40 Years of Busy Bees

WELCOME TO BUSY BEES

Nursery in
Derby

Rated Good by Ofsted

6 Reviews

Busy Bees

READY TO TAKE YOUR FIRST STEPS?

Book your visit today Use our funding calculator

New parent? Call 0330 333 8133

Existing parent? Call 01332 544321

Opening Times:

From 07:30 to 18:00 Mon - Fri

** 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 excellent childcare in Derby Oakwood that offers a stimulating environment for your child to learn, flourish and thrive? Then look no further! 

Here at Busy Bees at Derby Oakwood Smalley Drive your little one will come on leaps and bounds during their time at nursery with the fantastic range of fun-filled activities and engaging resources available.  

We know just how important it is for children to get outside, so that the fun isn't just kept indoors. So, with our large, refurbished garden, separated into three areas for each age group, your little one can explore their imagination and take on safe risks under adult supervision whilst enjoying the fresh air.  

And the fun does not stop there! With ‘Super Star Sports’ attending every Tuesday for toddlers and preschoolers, your little one can get involved in football sessions. 

Want to keep up to date on all the excitement? Then download our ‘ParentZone’ app. Here our dedicated team will provide you with regular updates on what your little one is getting up to, along with any milestones they may reach.  

There is so much to love about our nursery in Derby Oakwood, from our enthusiastic team who plan and prepare a wide range of activities in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, to the variety of excellent facilities available, which help support your child's learning and development.  

Book a visit today, to meet the friendly team and view the fantastic facilities for yourself.  

Not sure if Busy Bees Derby Oakwood Smalley Drive is the best option for your family? View all of our Nurseries in Derby to explore all Busy Bees locations in your area.

Divider Divider
Busy Bees

Busy Bees at Derby Oakwood Smalley Drive

29 Smalley Drive

Oakwood

Derby

DE21 2SF

/// gave.drift.crowds

Sam Pickering - Centre Director

Sam Pickering

Centre Director

Blue curved shape

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.

White and teal shape UP  graphic

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 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 3 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.

Grey curved shape

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. Get a taster of what your child might get to enjoy on a typical day at our Oakwood nursery. 

Breakfast  

Fresh fruit with a selection of cereal or porridge. 

Morning Snack  

Fresh fruit with wholemeal toast or baked goods, served with a cup of milk or water. 

Lunch  

Lamb or Quorn dinner served with root vegetable mash, green beans and a cup of water. Followed with pears for dessert.  

Afternoon Snack  

Fresh fruit or vegetable sticks served with a cup of milk or water. 

Early Evening Snack 

Mini ploughman's or vegetarian ploughman’s served with chutney and a cup of water. Followed by orange and sultanas for dessert.   

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
Divider Divider

Upcoming Events

Here's some of the fun things we are getting up to in nursery.

Autism awareness day

02 April

Dress like a unicorn day - unicorn races.

09 April

National pet day - what is your favourite pet?

11 April

St Georges Day - Craft

23 April

Red shape

Our Fees

We believe in an open and transparent approach to nursery fees.  

You can find out all about weekly and daily session rates for our exceptional childcare by clicking the 'Download Fee Sheet' button below. 

Take a look at our ‘Funding Options’ page to find out about the Government’s 30 Hours Funded Childcare Scheme for eligible three and four-year-olds and follow the simple five-step process to apply for your code. Your Centre Director will be able to help you choose the best option for your childcare needs. 

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, rest assured we have a parking facility available. Our spacious car park also ensures parents can safely drop-off and pick-up children away from the busy road. 

Arriving by public transport? There is a bus stop nearby on Hallgate Close serving bus route 26, and a bus stop just a 5-minute walk away on Smalley Drive end, serving bus route 32.  

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

gave.drift.crowds

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 "