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Welcome to Busy Bees

Welcome to Busy Bees

Your nursery in
Ragstone House

Ofsted
Google
5 /5

8.1

Day Nurseries Score

Want your little one to thrive in an environment that takes a nurturing approach to learning? Busy Bees Ragstone House, Maidstone could be the perfect choice for them. 

Our nursery is designed to provide your child with a nurturing environment that promotes growth, learning, and memorable experiences.  Rest assured, there is never a dull moment here at our nursery in Maidstone! From the moment your child steps through our doors, they will be greeted by a warm and welcoming environment that encourages them to explore, learn, and grow.  

Busy Bees
Ragstone House
Nursery Facilities

Here at Busy Bees Ragstone House, we provide childcare for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers, with dedicated rooms for each age category. We understand that every child is different - especially when it comes to where they are in their development stages. By having our separate childcare rooms, we allow them to develop at a pace they're comfortable and confident with. Our Maidstone nursery also has its own secure outdoor space, allowing children to explore. 

Everything your child learns during their time with us is built around the Bee Curious Curriculum. By following this curriculum, we help little ones prepare for their next big adventure - the jump into primary school education. You'll always be able to keep up to date with everything your child gets up with us through our free Busy Bees app. 

You'll find our Maidstone nursery located just a stone's throw from the town centre. We're less than a five-minute walk from All Saints Church.

Planning to visit us by public transport? There are lots of options. Maidstone West railway station (on the Medway Valley Line) is around 12 minutes away - across the Millennium Bridge (footbridge) or by going across the bridge on Broadway (A229). The area is also well served by local bus routes, with the College Avenue and Hayle Road stops very close by. 

Ready to come to see the facilities at our nursery in Maidstone for yourself? Book a visit and come say 'hello!' - we can't wait to welcome you to the Busy Bees family! 

Special things about Ragstone House

Spacious outdoor area

Spacious outdoor area

A large garden for amazing outdoor learning.

Long-standing staff team

Long-standing staff team

 With over 180 years of experience 

Strong Parent Partnerships

Strong Parent Partnerships

We prioritise events for the whole family including graduation events and parents evenings.

A warm welcome

from our Director
 - Centre Director

Director

Steven Atkinson

Hi, my name is Steven Atkinson and I am the Centre Director at Busy Bees at Ragstone House, Maidstone.

I am passionate about creating a nurturing and engaging environment where children feel happy, confident and supported. I believe every child is unique and should be encouraged to explore their interests, develop new skills and learn through play.

I am proud to lead a dedicated team and work closely with families to ensure every child has a positive nursery experience and the opportunity to thrive.

Meet the amazing team

Vicki Loader

Assistant Centre Director

Vicki Loader

Reviews

What
Ragstone House
parents say

We have been attending Busy Bees at Ragstone, Maidstone, with our children for nearly three years now and we honestly couldn’t be happier with the experience. From the very beginning, the staff have been incredibly welcoming, friendly and professional, we have always felt that our children are genuinely cared for and supported. The teaching and activities are excellent and it’s lovely to see how much our children have developed, learned and grown in confidence during their time there. The staff put so much effort into making learning fun and engaging, while also making sure the children feel safe, comfortable and valued. Communication with parents has also been very good. We always feel kept up to date with how our children are doing and what they have been getting up to throughout the day. It gives us great peace of mind knowing they are in such capable and caring hands. After nearly three years, we can confidently say that choosing Busy Bees Ragstone was one of the best decisions we made for our children. We are extremely happy with the staff, the teaching, the facilities and the overall environment. We would definitely recommend Busy Bees Ragstone to any parents looking for a caring, friendly and high-quality nursery.

All members of staff are so friendly and passionate of what they are doing. My daughter absolutely loves to go this nursery and they have so many fun activities! Communication with parents is great too, I cannot thank you enough for the experience my little one have with you ! ❤️

Opening times

Monday
to Friday

7:30
AM
to
6:30
PM

Busy Bees Ragstone House 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 Ragstone House 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 Ragstone House

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.

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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