyond to help with any queries or questions at any time.


Key workers have a personal relationship with each child which ensures they receive differentiated activities and the nursery experience is tailored to them and their development.


My son has loved his time at Busy Bees!

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Review from Elly N (Mother of Child) published on 9 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I’ve found the nursery environment and staff very inviting and supportive. We are always welcomed at the door by the staff, they are helpful in answering queries and I know I can speak to the Nursery Manager about anything in complete confidence. My little girl settled quickly into the nursery routine
and has come along leaps and bounds in the year that she has been there.
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Review from Lucy B (Mother of Child) published on 5 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I really can’t rate Busy Bees highly enough.
The staff are fabulous. So caring and yet very professional at the same time. Nothing is too much trouble. The facilities, food, activities, curriculum and overall environment are first class.
My son absolutely loves coming here and my daughter will hopefully
be starting soon. I’m sure she will thrive and flourish here as he has. I feel very lucky to have such a great place on my doorstep for my children to be a part of as they learn and develop.
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Review from Andrea S (Mother of Child) published on 19 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Busy Bees is an excellent nursery with very caring and helpful staff. The is a real emphasis on your child's education and natural development. From the manager to the cleaner all member of staff has your child's best interests at heart. Can't fault this place.
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Review from Nicky N (Father of Child) published on 8 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has attended Busy Bees for the last eight months and has spent time in two different rooms. She has really enjoyed her time in both the rooms and I am pleased to see her developing new skills. There are lots of opportunities to gain an insight into her day with ‘Stay and Play’ sessions organised,
as well as lots of information being shared on the Parentzone app.


My daughter enjoys playing outside and there are opportunities for her to do this. She has enjoyed walks around the local community as well as visits to the pet shop.


The staff are all warm and friendly and I have always felt at ease approaching them with any queries. The manager is always present in the nursery and it is lovely that she greets lots of the children as well as spending time talking to families.


Thank you to all of the staff at Busy Bees!

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Review from Chloe M (Mother of Child) published on 5 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son attended Busy Bees in 2017 and we found it a fantastic nursery. The staff were great - very knowledgeable, warm, professional and energetic. They were attuned to my son's individual needs and supported us whenever needed. The centre has a fantastic outdoor area and puts emphasis on spending time
outdoors, which I really liked, particularly as my son is very active. The centre also always provided lots of stimulating indoor play activities, with a lot of thought and innovation from the teachers.


The centre as a whole had a great 'family' vibe and there were always lots of thoughtful touches and child-focused additions such as a doorbell at child height and healthy snacks that the kids could collect to eat on the way home. These are only a couple of examples but there were many such things that have clearly been developed over time by staff who are continually reflective and attuned to the needs of the children and their families, in a centre that values and promotes excellent early childhood care.

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Review from Emma S (Mother of Child) published on 7 December 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
As a working mum, I have always felt at ease leaving all three of my children in the care of the staff at Busy Bees Nursery. The staff have always catered to each child's needs as they have gone through each of the rooms within the nursery.


The nursery has a fantastic outdoor area which stood out

from any other nursery we had been to look around. It is just amazing!


All three children have since left to go to school, my youngest most recently leaving in August 2017. However, we returned in the October half term to use the holiday care.


The nursery has certainly helped them all prepare for the transition from nursery to school. I would highly recommend Busy Bees Nursery to any parent looking for high standards of care and learning.

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Review from Richard G (Father of Child) published on 7 December 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has attended Busy Bees Nursery since 15 Months old. As a first time parent, I cannot praise the staff enough for making this process smooth. He has built a great relationship with all members of staff and I can see he is in a very relaxed environment.


He is becoming more independent and I

can see how caring the staff have been to support him along his journey. I know if I have any worries/queries then I can approach them and they will always be happy to help.


I find the flexibility of the nursery is perfect for my work commitments as I can add and change sessions when needed. The Parentzone app is great to use when I'm at work so I can see any photographs taken from his day at nursery and any meals eaten or naps taken.


Overall, I cannot recommend the nursery enough to see how happy he has settled in there.

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Review from Catherine T (Mother of Child) published on 16 November 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are always happy dropping our little girl off at Busy Bees Nursery in the mornings. She always gets a lovely welcome from the staff in her room which is equally reassuring for both her and us. We get lots of useful feedback on her day and her overall progress. The whole team are just lovely. Thank
you.
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Review from Laura G (Mother of Child) published on 13 November 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been going to Busy Bees Nursery since she was ten months old. She’ll be two next week and is about to transition into the 2-3year old room.


Ever since my daughter's first day, she has been so well cared for, stimulated and shown a lot of love. In each of the rooms, she’s had an amazing

special carer who takes their time to get to know her, what settles her and what makes her laugh.


The new app is great so that when I’m at work I can log in and see what she’s eaten, what she’s been doing and if she’s napped.


I can’t rate all the staff highly enough. As an anxious mam leaving her baby for the first time, my fears and worries were eased from being able to ring and see if she’s settled, email in and ask them just to make sure she’s happy to her running to their arms when I drop her off.


I can’t imagine leaving her in the care of anyone other than the staff at busy bees.

