Busy Bees Newhaven

David Lloyd Leisure Centre, Newhaven Place, Newhaven, Edinburgh EH6 4LX
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7.7 34 Reviews
  • Busy Bees Newhaven, Edinburgh
Busy Bees Newhaven is situated by Newhaven Harbour at Newhaven Place, Leith, near Ocean Terminal.

Busy Bees at Newhaven is a 58 place nursery with three age-appropriate rooms, filled with exciting toys and learning materials so that children can have fun playing and learning at their own pace.

The nursery work closely in partnership with Edinburgh Council to provide excellent pre-school education and inspected by Education Scotland who grades on how well the staff deliver the Pre Birth to Three Curriculum and the Curriculum for Excellence to the children.

The Busy Bees childcare team work hard to develop unique learning enhancements for the nursery, these help the children in learning core skills for every stage of their developments.
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Type of Service

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

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Louise Munro (Centre Director)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 25

Total Places for Children

  • 58

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

  • Christmas to New Year & Easter Bank Holidays

Busy Bees Newhaven Reviews (34)

7.7

Busy Bees Newhaven has a Review Score of 7.7 (7.672) out of 10, based on 2 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Busy Bees Newhaven has 34 reviews.

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Date Published
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Reviewer Connection to Busy Bees Newhaven
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Total of 34, showing 1-20
Review from M B (Mother of Child) published on 27 August 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
The staff at Busy Bees are very caring with the children and they are what really makes this nursery great for us. Our son has been attending full time most of the time over the 5 years he has been at the nursery. We especially reccomend the nursery for children with additional support needs, as their
trained staff are very competent, accommodating and attentive. Communication has sometimes been a bit patchy in early stages of our experience, but has since improved greatly. Our son enjoyed his time here and developed his skills enormously with the support of staff. Keep us the good work!
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Review from L A (Mother of Child) published on 6 December 2024 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Nursery staff are excellent, attentive, caring and kind. My child enjoys going to nursery and loves the personal touch from staff.
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Review from G T (Mother of Child) published on 25 May 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Excellent nursery with very caring staff who ensure the children are well cared for and receive enriching experiences. During this period of unprecedented inflation and financial uncertainty I'm so glad we chose Busy Bees. The extra security I feel the group brings over independent nurseries is a definite
plus.
Reply from Emily Graves, Digital Content Assistant at Busy Bees Newhaven
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.
40 years of Busy Bees – 40 years of best…read more
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Review from Natalie R (Mother of Child) published on 27 April 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has attended Newhaven since he was 11-months-old, the staff have always been very helpful and friendly. They are always making sure he has great fun. My son loves going to nursery and it's great to see how well he has come on in his speech and confidence. Honestly, the staff are great here!
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Review from Petrina B (Mother of Child) published on 5 July 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little boy has been attending Busy Bees at Newhaven since he was 9-months-old and I genuinely cannot rate the staff and managers any higher. He has settled well into each room that he has been in, and the setting is really close-knit, so even though he may have moved up, he still interacts with previous
key workers. He looks forward to going in each day, and the communication is great, I really like the app as it’s nice to see little snapshots of what happens during his days there. It also helps for us to track how he’s eating too - the food is fab too. They manage to get him to eat things he won’t eat at home. They’ve also handled COVID-19 really well, and I’m confident in the procedures they have in place.
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Review from Sham B (Father of Child) published on 24 June 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter has been attending Busy Bees at Newhaven since she turned 1 (now 3 years old) and what a great journey it is. Staff deserve the biggest recognition for being caring, supportive and attentive to little one's individual needs and moods but also for creating a family-friendly and safe atmosphere/environment
to play and learn. Staff focus on child needs, comfort, development. Food is tasty and nutritious, toddlers are also involved in its preparation, making pizza, tea or cookies. Nursery promotes healthy habits, good hygiene and cultural awareness. Big support with potty training. Parents App is keeping parents up to date with our daughter daily menu, activities and developments milestones on daily bases. Management is very approachable, helpful, supportive and available to handle any phone/email queries (amazing team effort and logistics during lockdown). Happy place for our baby girl !
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Review from Claire E (Mother of Child) published on 23 June 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
The staff are excellent. They nurture and develop the children with care and commitment. My son thoroughly enjoys nursery and his speech and physical confidence had progressed well while attending there twice a week. The activities he partakes in are engaging and he has opportunities for both independent
and group play and activities. His meals are balanced and there is a good variety. The outdoor facilities are small but have been improved upon recently with the addition of a tunnel and other equipment that enhances physical activity. The staff also utilise the gym equipment and space when the weather is bad, which is a huge positive. The children are taken on walks in the local environment but not as much as I would like. Overall, this nursery is excellent for my son for two days a week attendance, what it lacks is outdoor space size, which it makes up for with truly excellent staff and activity planning.
