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Welcome to Busy Bees

Welcome to Busy Bees

Your nursery in
Braintree, Great Notley

Google
5 /5

10

Day Nurseries Score
Outdoor-facilities
Parking

Our Outstanding purpose-built nursery is located in a beautiful, quaint square in the heart of Great Notley Garden village surrounded by close links to Chelmsford and Stansted. 

Our unique, thriving Foundation Class nurtures each child's natural curiosity within a structured framework providing Pre-School children with an early introduction to school life. 

Bee curious curriculum
Book visit Bee Curious Curriculum

Busy Bees
Braintree, Great Notley
Nursery Facilities

We have an amazing, spacious, exciting outdoor space, with designated areas for the different age groups, sparking curiosity and offering endless learning experiences for all.  

Located in the popular Great Notley Garden Village on the southern edge of Braintree, our nursery is set within a well-planned, family-friendly neighbourhood. 

The A120 provides easy access by car, and Braintree Freeport railway station is a short drive away. 

On-site parking makes drop-offs and pick-ups part of a smooth routine.

Special things about Braintree, Great Notley

Long-standing staff team

Long-standing staff team

 Creating a home-from-home atmosphere.

Unique to

Braintree, Great Notley

Spacious outdoor garden

Spacious outdoor garden

A space to explore, available to all ages.

Unique to

Braintree, Great Notley

Thoughtfully tailored rooms

Thoughtfully tailored rooms

For each of our nursery's age groups.

Unique to

Braintree, Great Notley

A warm welcome

from our Director
- Centre Director

Director

Hannah Rees

My name is Hannah Rees, the centre director here at Braintree Great Notley. 

I hold an honours degree in childcare and have been working at the centre since June 2009 when I started as the Assistant Centre Director. 

I am proud and privileged to lead a team of hard working well qualified practitioners who offer the very best care and education to all children in our centre. I am very passionate about creating great parent partnerships and offering children the ‘best start’ in life.

My little girl attended the nursery from a little 1 year old baby and became an extremely sociable and keen to learn little girl ready for school. It is such an honour to see the progress all our children make as they make that all important journey onto primary school. 

I look forward to welcoming you to our centre.

 

Meet the amazing team

Daniela Dow

Assistant Centre Director

Daniela Dow

Kayleigh Eva

Senior Room Manager

Kayleigh Eva

Sarah Cracknell

Assistant Centre Director

Sarah Cracknell

Reviews

What
Braintree, Great Notley
parents say

Day Nurseries

10

Google

5 /5

I would definitely recommend this nursery to other parents because my child has had such a lovely experience there. The staff are so caring and really take the time to get to know each child. My little one has grown so much in confidence and is always excited to go in each day. The nursery feels warm, welcoming, and like a little community where children are happy and well looked after. As a parent, it’s a great feeling knowing my child is safe, supported, and genuinely enjoying their time there.

EJ

13/11/2025

This nursery has an Outstanding Ofsted rating and it’s clear that this is well deserved. The staff go above and beyond to make sure the children are safe, happy and engaged at all times. They have handled my child’s allergies incredibly well, and are so inclusive. Communication home is fantastic too. There’s nothing to fault them on

EH

03/10/2025

Opening times

Monday
to Friday

7:00
AM
to
6:30
PM

Busy Bees Braintree, Great Notley operates Monday to Friday from 7:00 to 6:30 offering full-day care for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years.

Open 52 weeks a year, Busy Bees Braintree, Great Notley 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 Braintree, Great Notley

Two bees greeting

Arrival and welcome

from 7:00am

Children arrive from 7:00am 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 7:00am

Children arrive from 7:00am 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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