Business Details
43 Years
experience
Award-Winning Childcare Across the UK & Ireland
Busy Bees has been a leader in early years education since 1983, founded on the belief that every child deserves the best start in life. Our journey began when co-founder Marg Randles sought a nurturing environment for her own children, leading to the creation of The Rocklands nursery in Lichfield. Over four decades, we've expanded to 390 nurseries across the UK, Ireland, and globally, maintaining our commitment to creating safe, enriching spaces where children thrive. Our approach focuses on individual development, emotional well-being, and fostering curiosity through play-based learning. The Bee Curious curriculum, the UK's only independently evaluated early years programme, reflects our dedication to innovation and academic excellence.We prioritise school readiness while celebrating each child's uniqueness through tailored support. Our team of passionate educators, trained through our Talent Academy, delivers exceptional care grounded in continuous professional development. Recognised for environmental excellence through Eco-Schools awards, we integrate sustainability into our practices. With government-funded childcare options available across England, Scotland, and Wales, we strive to make quality education accessible. Our legacy of excellence continues to shape futures, just as it did for Marg's family in 1983.
Services
Day Nursery Care
Early Years Curriculum
School Readiness Programs
Government-Funded Childcare
Parent Engagement Apps
Details
- Year established: 1983
Highlights and features
- We operate 390+ nurseries with 42 years of childcare expertise
- Our Bee Curious curriculum is the UK's only independently evaluated early years programme
- We offer government-funded childcare options across England, Scotland, and Wales
- Our Talent Academy ensures continuous professional development for all staff
- Multiple Eco-Schools Green Flag Award winners demonstrate environmental commitment
What people say
Brilliant team
Nurturing environments
Child development focus
Professional handling of situations
Children enjoy attending
Services
Day Nursery Care
Our day nurseries provide full-time and part-time care for children aged 0-5 years. Each Ofsted-registered setting offers age-appropriate learning zones, qualified staff ratios exceeding statutory requirements, and daily activity plans that balance structured learning with free play. Parents benefit from regular progress updates through our Busy Bees App.
Early Years Curriculum
The Bee Curious curriculum combines play-based learning with academic foundations in literacy and numeracy. Developed by early years specialists, this independently evaluated programme follows children's natural curiosity through themed investigations while embedding essential school readiness skills in a fun, engaging format.
School Readiness Programs
Our transition-to-school programmes develop social confidence, emotional regulation, and core academic skills. Through collaborative projects and individual learning journeys, children build independence while mastering key concepts in mathematics, language development, and creative expression to ensure smooth primary school transitions.
Government-Funded Childcare
We facilitate 15 and 30-hour government-funded childcare entitlements across England, Scotland, and Wales. Our team assists families with eligibility checks, paperwork completion, and flexible session planning to maximise available funding while maintaining educational continuity.
Parent Engagement Apps
The Busy Bees App provides real-time updates on children's daily activities, milestones, and learning achievements. Parents access secure photo galleries, digital learning journals, and instant messaging features to stay connected with nursery staff and monitor their child's developmental progress.
People
Marg Randles
Co-founder
Co-founded Busy Bees in 1983 after identifying gaps in early years provision. With 42 years' experience, she pioneered the Rocklands nursery model that became the foundation for 390 global nurseries. Advocates for child-centred learning and environmental sustainability in early education.
Questions
What age groups do Busy Bees Nurseries cater for?
We provide care and education for children from 0-5 years old, with age-specific programmes tailored to different developmental stages.
Is government funding available for childcare?
Yes, we offer 15 and 30-hour government-funded childcare entitlements across England, Scotland, and Wales to eligible families.
What is the Bee Curious curriculum?
It's our unique early years programme developed by education experts, focusing on play-based learning that nurtures curiosity while building essential school readiness skills.
How do you support children's transition to school?
Our school readiness programmes develop social confidence, emotional regulation, and academic foundations through collaborative projects and individual learning journeys.
Are your nurseries environmentally friendly?
Yes, many nurseries hold Eco-Schools Green Flag Awards. We integrate sustainability into daily activities and maintain environmentally conscious practices across all settings.
How can parents stay updated about their child's progress?
Our Busy Bees App provides real-time updates, secure photo sharing, and digital learning journals to keep parents connected with their child's development.