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Review from Kim M (Mother of Child) published on 27 May 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been attending Newhaven since she was around 9 months old and has transitioned through the different rooms and I can’t speak more highly of the nursery and the staff. They’re all so welcoming and friendly, I have complete trust in them and more importantly, my daughter loves it. They’re
very informative and always exploring new ideas to support the children’s development. My daughter can be quite shy and doesn’t trust people easily. I was really concerned about her returning after lockdown but I needn’t have worried as the staff ensured she settled in really well and supported her (and me!) to make sure she was comfortable and happy. The Parents app is wonderful and gives me a real glimpse into what she’s doing at nursery as the staff upload photos and development information. As mentioned above I feel the staff really care about the children, they’re invested and seem really happy and engaging. The manager and the team are great and I couldn’t think of a nursery.
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Review from Jemma M (Mother of Child) published on 27 May 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has attended Busy Bees since she was 10 months old and has transitioned throughout the rooms. Every step of the way, the staff have provided support and reassurance. The staff are friendly and very caring. My daughter has made strong relationships with staff and other children. She has thrived
while attending Busy bees and has developed into an independent strong-minded little girl. She enjoys all the activities at nursery and especially likes being outside playing. The app for handover is very informative and I love seeing pictures of the children’s day. My family have had a hard time over the past year and the manager and her team have been fully supportive. We are very grateful for their compassion.
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Review from Laura H (Mother of Child) published on 26 May 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little boy started at Newhaven when he was a year old in November and due to lack of interaction over the various lockdowns has settled into the fun, welcoming atmosphere at Newhaven which is all down to the friendly, understanding and professional staff who my son has so much fun with! He even says
all their names and asks to see them on weekends!
The various activities, play areas, freshly cooked meals and development measures have definitely all made a positive impact on my sons skillset, vocabulary and social skills and I trust in their care 100%. I look forward to him moving up through the rooms and developing more.
Reply from Lindsey Doughty, Marketing Manager at Busy Bees Newhaven
We are thrilled to hear your comments. We are really pleased to hear about your positive experience at nursery and very much appreciate having you as part of the Busy Bees family. Your comments will…read more
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Review from Emma R (Mother of Child) published on 26 May 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our son loves Busy Bees Newhaven as do we. He's been there since he was 10 months old and has come on in leaps and bounds. The handover from nursery is always very detailed and he always seems to have a great time. We love the diary online as we can see what he's been up to during the day. The staff
and nursery manager are wonderful and always quick to answer any questions.
Reply from Lindsey Doughty, Marketing Manager at Busy Bees Newhaven
We are thrilled to hear your comments. We are really pleased to hear about your positive experience at nursery and very much appreciate having you as part of the Busy Bees family. Your comments will…read more
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Review from P K (Father of Child) published on 26 May 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
An excellent nursery. The staff are great and our son loves his time there. He is developing great and the staff are always happy to help if we want to work on some aspect of development or play. He has made loads of friends. The crèche has been supportive through the pandemic. Definitely recommended.
Reply from Lindsey Doughty, Marketing Manager at Busy Bees Newhaven
We really appreciate your excellent feedback. We will endeavour to maintain the quality of care that you have experienced during your time as a parent at nursery.
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Review from Sam G (Father of Child) published on 26 May 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We love Busy Bees! Newhaven has a great baby room and that's what sold us initially. Now he's all grown up and graduating from nursery and he's had a great time. The staff are all lovely and everything is very professional. Over the last year, we have felt very safe with the precautions they have taken.
It's nice being part of a large organisation like Busy Bees because everything feels very safe and secure and there are lots of great resources. Did I mention the staff are lovely? Also, the location is super fun, down by the harbour in Newhaven. They go on loads of adventures. It doesn't have the biggest outdoor space, but they make up for that by taking them on loads of trips, and there are plenty of green spaces in the leisure centre's facilities or beyond. They are always going on fun trips to parks.
We signed our second up to Busy Bees at Newhaven straight away - we're a Busy Bees family!
Reply from Lindsey Doughty, Marketing Manager at Busy Bees Newhaven
Thank you so much for your lovely feedback and for taking the time to leave us a review.
We are really pleased to hear about your positive experience at nursery and are delighted that you are part of…read more
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Review from Joanna P (Mother of Child) published on 26 May 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We can't recommend the nursery enough. Our little girl was very upset at the start but all the staff are so lovely and caring that she is now loving it so much. We always get full information about her day and the manager is always there to help with all our queries. Great place for all little people.
Reply from Lindsey Doughty, Marketing Manager at Busy Bees Newhaven
We are thrilled to hear your comments. We are really pleased to hear about your positive experience at nursery and very much appreciate having you as part of the Busy Bees family. Your comments will…read more
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Review from Natalie J (Mother of Child) published on 26 May 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son had a bad experience at another nursery and moved him here and he is so happy. He loves going to nursery and has made lots of friends here. The staff are very friendly and helpful. The communication from the nursery is fantastic too.
Reply from Lindsey Doughty, Marketing Manager at Busy Bees Newhaven
Thank you so much for your review. We are delighted that your son has settled well with us. We really appreciate your excellent feedback. We will endeavour to maintain the quality of care that you…read more
