WELCOME TO BUSY BEES

Nursery in Derby, Oakwood Smalley Drive

Rated Good by Ofsted

6 Reviews

READY TO TAKE YOUR FIRST STEPS?

Book your visit today Use our fee calculator

New parent? Call 0330 333 8133

Existing parent? Call 01332 544321
Busy Bees

READY TO TAKE YOUR FIRST STEPS?

Book your visit today Use our fee calculator

New parent? Call 0330 333 8133

Existing parent? Call 01332 544321

Opening Times:

From 07:30 to 18:00 Mon - Fri

Feed their curiosity, with Bee Curious

Say hello to Bee Curious, our exciting new curriculum! As the UK's only independently evaluated early years curriculum, it fosters a love of learning, giving your child a head start in life.

Learn more Read the Report

** Coffee and a catch up ** we would like to invite parents in to nursery to have an informal chat with Sam the Centre Director to discuss any aspect of nursery like or just life in general! This will be available every Monday morning 10am until 11am with 2 bookable slots; 10am-10.30am and 10.30am-11am.

Please speak to a member of staff if you would like to take advantage of this.

Pebble flexible childcare at Busy Bees at Derby Oakwood Smalley Drive

We understand that parents and carers lead busy lives, and we want to do everything possible to help. That’s why Busy Bees at Derby Oakwood Smalley Drive offers the flexibility of booking additional sessions for when you need them.​ Find out more about our nursery session booking app, Pebble.

Looking for expert-led childcare in Oakwood? We’ve got you. Busy Bees Oakwood is a stimulating, nurturing environment where your child will develop key skills that’ll support their transition into full-time education, giving them the head start they deserve. 

Whether they’re immersing themselves in a world of books, getting to grips with basic numeracy, or discovering other cultures, your child will take the first steps on a lifelong learning journey, supported by our friendly staff. 

But it isn’t all indoor play. Busy Bees Oakwood boasts a large, secure outdoor garden, separated into three distinct areas, each packed with age-appropriate apparatus—from scooters to football goals and beyond. 

Is your little one a football fanatic? They they’ll love the weekly visits from Super Star Sport,  where they’ll get involved with fun-filled football sessions for toddlers and preschoolers, at no additional cost. 

We cater to pre-school children of all ages, with dedicated spaces for each age group, from our stimulating baby room to our well-appointed pre-school rooms, each jam-packed with engaging activities. 

We understand that each child is unique, and develops in their own way, at their own pace. As such, we’ll work with you to tailor a nursery experience that complements your child’s strengths and offers a little extra support where it’s needed. 

Busy Bees Oakwood is overseen by centre director Sam Pickering, who’s been part of the Busy Bees family for two decades and channels her wealth of expertise into cultivating a nursery experience that will engage and nurture your child. 

Want to see Busy Bees Oakwood for yourself? Book your visit today. Sam and the team will be happy to show you around and answer any questions you may have.

Need a different location in Derby? No problem. View all of our Nurseries in Derby to explore all Busy Bees locations in your area.

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Busy Bees

Busy Bees at Derby Oakwood Smalley Drive

29 Smalley Drive

Oakwood

Derby

DE21 2SF

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Sam Pickering - Centre Director

Sam Pickering

Centre Director

Meet the team Ofsted Report
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Nursery Facilities at Busy Bees at Derby Oakwood Smalley Drive

Here's a snapshot of just some of the wonderful facilities we offer at our Day Nursery in Derby. Click on each facility to find out more.

UP

Funded Childcare

Secure Access

Parent Zone

Smart Board

Outdoor Facilities

Pebble

Meals and snacks

Parking

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Car Parking
We offer ample parking on-site for your safety and convenience.

Buggy store
A safe place to store your pram while visiting the nursery.

CCTV
Our nursery is fitted with CCTV for the safety and security of our team and the children in our care.

Secure Access
Our entrance ways are fitted with an intercom system and all access points are safe and secure.

Nappies and Wipes inclusive
Fees are all-inclusive to include nappies and wipes.

Formula Milk provided
Fees are inclusive to include formula milk if required.

Meals and Snacks Provided
All meals, drinks and snacks are prepared on-site by our chef and are NHS accredited.

Outdoor Facilities
Our outdoor environment offers space to explore and take safe risks with the support of our team, aiding child development.

Sensory Room
Our Sensory Room is a relaxing space providing a unique sensory experience with activities and equipment to explore, engaging and stimulating children’s senses.

