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Welcome to Busy Bees

Welcome to Busy Bees

Your nursery in
St.Albans, Bernard Street

Ofsted
Google
4 /5

9.6

Day Nurseries Score
Buggy-storage
Parent-room
Parking

Busy Bees at Bernard Street is a purpose built, single-storey nursery in St. Albans; well-designed to accommodate children’s individual needs and interests. 

Our spacious daycare setting at Bernard Street features 3 different colourful rooms for each age group which are the Baby Bees Room for babies between 3 months to 2 years, Honeybees Room for toddlers 2 to 3 years old and the Busy Bees Room for the pre-schoolers aged 3 to 5 years old. 

Bee curious curriculum
Book visit Bee Curious Curriculum

Busy Bees
St.Albans, Bernard Street
Nursery Facilities

Based in a residential area and close to local amenities within 15 minutes’ walk from St Albans train station, and with good links to A1, M1 and M25 we are conveniently located to suit busy parents’ commuting needs. Parking on site puts our parents’ mind at ease for quick drop offs and collections. Parents can also leave prams and scooters to a dedicated buggy store area when visiting the nursery. 

We offer a range of indoor and outdoor activities that promote the developmental stages and interests of each individual child. Children have the choice to play indoors or outdoors in our free flow environment throughout the nursery. The large and secure garden with all-weather surfaces and a separate baby area, is a fantastic opportunity for children to play and explore daily.  

All dietary needs are cared for from the nursery dedicated Chef who provides all children with two fresh, nutritious and NHS accredited meals, which are prepared on site. The children can also have breakfast, a snack in the morning and a snack in the evening which they enjoy with fresh milk delivered from the milkman.  

With years of experience and constant access to training opportunities provided by Busy Bees and the Local Authority, our staff are passionate about quality childcare and giving all children the best start in life  

If you would like to experience the welcoming and homely environment we offer, book a visit online and we will show you around our childcare setting in St.Albans. We look forward to meeting your family.  

Special things about St.Albans, Bernard Street

Conveniently located

Conveniently located

Close to St Albans train station, and with good links to A1, M1 and M25 

Unique to

St.Albans, Bernard Street

Thoughtfully tailored rooms

Thoughtfully tailored rooms

For each of our nursery's age groups. 

Unique to

St.Albans, Bernard Street

A warm welcome

from our Director
- Centre Director

Director

Susan Goodbrand

Hi my name is Susan Goodbrand and I am the Centre Director at Busy Bees at Bernard Street

I have worked in childcare since 2002 and I hold a CACHE DCE Level 3 in Childcare along with a Level 5 Early Years Lead practitioner qualification. I also hold a NVQ Level 3 in Management. I have worked in nurseries starting as a Nursery Nurse and worked my way up to a Nursery Manager since 2012.

I have also had experience as a Neonatal Nursery Nurse in my local hospital too. I am passionate about Child Development and in particular SEN which is close to my heart. I strive to give children and their families the best possible experience in Nurseries, and I enjoy watching children grow.

I am very thankful to be part of their ongoing learning journey. I have worked in a variety of independent and larger chain nurseries and during my journey I was lucky to win an Early Years Apprentice award from my Level 5 training provider in 2025. One of the nurseries that I have managed also featured in one of Penny Tassoni’s books based on “Getting it right for two-year-olds” which was an amazing experience for me.  

Meet the amazing team

Deb Prentice

Assistant Centre Director

Deb Prentice

Vincent Weston

Chef

Vincent Weston

Reviews

What
St.Albans, Bernard Street
parents say

Ofsted

Ofsted Good

Day Nurseries

9.6

Google

4 /5

We love the staff and the care they give. We feel safe knowing our children have a great day at busy bees and the staff are always so thoughtful and kind.

N

17/03/2026

. Our son has been attending Busy Bees on Bernard Street for almost a year now, and it has been an incredibly smooth and positive experience. He genuinely enjoys going in every day, and we’ve seen him thrive both socially and developmentally. He has formed close relationships with all members of staff — from his key person to the wider team — which speaks volumes about the caring and consistent environment they provide. The support we’ve received from the admin team has also been excellent, and the nursery director has always been warm, approachable, and proactive in communicating with both us and our son. Any minor issues have been resolved swiftly and thoughtfully, and we’ve always felt kept in the loop. This is the second child of ours to attend this nursery, and we can wholeheartedly recommend it based on the wonderful care and attention both have received.

BK

22/10/2025

Opening times

Monday
to Friday

7:30
AM
to
6:30
PM

Busy Bees St.Albans, Bernard Street operates Monday to Friday from 7:30 to 6:30 offering full-day care for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years.

Open 52 weeks a year, Busy Bees St.Albans, Bernard Street helps support families around the demands of work and everyday life.

We look forward to working with you to create a plan that suits your family.

SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDING

We take pride in our safeguarding policies

Safety and safeguarding are at the heart of everything we do, and your child's safety is our highest priority. Our policies and procedures are designed to ensure every child in our care is safe, supported and well looked after.

