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Welcome to Busy Bees

Welcome to Busy Bees

Your nursery in
St. Albans, City Hospital

Ofsted
Google
4 /5

8.5

Day Nurseries Score
Buggy-storage
Outdoor-facilities
Parking

Welcome to Busy Bees at St Albans City Hospital, where every day is an adventure for your little ones! If you're searching for top-notch childcare in St Albans, then look no further. Our nursery, conveniently located on the grounds of St Albans Hospital, provides the perfect environment for your child to play, learn, and grow.  

Rest assured, our passionate and dedicated team is committed to supporting your child every step of the way. With endless opportunities throughout the nursery, that stimulate every child’s mind and body, no two days are the same at our nursery in St Albans.

Bee curious curriculum
Book visit Bee Curious Curriculum

Busy Bees
St. Albans, City Hospital
Nursery Facilities

To ensure that every child develops at a pace that they're comfortable with, each age group has its own dedicated space within our nursery. Having these separate spaces allows children to feel confident as they grow and learn alongside those at a similar stage in their development journey. 

And the fun doesn't stop indoors! We know just how important it is for children to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. With our outdoor space the children can continue exploring their imagination and learn about taking safe risks under adult supervision. 

Located at St Albans City Hospital, our nursery is your go-to destination for excellent childcare in St Albans.   You will find our nursery just a quick 10-minute drive from the M1 at Junction 8, ensuring a hassle-free journey for families commuting.   For those who prefer public transport, there is a bus stop at the Hospital serving routes 302 and 653 Tigermoth. 

Want to learn more about our nursery in St Albans? Book a visit today, to meet our friendly team and discover the fantastic facilities we have on offer.  

Special things about St. Albans, City Hospital

Long-standing staff team

Long-standing staff team

With some being with us for over 15 years

Unique to

St. Albans, City Hospital

Close-knit family environment

Close-knit family environment

Ensuring every child is known, valued and celebrated as an individual.

Unique to

St. Albans, City Hospital

Conveniently located

Conveniently located

In the St Albans City Hospital grounds, which offers ease of care for healthcare professionals.

Unique to

St. Albans, City Hospital

A warm welcome

from our Director
- Centre Director

Director

Sophie Chowns

Hi my name is Sophie Chowns and I am the Centre Director here at St. Albans City Hospital.

Through our wonderful Bee Curious curriculum, we help our children grow and really give them the best start in life.

Come and visit our nursery here in St Albans and see for yourself.

Meet the amazing team

Rene Farmer

Senior Room Manager

Rene Farmer

Andy Farquharson

Chef

Andy Farquharson

Reviews

What
St. Albans, City Hospital
parents say

Ofsted

Ofsted Good

Day Nurseries

8.5

Google

4 /5

Lovely place for the little ones to learn and grow. Overall, never regretted choosing busy bees at St Albans City Hospital. However, a few areas need looking into: - in cases of sickness, full fee payment not ideal as we all know, they tend to pick up all sorts of ailments often from close contacts with other kids. - in cases of planned holiday, with advanced notifications to the nursery 3-4 weeks prior, there should be a no fee /discounted fee policy.

DL

09/04/2026

Good staff very professional and friendly my both sons they always happy to go and they really enjoy

SI

29/02/2024

Opening times

Monday
to Friday

7:00
AM
to
7:00
PM

Busy Bees St. Albans, City Hospital 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 St. Albans, City Hospital 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 St. Albans, City Hospital

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.

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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