Parent Room
Our parent room is a dedicated safe space for us to get to know your family and you to speak in confidence with our nursery team about your child's nursery life.

Smart Board
Our Interactive Smart Board is used daily to bring learning to life and provides children with a hands-on approach with technology.

Funded Childcare
We offer government funded places for children aged 2 to 4 years, please speak to the Centre Director for more information.

Teacher
We have a fully qualified Teacher in our pre-school room who delivers exciting learning opportunities, whilst ensuring statutory and legal welfare requirements are met for every child.

Foundation Class
The foundation class nurtures each child's natural curiosity within a structured framework providing pre-school children with an early introduction to school life.

ParentZone
We keep families informed through ParentZone, an online learning journal platform, which can be accessed via a smartphone app.

UP
Exclusive to Busy Bees, UP is a learning and development app used by educators in our nursery and parents at home. Search ‘UP by Busy Bees’ on the app store to find out more.

Book Extra Sessions Online
We offer online booking for extra ad-hoc sessions at this nursery with Pebble.

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Food at Busy Bees at Derby Oakwood Smalley Drive

We know just how important it is for little ones to get the nutrition they need. That is why we provide delicious food and drink packed with goodness throughout your child's day with us. We have carefully created menus that put new twists on childhood favourites and encourage healthy eating.  

Accredited by NHS Startwell, our menus change seasonally, so there are plenty of opportunities to try something new.  

All meals, snacks and drinks are freshly prepared, on-site, each day, by our talented nursery chef. And want to know the very best bit? It is all included in your fees - so, there is no extra cost involved.

Does your child have specific dietary requirements? Simply speak to your Centre Director - we can account for any special food needs and provide safe alternatives. Learn more about our approach to getting children to eat well or see our menus in full by clicking the buttons below. 

See food menu
5* Food Hygiene
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Our Fees

We believe in an open and transparent approach to nursery fees. Click the button below for weekly, daily, and session rates for our exceptional childcare.

Did you know Busy Bees also offers government-funded childcare? If eligible, you could be entitled to up to 570 or 1140 hours of funded childcare, depending on your eligibility and your child's age, each year for your child. Find out more on our 'Funding Options' page. Or alternatively, speak to your Centre Director to learn more.

Download fee sheet

Preparing for School

In order to best prepare the children for the next big chapter of their lives, Busy Bees do all that they can to support and celebrate the transition. All of the planned activities and experiences which take place within our Busy Bees Nursery in Derby are designed to provide a foundation of skills that will help them grow in becoming confident and capable learners.

Learn more about how we support the journey from nursery to school by taking a look at our "My Journey to School Tracker". To read more and learn about the other ways our expert team supports the transition to school level, take a look at our Starting School page.

Busy Bees Nursery Derby Location

You will find our nursery in Oakwood on Smalley Drive just 13 minutes from Derby City Centre.  

If you’re visiting us by car, you’ll find ample on-site parking, making pick-up and drop-off a breeze. 

We’re also well-served by public transport. There’s a bus stop on nearby Hallgate Close, serving bus route 26, as well as a stop on Smalley Drive end, serving bus route 32. 
 

Find the exact location of Busy Bees at Derby Oakwood Smalley Drive by using our What3Words:

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Book a Tour

Our friendly, expert team of staff are always happy to welcome you and your child for a tour of the facilities on offer at our nursery in Derby. Book a visit today to arrange a personal tour to see Busy Bees Nursery Derby for yourself.

Reviews

Bethany W.

06/12/2023

"Lovely team. My little one seems very happy going in. "

Samuel S.

16/05/2023

"Busy Bees have been amazing with our son. His development in all areas has come on leaps and bounds since starting at Busy Bees, and the staff are so friendly. Shout out to Michelle, Fay, Claire and Lorraine. Sam and Debbie are always very helpful too."

Natalie S.

09/06/2022

"My children love the staff here as they are so caring. Lots of activities planned each month and a great choice of meals. "

Rebecca W.

01/06/2022

"From teachers to admin staff, everyone is just amazing, so friendly and show interest in the parents as much as the children. Such a lovely nursery family. I wouldn’t want my boy to be anywhere else! "

Giovanna D.

03/02/2022

"Great staff and facilities. Kids love their teachers and made lots of friends, important for those of us who don't have any family in England. We going to miss everyone "