Learn more

Award-Winning Safeguarding Standards recognising our commitment to protecting children across the UK

A dedicated Safety and Safeguarding Team with decades of experience, led by an industry-recognised leadership team

ISO 45001 certification supported by robust policies and procedures to help protect every child in our care

Thorough recruitment processes including enhanced DBS checks and comprehensive referencing, before joining Busy Bees

Carefully managed drop-off and collection procedures and sign out with controlled entry

Paediatric first aid trained staff in every nursery

A safe, supportive environment and a dedicated "speak up" service, where team members can confidentially report concerns 24/7, 365 days a year, through a variety of channels, without fear of retaliation

Curriculum and education

Giving your child the best start in life

Curriculum

Our Bee Curious curriculum is at the heart of everything we do, helping your child grow in a safe and nurturing environment.

Centred around your child's interests and pace, we combine purposeful play with a carefully designed curriculum that fosters curiosity and confidence. Bee Curious guides every moment in our nursery, from caring routines to planned activities, placing the unique child and their key person at the heart of learning. From encouraging independence at mealtimes, to supporting friendships in the playground, to celebrating every milestone with enthusiasm, our curriculum sparks a love of learning from the very beginning.

Expertly

developed

Using our 40 years of industry leading childcare experience, Bee Curious is a blueprint for playful learning. It is:

Developed by industry-leading experts and using over 40 years of global expertise

Based on the latest child behavioural science research and findings

Developed through collaboration with Busy Bees educators across the world

Led by Gill Jones MBE - Busy Bees Group Chief Quality Officer

Playfully

taught

Alongside structured learning, we encourage your child to express themselves freely and explore the world around them through creative and outdoor experiences that support every area of development. We do this by:

Using role play and storytelling to strengthen communication

Exploring art, music and movement

Learning outdoors in a safe, stimulating environment

Developing physical coordination and confidence

A head start

in life

Our teams nurture your child's curiosity and confidence, preparing them not just for school, but for life. We do this by:

Early reading and writing through phonics, storytelling and mark-making activities

Strong number sense through counting, patterns and problem-solving

Hands-on, purposeful play to encourage critical thinking and curiosity.

Strengthening focus and listening skills with guided group learning sessions.

Childcare at Busy Bees

Childcare funding

Funding and fees

Understanding childcare funding and nursery fees can feel complicated. Our aim is to make the process as clear and straightforward as possible, helping you to find the right options for your family.

Use our funding fees calculator to estimate how your childcare hours could reduce your weekly nursery fees. Before using the calculator, please check which funding you might be eligible for here.

Calculate your fees Fee Sheet Funding Eligibility

explore a day at busy bees

A day in the life at Busy Bees St.Albans, Bernard Street

Two bees greeting

Arrival and welcome

from 7:30am

Children arrive from 7:30am and are warmly greeted by our team.

Bee with a bowl of snacks

Breakfast

Children can enjoy fresh fruit with a selection of cereals or porridge.

Bee reading a book

Morning time

9am — 12pm

Every morning, children are introduced to activities that engage their interest.

Focused sensory activity

Exploring colours and textures

Outdoor exploration

With educators to guide the play.

Snack time

A nutritious snack and/or formula milk (if required) is provided.

A story with calm time or a nap

The children may have one or two naps in the day depending on their home routine and we will always offer these in line with their home life.

Bee holding an apple

Meal time

12pm — 2pm

A nutritious lunch. Our full NHS-accredited menu is available here.

Rest and Relaxation

Quiet play or nap time.

Bee gardening with a watering can

Afternoon
Activities

2pm — 5pm

Engaging your child with activities based around our Book of the Moment.

Outdoor guided play

In purposefully themed play spaces.

Tea time

A light evening meal.

Two bees flying together

Wrap up
and home time

until 6:30pm

Our last available pick up is at 6:30pm.

Two bees greeting

Arrival and welcome

from 7:30am

Children arrive from 7:30am and are warmly greeted by our team.

Bee with a bowl of snacks

Breakfast

Children can enjoy fresh fruit with a selection of cereals or porridge.

Bee reading a book

Morning time

9am — 12pm

Every morning, children are introduced to activities that engage their interest.

Focused learning activity

A warm welcome with a morning song

Snack Time

Age-appropriate sensory or learning activity.

Outdoor learning

Exploration and connection with nature, whatever the weather.

Story time and reflection

A calming period before lunch.

Bee holding an apple

Meal time

12pm — 2pm

A nutritious lunch. Our full NHS-accredited menu is available here.

Rest and Relaxation

Quiet play or nap time.

Bee gardening with a watering can

Afternoon
Activities

2pm — 5pm

Engaging your child with activities based around our Book of the Moment.

Curious Mind

Maths, sensory experiences or problem solving.

Tea time

A light evening meal.

Outdoor play

In purposefully themed play spaces.

Two bees flying together

Wrap up
and home time

until 6:30pm

Our last available pick up is at 6:30pm.

Children and staff sharing a healthy meal at nursery

Food

Our weekly menu

NHS-accredited meals, drinks and snacks available.

Prepared daily by our on-site nursery chef

Variety of fresh ingredients throughout the week

Supports healthy growth and development

NHS-accredited nursery menu; our two seasonal menus are accredited by NHS Startwell, ensuring the food we serve is balanced and offers optimal nutrition.

If your child has any dietary requirements, allergies or cultural preferences, please speak with the Centre Director. Our team will work to ensure safe, suitable alternatives are provided.

See our food & menu

Track Progress

Our mobile App

Busy Bees

Throughout the day, keep up to date with your child's progress with our Busy Bees App.

Learn More
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