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Review from Laura R (Mother of Child) published on 26 May 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I was really nervous about putting my son into nursery and had visited a few places but didn't like the feel of them. From the moment we had our visit to Busy Bees at Newhaven I really liked it and the staff.
My son has been there since he was 9 months old and he really enjoys his time at nursery.
They really get to know him and have really supported his development.
During lockdown, I did a lot of the activities on the Busy Bees app. It gave me plenty of ideas and it stopped my son being bored at home.
My son has just transitioned into the preschool room and it went really well. He visited the room the week before and he settled in really quickly. All the staff are so friendly and seem to really enjoy their work.
I love that the food is prepared fresh on-site, they were able to cater for my son's dietary needs.
The manager is really approachable and is very knowledgeable about all the children.
Reply from Lindsey Doughty, Marketing Manager at Busy Bees Newhaven
We are thrilled to hear your comments. We are really pleased to hear about your positive experience at nursery and very much appreciate having you as part of the Busy Bees family. Your comments will…read more
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Review from Kerri-ann M (Mother of Child) published on 26 May 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter attended Busy Bees nursery from 1 year old and transitioned through all the rooms, before graduating nursery in time to go to school. My son started at Newhaven from 1 year old and is now 4 and loves nursery, his teachers and the friends he has made. All the staff are knowledgeable and friendly
and know the children and parents very well. I really do feel the standard of care and development provided aids with the transition to school. We have been linked to Newhaven for 6 years and the staff turnover is low, which is so comforting as a parent to know the children have the same teachers. The Manager is great as is the Assistant Manager and my child's teachers, all approachable, helpful and it really is a lovely team. I have recommended the nursery and will continue to do so.
Reply from Lindsey Doughty, Marketing Manager at Busy Bees Newhaven
Thank you so much for your lovely review.
We are thrilled to hear your comments and we're really pleased to hear about your positive experience at nursery and very much appreciate having you as part…read more
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Review from S M (Mother of Child) published on 26 May 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
All the staff are fantastic, very friendly and very focused on the children's development. My daughter is always happy to attend and loves all the activities on offer. I would definitely recommend this nursery to anyone looking for childcare and would carry on to use in the future.
Reply from Lindsey Doughty, Marketing Manager at Busy Bees Newhaven
We are thrilled to hear your comments.
Your positive feedback is very welcome and will be passed on to staff at nursery, we are sure the team will really appreciate your excellent feedback.
Thank…read more
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Review from Christina B (Mother of Child) published on 20 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been attending Busy Bees at Newhaven since she was one year old. She's transitioned through all the rooms and each one has been tailored to her needs and abilities. She absolutely loves going and playing with her friends. The staff are brilliant, they all know each child and their parents
by name. They have been very supportive of various important transitions such as toilet training. The manager is fantastic, she is extremely accommodating, professional and knowledgeable. During the uncertainties of the pandemic, she kept parents informed and dealt with the challenges admirably. I would thoroughly recommend Busy Bees at Newhaven.
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Review from Samantha R (Mother of Child) published on 20 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has attended the nursery since she was seven months old and she is now almost three years old. The staff are friendly and experienced, they appear to make time to attend to her needs. Every day I feel confident leaving my daughter, knowing that she's well looked after, well-fed and engaged
with great activities. The nursery has its own chef and my daughter thoroughly enjoys the food, when she was very young they made a special effort to provide her with blended meals and helped wean her to solid foods. The children, including the babies, undertake a variety of age-appropriate activities. The management team are consistent in seeking parental feedback. They have implemented many beneficial changes to the nursery in the last couple of years. For example, there is a more natural environment within the nursery and children are encouraged to explore and play in their natural surroundings. We look forward to our daughter spending more happy years at the nursery.
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Current Review Score: 7.7 (7.672)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 7.7 (7.672) out of 10 for Busy Bees Newhaven is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.4 out of 5 from 2 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 3.3 out of 5 from 2 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 4.375 for Busy Bees Newhaven is calculated as follows: ( (10 Excellents x 5) + (13 Goods x 4) + (1 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 24 Ratings = 4.375
  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 3.297 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Busy Bees Newhaven is based on 2 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 = 3.125
    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 58 number of registered child places is 11.6. 2 Positive Reviews ÷ 11.6 = 0.172
  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 (2)

Meet the Team (1)

Sophie

Sophie Brown

Job Title: Chef Joined: 2023

Hello, I'm Sophie I've currently been at Busy Bees Newhaven for 4 months but I've been in the hospitality industry for almost 10 years. I have a keen interest in baking in my spare time and bake a huge array of different bakes and cakes. I look forward to continuing to help your child's development by feeding them nutritionally balanced and healthy meals.

Frequently Asked Questions about Busy Bees Newhaven

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

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

What Days & Hours is Busy Bees Newhaven Open?

Busy Bees Newhaven 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 Newhaven have capacity for?

Busy Bees Newhaven has capacity for a total of 58 Children.

How far is Busy Bees Newhaven to the centre of Edinburgh?

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