Busy Bees Castle View nursery has been honoured with a ‘Community Nursery of the Year’ award at this year’s Scottish Nursery Awards, in recognition of its commitment to championing parent and community partnerships, inclusivity, and nurturing confident and compassionate children who value their community.
The nursery fought off stiff competition at last weekend’s awards ceremony (Saturday 22nd November), which celebrate excellence in Scotland’s early years sector and recognise nurseries that demonstrate exceptional care, innovation and commitment to children and families.
Busy Bees Castle View, located at Carnegie Campus, is part of Busy Bees, the UK’s largest early years provider with over 387 nurseries across the UK and Ireland, and one of Scotland’s largest joint early years providers with 21 nurseries across the country.
The Castle View nursery was praised for placing community engagement at the heart of its nursery. So far, over 260 children have participated in over 900 hours of community events, including raising over £2,000 for seven local charities.
The nursery fosters intergenerational connections, including a partnership with local care home, Morar Care Home, where children and residents regularly come together to enjoy lunch and shared activities. The nursery also supports community reading initiatives, such as a Community Book Hut filled with books to spark a love of reading across all ages.
Beyond this, the team continues to support its community through engaging initiatives. Highlights include a visit from a hedgehog hospital that taught the children about caring for wildlife, the creation of a herb garden at the nursery entrance where families and the community can help themselves to fresh herbs, and regular coffee mornings that bring local families and community members together, reducing isolation and building connections.
The nursery is managed by Jen Wright, whose team bring an unparalleled level of early years experience. The centre has a high number of long-service colleagues, including two members with 22 years of service, one with 15 and many with over a decade of commitment. Together, they ensure high-quality care across the 100-place nursery.
Jen Wright, Centre Director at Busy Bees Castle View, said: “We are over the moon to win the Community Nursery of the Year award! I am incredibly proud of my team who pour their hearts into creating opportunities for children to build meaningful relationships with people, places, and causes that shape the world around our children.
“Whether we’re sharing stories with care home residents, raising funds for local charities, supporting young authors, or teaching empathy through wildlife care, our aim is always the same: to nurture confident, compassionate children who understand the value of community. Our nursery and community feel like one big family and this award is testament to our dedication to give every child the best start in life.”
Earlier this year, the team also celebrated success at the Busy Bees Educators Graduation, proudly taking home the Learner of the Year award, a testament to their ongoing commitment to professional development and lifelong learning.
Yvonne Smillie, Managing Director for Busy Bees Scotland added: “I am beyond proud of the Castle View nursery team. The national success reflects the values and deep-rooted community spirit that define the nursery, qualities that continue to ripple far beyond its walls.”
For more information about Busy Bees Castle View, click here or call 0330 333 8133.