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Review from Gemma M (Mother of Child) published on 13 November 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We had a fantastic experience sending my eldest child here from 11 months until school age. It felt like we were part of a family. We were fortunate enough to only need childcare once a week for our youngest, but he too loved the staff, the great facilities and has made some lifelong friends. Very dedicated
staff and a caring environment, couldn't say anything negative about the 7 years we were here.
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Review from Christina M (Mother of Child) published on 10 October 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both of my daughters have attended Busy Bees since 2013, with the youngest now in the room for the oldest children. Over this time, we have come into contact with the majority of the staff there and we are always amazed at how - without fail - they are all approachable, knowledgeable and clearly see
their role as not just a job, but a vocation. Any little concerns we have (of which there have been very few!) are listened to and acted upon and there is a real sense that the staff tailor their care to the individual child and their personality. One of the main reasons we chose this nursery was for the incredible space and outdoor play opportunities - there is so much to do there, it is impossible for the children to get bored. My eldest daughter is now begging to be put into the after-school/holiday club as she is missing it so much now she has started school! I highly recommend this nursery.
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Review from Laura W (Mother of Child) published on 3 October 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
My daughters have all enjoyed being at this nursery. The majority of the staff are great. If I ever have a problem (which is very rare) it is soon dealt with. The children always seem to have enjoyed themselves doing various activities and it is nice to know that they have been given a good, healthy
meal.


The only thing I would change would be that they take the children on more outings outside the nursery, however, this is probably easier said than done!

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Review from Craig I (Father of Child) published on 3 October 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter started Busy Bees at age 2, I was a little nervous when she started, but the staff were and still are amazing with her! I trust them completely in looking after her and following whatever needs she has. She absolutely loves coming to nursery and gets excited when she knows its a nursery
day! My daughter always comes home talking about what she has been up too and we especially like the variety of activities that are on offer for her. Much more than we can provide at home!


I especially love the new parent zone app that has been introduced recently, it gives us a chance to see exactly what she has been up to throughout the day along with some photos. When I show her the photos we talk about what she has done at nursery that day and it encourages her to tell us stories and remember what she has been up to!


Oh and I love hearing about what she has had to eat, the menu offers a great variety of different food, and it always smells great!


Great nursery, would recommend.

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Review from Caroline W (Mother of Child) published on 28 September 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
A fantastic nursery. My two little girls attended Busy Bees between 2011 and 2017. Busy Bees became part of our family. The staff are all so friendly and caring and continue to make the nursery a happy, fun and safe environment. My two girls had some very special bonds with their carers, as did I. My
husband and I work shifts and Busy Bees were always very accommodating changing nursery days at very short notice. My girls love their time at Busy Bees and it certainly has helped prepare them for starting school.


Thank you Busy Bees.

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Review from Sarah M (Mother of Child) published on 25 September 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have two sons that attend Busy Bees Nursery, aged one and three. Whilst neither have considerably complex needs, they do have needs that have worried us as parents, particularly when being out of the family home. As parents, we cannot praise the staff at Busy Bees enough for their support and care
for both our sons. They have helped us to feel relaxed and supported with even the smallest of worries.
With our eldest son, we have always had our worries about how he would settle into a structured environment, in particular, following rules. Together nursery and home have worked hard on him, taking turns and getting on well with others. He has matured quickly, becoming more sensible, willing to listen and is able to resolve issues more calmly. We cannot thank the nursery enough for what we believe is largely based on the work they do. We know how much they help, but so does our son, because he tells us! He loves nursery. They both do, and so do we!


Well done Busy Bees, you're amazing!

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Review from Sarah and Paul B (Mother of Child) published on 5 September 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Busy Bees Nursery is a really lovely nursery. The children received so much love, care and attention. The staff took so much time to get to know and understand them. That meant that they were able to enjoy every opportunity. It was a home from home in every classroom.
There is great outdoor space
and the children had a great mix of indoor activities to try.
The food is great with lots of variation and interesting things to try.
The best thing of all is the kind, caring and dedicated staff who make Busy Bees Nursery such a great place. We would recommend it to others without hesitation.
Everyone is so helpful including the admin staff.
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Review from Emma N (Mother of Child) published on 21 August 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has attended this nursery from being only 4 months old. I can't praise the staff enough. My son loves his time there and they have brought him on so much. We moved away and changed nurseries last year but he missed it so much that we were forced to return.
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Review from Ruth P (Mother of Child) published on 21 August 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter started Busy Bees at 9 months when I returned to work. The visits prior to her starting helped her to settle and gave me an insight into her day. Communication from the nursery is excellent and staff ensured that the same routines were followed in nursery as are at home. This ensured consistency
for her. She developed a wonderful bond with her special carer as well as with other staff in the room. The nursery encourages us to contribute to her 'learning journey' document as well as discussing individual planning with us. There are lots of opportunities for child initiated learning based on her interests, but there are also interesting and engaging activities for her to participate in.


The environment is inviting and stimulating both inside and out and staff are warm and friendly. The menu is well balanced and the food looks delicious! My daughter has recently moved rooms and staff ensured this was a smooth transition for her.


Thank you Busy Bees!

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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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