Welcome to Busy Bees

Your nursery in
Canterbury

5 /5

Here, at Busy Bees Canterbury, we believe in giving children the very best start in life.

Nestled not too far from the banks of the River Stour, our nursery is a safe place where children can try new things, develop skills and make new friends.

Book visit Bee curious curriculum

Book visit Bee Curious Curriculum

Busy Bees
Canterbury
Nursery Facilities

We provide childcare in Canterbury for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Our spacious nursery is separated into different age groups and offers a warm, welcoming environment for the children.

Our dedicated team is always looking to keep the children engaged with stimulating activities they can enjoy. Our nursery also includes several additional facilities, including a sensory room and an outdoor play space.

The sensory room provides access to equipment specially designed to allow children to explore their senses.

In our outdoor space, the kids can challenge themselves on our mini obstacle course and learn to take safe risks in a supervised environment.

You'll find us at The Riverside Children's Centre - that's just across the road from the Kingsmead Leisure Centre.

We're not far away from the city centre either - just a 15-minute walk away from Canterbury Cathedral. If you're visiting us via public transport, there are plenty of options. The nearest train station is Canterbury West, which is a 15-minute walk.

There's also the Sainsbury's bus stop right next to The Riverside Children's Centre. It's served by 4, 5, 21, 21A buses.

Our nursery features lots of on-site parking space, so you can pick up and drop your children off with total peace of mind.

Book your visit today to come and see our Canterbury nursery for yourself. We can't wait to meet you!

Special things about Canterbury

Large outdoor spaces

For your child to explore the garden.

Part of a children's centre

With baby groups and workshops

Long-standing staff team

Creating a home-from-home atmosphere.

A warm welcome

from our Director

Director

Lisa Farrow

Hello my name is Lisa and I have managed the Canterbury nursery since we opened in 2006.

I was previously the manager of another nursery in Kent. I have been working with children for 19 years and have gained my NNEB Diploma in Nursery Nursing and my Advanced Diploma in Childcare and Education. I also have a Grade A certificate in Advanced Practice in Working with Babies. Most recently I have worked towards my Leadership and Capability Programme which has furthered my knowledge in management.

During my time at Canterbury I have had the opportunity to gain additional training and experiences which I use to support my staff team at the nursery. These include SENCO, Safeguarding and First aid.

I genuinely believe that working with children is the best job in the world. Our team at Canterbury know how privileged we are to be working with children in some of the most important years of their lives. It is an honour that parents entrust us with their children’s care and we do our best to ensure that they have a fantastic nursery experience while learning so much at the same time.

I am passionate about working well in partnership with parents as they are their children’s first and most enduring educators. I am also keen to develop the staff’s skills, knowledge and understanding within childcare. It gives me great satisfaction to see them work their way up within the nursery and develop their career.

Our staff hold qualifications ranging from Level 2 in Childcare and Development to a BA (Hons) Degree in Primary Education. Our Assistant Manager holds Early Years Professional Status. Our team at Canterbury are dedicated to providing the best possible standard of care for children’s learning and development and work hard to ensure individual children’s needs are met.

Meet the amazing team

Assistant Centre Director

Jade Lock

Chef

Simon Smith

Ofsted

Google

5 /5

Busy Bees is truly the most wonderful nursery in Canterbury! I’m so incredibly happy and grateful that I chose it for my son. Today was his graduation, and my heart is full knowing that this special place has been such an important and beautiful part of his life. An amazing team, kind and caring teachers, and a fantastic director 🩷 My son went there every day with such joy, smiles, and excitement! Thank you for all the love, care, and happy memories you’ve given him — we will never forget it 💕 With sincere gratitude and warm regards, Daniels G. (Mother)

Daughter loves going to busy bees, loves telling us stories of her day, who's she played with, and what you all got up to, the staff are very friendly, and approachable, and always happy to help, the activities put on, excite Wren

Will totally recommend! Great experience for our little one, amazing staff

Opening times

Monday
to Friday

8:00

6:00

Busy Bees Canterbury operates Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 6:00 offering full-day care for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years.

Open 52 weeks a year, Busy Bees Canterbury 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.

Find us

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

Children arrive from 8:00am and are warmly greeted by our team.

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

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.

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

Rest and Relaxation

Quiet play or nap time.

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.

Our last available pick up is at 6:00pm.

Children arrive from 8:00am and are warmly greeted by our team.

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

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.

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

Rest and Relaxation

Quiet play or nap time.

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.

Our last available pick up is at 6:00pm.

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

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

Learn More

Welcome to Busy Bees

Welcome to Busy Bees

Your nursery in
Canterbury