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Welcome to Busy Bees

Welcome to Busy Bees

Your nursery in
Southwell

Ofsted
Google
4 /5

9.4

Day Nurseries Score
Outdoor-facilities
Parking

At Busy Bees Southwell, we provide a safe and welcoming environment where babies, toddlers and preschoolers can learn, play and grow in confidence. Our spacious nursery is filled with engaging activities and resources designed to support children at every stage of their development.

Our dedicated team create exciting opportunities for children to explore their interests and develop new skills, while our Bee Curious curriculum supports their learning and helps build the foundations for a confident start to school.

Bee curious curriculum
Book visit Bee Curious Curriculum

Busy Bees
Southwell
Nursery Facilities

Our nursery is divided into three separate rooms, each thoughtfully designed around different ages and stages of development. Children can enjoy a wide range of age-appropriate toys, games, books and activities, with opportunities to develop their creativity, early literacy, numeracy and physical skills through play.

Our secure outdoor space provides plenty of opportunities for children to enjoy fresh air, develop their physical skills and explore their independence, all within a safe and supportive environment.

Located on Allenby Road, our nursery is conveniently positioned for families in Southwell and the surrounding areas. The Vicarage Road bus stop is less than a one-minute walk away and is served by the 26, 28, 29 and N26 routes.

For families travelling by car, we have ample on-site parking away from busy roads, making drop-offs and collections straightforward and convenient.

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

Special things about Southwell

Small, close-knit setting

Small, close-knit setting

Our team knows every child well.

Unique to

Southwell

Natural outdoor spaces

Natural outdoor spaces

 Separate garden areas for each room.

Unique to

Southwell

Peaceful location

Peaceful location

Tucked away from main roads in a quiet setting.

Unique to

Southwell

A warm welcome

from our Director
- Centre Director

Director

Kate Roberts and Stacey Leafe

Hello, our names are Kate Roberts and Stacey Leafe and we are the Centre Directors here at Busy Bees at Southwell.

Here at our centre, we create a warm and nurturing environment where children feel happy, secure and at home. Our team provides a wide range of engaging opportunities for children to learn through play, explore their interests and develop their confidence and independence.

We value the strong relationships we build with families and work closely with parents and carers to make sure every child feels supported throughout their nursery journey.

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

Meet the amazing team

Brenda Mann

Chef

Brenda Mann

Reviews

What
Southwell
parents say

Ofsted

Ofsted Good

Day Nurseries

9.4

Google

4 /5

Lovely and welcoming staff. I really like that the children are encouraged to play outside and enjoy the fresh air as much as possible

C

21/10/2025

My daughter attends this nursery and has been for 7/8 months now and is absolutely loving it and thriving! The staff are so lovely and caring and absolutely do anything for the children. She loves her key worker and all the staff. The so much support we’ve had is phenomenal. Hands down the best nursery I’ve ever took my daughter too.

M

24/03/2025

We love Busy Bees Southwell. The staff are amazing and so friendly. Our little boy can’t wait to go in the morning.

GG

29/09/2023

Opening times

Monday
to Friday

7:30
AM
to
6:00
PM

Busy Bees Southwell operates Monday to Friday from 7:30 to 6:00 offering full-day care for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years.

Open 52 weeks a year, Busy Bees Southwell 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 Southwell

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 6:00pm

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

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 6:00pm

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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