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Welcome to Busy Bees

Welcome to Busy Bees

Your nursery in
Harpenden

Ofsted
Google
5 /5

8

Day Nurseries Score
Buggy-storage
Outdoor-facilities
Parking

Looking for a nursery in Harpenden that will not only provide fantastic foundations for your child's overall learning and development, but one that will also provide love, support, and care for your child? Busy Bees Leyton Road nursery in Harpenden may be the perfect nursery setting for your child.

Our nursery setting includes a huge range of varied activities which have been thoughtfully curated by the experienced nursery team to stimulate children's learning. So, while the children learn a whole range of skills, they don't even realise it as they're too busy having fun!  

Bee curious curriculum
Book visit Bee Curious Curriculum

Busy Bees
Harpenden
Nursery Facilities

From cosy reading corners, and exciting imaginative role play areas to clever construction outdoors, there's something for every child to enjoy at Busy Bees Leyton Road in Harpenden.   Never miss a moment with our Busy Bees app, where your child's key person will update you with day-to-day activities, as well as any key milestones your child might reach while at our Harpenden nursery  

Located on Leyton Road, just a short drive from Harpenden town centre, our nursery is in a convenient location for parents living or working in the area.  

There are a number of car parking spaces just outside the main nursery doors, to ensure safe and convenient collection and drop-off, with more parking opposite the nursery, directly next to a pedestrian crossing.  For parents reaching our Harpenden day nursery via public transport, Arriva offers a bus route which services many roads surrounding Leyton Road, all of which are just a short walk away.

Bringing your child in a buggy? No problem as we have a convenient buggy store for you to safely leave pushchairs and strollers, ready for collection at the end of the day.

Want to learn more about the fantastic opportunities available at our Harpenden day nursery? Book a visit today -  we can't wait to welcome you to the Busy Bees family! 

Special things about Harpenden

Long-standing staff team

Long-standing staff team

With over 110 years combined service 

Unique to

Harpenden

Conveniently located

Conveniently located

Close to the town centre and train station.

Unique to

Harpenden

Dedicated sensory room

Dedicated sensory room

Calm, engaging room for inclusive learning experiences.

Unique to

Harpenden

A warm welcome

from our Director
- Centre Director

Director

Emma Robinson

Hi my name is Emma Robinson and I am the Centre Director here at Leyton Road.

I have worked in childcare for Busy Bees for 26 years. I am Level 3 qualified Diploma in Child Care and have completed a Leadership and management qualification.

Throughout my time at Busy Bees I have experienced working in both Busy Bees Nurseries in Harpenden and I have also worked briefly in the Training Department with Busy Bees.

I am also the proud mother of 3 children, Libby 21, Leo 18 and Holly Grace who is 8 years old. All my children have attended Busy Bees over the years and have benefited greatly from their Outstanding experience.

I am hardworking and passionate about childcare ensuring individual children's needs are met, whilst being within a safe and secure environment. I thoroughly enjoy seeing children, thrive and achieve whilst growing and developing.

Meet the amazing team

Emma Ashley

Assistant Centre Director

Emma Ashley

Reviews

What
Harpenden
parents say

Ofsted

Ofsted Good

Day Nurseries

8

Google

5 /5

Five stars for this lovely nursery. Our little one settled in quickly, thanks to the warm staff, cheerful rooms and thoughtful routines. Drop-offs became easy, and we saw real confidence grow. Perfect for busy parents needing trusted care, learning and plenty of smiles.

SM

16/05/2026

The staff at Busy Bees Leyton Road are absolutely fantastic. All staff and children know each other by name, resulting in a real family feel. Our son has attended for nearly 2 years and loves it. Our life is made so much easier by his eagerness to get to nursery each morning, and we are delighted to see how he is developing under their care. Thank you Busy Bees. We can’t wait for our second baby to join the family in June!

L

24/03/2026

The best experience ever. We didyhave the opportunity to stay more than half year there but the time that we spend there was perfect for my daughter development. The staff very respectful and well informed.

AE

10/03/2026

Opening times

Monday
to Friday

7:30
AM
to
6:30
PM

Busy Bees Harpenden operates Monday to Friday from 7:30 to 6:30 offering full-day care for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years.

Open 52 weeks a year, Busy Bees Harpenden 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 Harpenden

Two bees greeting

Arrival and welcome

from 7:30am

Children arrive from 7:30am 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 7:30am

Children arrive from 7:30am 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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