Opening hours
Monday to Friday all year round, from 7.15am until 6.45pm
Busy Bees Day Nursery at St Albans Bernard Street
Ofsted: Good
(Dec 2021)
Number of places
61 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Dec 2021
Local authority
Hertfordshire
About this day nursery
Busy Bees Day Nursery at St Albans Bernard Street provides a stimulating environment for children aged 1 to 4 years. 45pm, the nursery (rated Good by Ofsted on 9 December 2021) ensures children receive a warm welcome and settle quickly into a wide range of activities.
The dedicated staff foster friendly and caring relationships, ensuring children are happy and secure as they learn. Children are encouraged to explore and engage deeply in activities, from making lemon shortcake biscuits, which enhances their communication and language skills, to sand-play activities where they learn to take turns and negotiate.
The nursery effectively uses additional funding to provide resources that support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), promoting their progress. Outdoor learning is a key feature, with well-resourced areas where children of all ages can be active, motivated, and creative, using their imagination to engage in activities like water painting the fencing.
Parents frequently commend the manager and staff, highlighting how content their children are at the nursery.
What it's like
Children arrive eagerly and settle quickly, exploring a wide range of activities and toys. Staff have friendly and caring relationships with children, who are happy and secure to learn. Children of all ages enjoy being active and benefit from well-resourced outdoor areas, becoming motivated and creative learners.
Deeply engaged in activitiesWell-resourced outdoor areasFriendly and caring staffEffective parent partnershipsStrong safeguarding
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds
Key facts
Term time / All Year
All Year
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Busy Bees Day Nursery at St Albans Bernard Street
Last inspected 9 December 2021 · Lorraine Sunter
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Children arrive eagerly and settle quickly, exploring a wide range of activities and toys. Staff have friendly and caring relationships with children, who are happy and secure to learn. Children of all ages enjoy being active and benefit from well-resourced outdoor areas, becoming motivated and creative learners.
Inspector highlights
- Children become deeply engaged in activities like making lemon shortcake biscuits, enhancing their communication and language skills.
- Children focus and concentrate during sand-play activities, taking turns and negotiating, even calculating how many items are left to find.
- Staff support children's behaviour well and act as excellent role models, promoting confidence and self-esteem.
- The manager supervises and supports staff effectively through regular supervision, meetings, and observations, enabling staff to build knowledge and access bespoke online training.
- Partnerships with parents are effective, with staff using online applications and face-to-face communication to keep parents informed.
Areas to develop
- 1improve the planning of adult-led activities to support and develop children's learning
- 2enhance learning opportunities for children to consistently develop their independence skills and extend their knowledge about health and hygiene routines.
Inspection #10216712 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents speak highly of the manager and staff.
They comment how happy their children are.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Additional funding is used appropriately to provide resources that support children's progress.
Outdoor space
Children of all ages enjoy being active and benefit from the well-resourced outdoor areas. They become motivated and creative learners, supported by staff to use their interests and imagination as they water paint the fencing.
Parent Reviews of Busy Bees Day Nursery at St Albans Bernard Street
4.2
(5)
Barbora Kubera-Farrant
7 months ago
. Our son has been attending Busy Bees on Bernard Street for almost a year now, and it has been an incredibly smooth and positive experience. He genuinely enjoys going in every day, and we’ve seen him thrive both socially and developmentally. He has formed close relationships with all members of staff — from his key person to the wider team — which speaks volumes about the caring and consistent environment they provide. The support we’ve received from the admin team has also been excellent, and the nursery director has always been warm, approachable, and proactive in communicating with both us and our son. Any minor issues have been resolved swiftly and thoughtfully, and we’ve always felt kept in the loop. This is the second child of ours to attend this nursery, and we can wholeheartedly recommend it based on the wonderful care and attention both have received.
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Hanna Asif
2 years ago
Worst experience of a nursery setting I have ever had. My daughter left nursery last August. The care is inadequate, my daughter previously went to busy bees in eastbourne, and I cannot praise them enough for everything they had done, my daughter flourished. Busy Bees Bernard street was a totally different experience. They left my daughter with a 39.4 tempurature and failed to give me a call or take appropriate action. I was told about this 2 hours after her tempurature has spiked. Once a complaint was raised, all I got was a half hearted apology. We had issues from day one.Not every busy bees setting is the same, please do your research before you send your children here.
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Zion Arabambi
5 years ago
My son started in the Baby room from February 2019. The girls and the manager have been great. Whenever I visit, there is a warm feeling, all the staff are friendly. My son is now in the middle room and the consistency in the care her receives in different rooms is great. I always feel comfortable and safe leaving my son. Thank you very much, Busy Bees for helping my son!
Read on Google
Kate Jackson
a year ago
Kim W
a year ago
Reviews from Google for Busy Bees Day Nursery at St Albans Bernard Street. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: May 2009
- December 2021Good
- March 2017Good
- July 2013Outstanding
- May 2009Good
Frequently asked about Busy Bees Day Nursery at St Albans Bernard Street
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