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Welcome to Busy Bees

Welcome to Busy Bees

Your nursery in
Ilford

Google
4 /5

8.5

Day Nurseries Score

Discover Busy Bees at Ilford, a warm and welcoming nursery nestled in the heart of East London where your little one can learn, grow and shine. 

With a focus on quality childcare and preschool education, we are committed to giving every child the best start in life.  Your child can get involved in a range of fun-filled activities and enhance their learning with the variety of engaging resources on offer. 

So, if you're looking for childcare in Ilford where your child can unleash their full potential, look no further! Book a visit today to see the fantastic facilities for yourself and meet the friendly team. 

Busy Bees
Ilford
Nursery Facilities

With something available for every child to enjoy, there is never a dull day here at our nursery in Ilford.  Rest assured, our dedicated team will support your child every step of the way throughout their development journey. From those exciting first steps, to preparing for the next key stage, our highly qualified nursery team goes above and beyond to provide exceptional care for your child.  

Our engaging preschool program is thoughtfully designed to ignite your child's curiosity, build important skills, and promote a love for learning. With hands-on activities, interactive experiences, and a nurturing environment, we ensure your little one is well-prepared for the exciting next steps in their educational journey.  

Providing high quality childcare in Ilford, you will find our nursery conveniently located at King George Hospital in East London, making it an ideal choice for families seeking childcare in the area.  

Located just off the A12, we are in the perfect location for those commuting with the M25 at Junction 28, just a 17-minute drive the  nursery. Rest assured if you are arriving by car, we have an onsite parking facility to enable safe and efficient drop-offs and collections.   

Arriving via public transport? There is a bus stop a short walk away at King George's Hospital which serves routes 396, 173, 362 and EL3. Additionally, Goodmayes train station is just a 20-minute walk away, providing connections to the Elizabeth Line.  

No matter what your preferred method of transportation, Busy Bees at Ilford is easily accessible. We understand the importance of convenience for families, and we strive to make your journey to our nursery as seamless as possible. 

Special things about Ilford

Large outdoor spaces

Large outdoor spaces

For your child to explore the garden.

Long-standing staff team

Long-standing staff team

Creating a home-from-home atmosphere. 

Purpose Built Setting

Purpose Built Setting

Rooms designed specifically  for each age group

A warm welcome

from our Director
 - Centre Director

Director

Katie Harvey

Hi, my name is Katie and I am the Centre Director here at Busy Bees Ilford. 

I have worked with Busy Bees for many years. I  I started at Ilford as an Early Years Educator. I worked my way up to become the Centre Director in January 2020. In my role i am passionate , enthusiastic and hardworking to achieve the best 

Here at Ilford myself and the team work closely to develop a great relationship with the parents and the families to become one big family.

We believe each child is unique to us and we nurture them throughout their early years to become,  independent, confident individuals.

Meet the amazing team

Lynn Debenham

Senior Room Manager

Lynn Debenham

Caroline Sait

Senior Room Manager

Caroline Sait

Karen Josh

Room Manager

Karen Josh

Reviews

What
Ilford
parents say

Excellent experience with busy bees nursery Ilford.

Today is our son’s last day after three wonderful years at the nursery, and it’s definitely an emotional one for us. We were quite nervous when he first started because we’d had negative experiences with other local nurseries with our older child. From the very beginning, though, this nursery completely put our minds at ease. The staff are absolutely incredible. There is very little staff turnover, with many team members having been there for years, which creates such a stable and nurturing environment. They genuinely care about every child, and our son has built such lovely, trusting relationships with them. He has been excited and happy to go in every single day. The activities are amazing and so thoughtfully planned. Every time I visited, there was something different set up to encourage learning, creativity and play. It’s clear that a huge amount of effort goes into making every day engaging and fun for the children. Katie, the manager, deserves a special mention. She is fantastic and has created such a warm, welcoming environment. It’s clear that she takes great care to ensure the nursery is always well staffed and that the staff-to-child ratios are maintained. What really stands out is that she’s not just a manager behind a desk—she’s actively involved with the children, knows them all by name, and interacts with them. That hands-on approach really reflects the caring culture of the nursery. Communication has always been excellent, and we’ve always felt that our son was safe, happy and exceptionally well cared for. As parents, that’s priceless. A huge thank you to Katie, Kazza, Shellie, Karen ( I could go on but it is genuinely all of you!) for everything you’ve done over the past three years. You’ve played such an important part in our son’s early years, and we’re so grateful for the love, care and support you’ve shown him. We will genuinely miss you all and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this nursery to any parent looking for a caring, professional and inspiring place for their child. Five stars just doesn’t seem enough! Lots of love from Zayd and family!

building a bit run down but well maintained, good staff, my child is happy there, have a good curriculum, will recommend

Opening times

Monday
to Friday

7:00
AM
to
7:00
PM

Busy Bees Ilford operates Monday to Friday from 7:00 to 7:00 offering full-day care for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years.

Open 52 weeks a year, Busy Bees Ilford 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

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.

explore a day at busy bees

A day in the life at Busy Bees Ilford

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 7:00pm

Our last available pick up is at 7:00pm.

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 7:00pm

Our last available pick up is at 7:00pm.

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.

Track Progress

Our mobile App

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

Learn More
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