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Welcome to Busy Bees

Welcome to Busy Bees

Your nursery in
Nottingham University

Ofsted
Google
5 /5

8.5

Day Nurseries Score
Buggy-storage
Parent-room
Parking

At Busy Bees at Nottingham University, we provide a warm and welcoming environment where children can learn, play and thrive. Located on the University of Nottingham campus, our nursery is ideally placed for families connected to the university and nearby Queen’s Medical Centre.

Our long-standing team create a familiar home-from-home atmosphere where children feel secure, supported and confident. Through our play-based approach, we encourage curiosity, creativity and holistic development, helping every child make the most of their early years.

Bee curious curriculum
Book visit Bee Curious Curriculum

Busy Bees
Nottingham University
Nursery Facilities

Our five spacious base rooms are bright, comfortable and thoughtfully designed around the needs of each age group. We use natural and open-ended resources to encourage children to explore, create and learn through play, while our individual AstroTurf outdoor areas give every room its own space to enjoy fresh air and outdoor exploration.

There’s plenty to enjoy throughout the day, from freshly prepared meals and healthy snacks to a wide range of engaging experiences designed to support children’s learning and development. Our experienced team take the time to get to know every child, providing continuity of care and building strong relationships with families.

Set within the University of Nottingham campus, our nursery offers a particularly convenient location for university staff and students, as well as those working at Queen’s Medical Centre. The campus setting also provides a peaceful environment surrounded by trees and wildlife, while being well connected to the wider Nottingham area.

We’d love to welcome you and your family to Busy Bees at Nottingham University. Book a visit to explore our nursery, meet our friendly team and discover what we have to offer.

Special things about Nottingham University

Large, spacious rooms

Large, spacious rooms

Bright, comfortable spaces designed for learning and play.

Unique to

Nottingham University

Convenient location

Convenient location

Ideal for university and hospital workers and students.

Unique to

Nottingham University

Long-standing team

Long-standing team

Experienced educators providing familiar faces and continuity.

Unique to

Nottingham University

Individual gardens

Individual gardens

Dedicated outdoor spaces for active play and exploration.

Unique to

Nottingham University

A warm welcome

from our Director
- Centre Director

Director

Laura Westerman

Hello, my name is Laura and I am the Centre Director here at Busy Bees Nottingham University.

With over 14 years of experience in Early Years education, creating a safe, caring and engaging environment for children is incredibly important to me. Here at our centre, children are encouraged to explore, learn through play and develop their confidence in a setting where they feel happy, secure and supported.

Our team provides a wide range of opportunities for children to discover their interests and develop at their own pace, helping to give every child the best possible start.

I look forward to welcoming you and your child and sharing in the exciting first steps of their learning journey.

Meet the amazing team

Aishah Fatima

Senior Room Manager

Aishah Fatima

Kirsty Daine

Assistant Centre Director

Kirsty Daine

Reviews

What
Nottingham University
parents say

Ofsted

Ofsted Good

Day Nurseries

8.5

Google

5 /5

Busy bees nottingham university has been a wonderful experience for my kid. She was with them for over a year and there was tremendous growth/ improvement in her phonics and reading. The staffs are lovely, they try to know the kids and their parents; they are welcoming. The environment is clean, excellent management and staffs. They try to accommodate each child's special needs as much as they can. They also help prepare kids for reception. I will always recommend them to anyone i know looking for nursery for their kids.

VE

21/07/2026

We always feel safe leaving our son at this nursery. The environment is transparent and well-structured. Our son is cared for by different people, not just one person, which gives us confidence. We never felt like outsiders. Children are not overloaded with academic information; play-based learning is the focus. Parents are not bombarded with daily photos and videos. Everything is calm, natural, and truly child-centered.

BH

06/09/2025

My son has been attending busy bees at UoN for the last year, the staff have been fantastic from the start, caring and patient, especially his first key person, Aishah. He has moved up to the toddler room and talks excitedly about his day, lots of activities and a nutritious menu. Communication and support has been great from management. It’s easy to book additional nursery days when needed. We’re very happy to have chosen Busy Bees and recommend to others 🙂

EH

27/06/2025

Opening times

Monday
to Friday

7:00
AM
to
6:00
PM

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

Open 52 weeks a year, Busy Bees Nottingham University 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 Nottingham University

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 6:00pm

Our last available pick up is at 6:00pm.

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 6:00pm

Our last available pick up is at 6:00pm.

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.

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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