Busy Bees Nursery in Thumaston, located on Humberstone Lane, LE4 9HA, is part of a nationwide network committed to supporting families with childcare needs. The nursery provides nutritious meals, adhering to NHS Startwell accredited menus, prepared freshly on-site by trained chefs, ensuring children receive balanced meals daily.
Beyond nutrition, mealtimes are seen as crucial learning opportunities, fostering independence, social skills, and adventurous eating habits in a supportive setting. The nursery also aims to enrich its curriculum through collaborations with global educators, facilitating children's cognitive development and readiness for school.
Operating with flexible approaches to government funding schemes, Busy Bees ensures that childcare is accessible and affordable, with options to stretch funded hours throughout the year to accommodate diverse family schedules. The nursery emphasises creating an inclusive environment where children can confidently explore new tastes and develop essential life skills, making childcare both a developmental and a practical solution for working parents.
Our ethos
At Busy Bees, mealtimes are key learning moments, helping children develop confidence in exploring new tastes, handling food, and using cutlery - all essential skills for school readiness. Our diverse menus and engaging routines encourage independence, social skills, and adventurous eating habits, all in a supportive, inclusive environment.
What it's like
Children are happy at the nursery and quickly join in with activities. They are confident and show good behaviour, understanding daily routines and following instructions. Staff provide a range of activities to help children learn to understand their emotions and communicate these with others, from listening to rhymes to managing minor disagreements.
Funding accepted
This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.
Food
Three nutritious and balanced meals per day, a range of snacks and drinks, freshly prepared by an on-site chef, adhering to NHS Startwell accredited menus. Unlimited nappies, wipes, and sun cream are also offered as part of the Busy Bees One package.
Opening hours
Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm
Term time / All Year
All Year
Last inspected 5 March 2024 · Rachel Barsby-Robinson
What it's like to attend
Children are happy at the nursery and quickly join in with activities. They are confident and show good behaviour, understanding daily routines and following instructions. Staff provide a range of activities to help children learn to understand their emotions and communicate these with others, from listening to rhymes to managing minor disagreements.
Inspector highlights
Areas to develop
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents speak highly of the nursery.
They appreciate the regular communication they receive from staff.
Parents say they have a close relationship with their child's key person and enjoy the two-way flow of information.
Inclusion & environment
Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. The special educational needs coordinator (SENDCo) creates detailed support plans which are tailored to the needs of each child and works closely with external agencies to make timely referrals, and seek guidance and support when needed. Staff who work specifically with children who have SEND are proud to talk about the progress that children have made.
Older children are proud to participate in a daily safety check of the garden, which helps them to identify dangers and keep themselves and others safe. The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.
My little one has had such a tremendous time growing and developing at Busy Bees Thurmaston. I have literally watched him transform and learn to navigate complex life skills with patience and perseverance. Hats off to all the amazing key workers who are always patient and attentive to his needs. He has continued to have such a wonderful time and has built really strong bonds with his friends and key workers. All the staff are really pleasant and understanding and ready to make adjustments where needed. It also helps that my little one gets to enjoy Halal food at the nursery. His skills have improved and I watch him confidently express himself day by day. I also love the quality of the reporting about his progress so much so that I show them to his Grandparents with pride. I can't begin to express how grateful to all staff for all they've done to support him. Huge kudos to you all!
Read on Google
Very good and friendly Nusery, staff are well suited to adapt to your children needs. we have recommended no shoes in baby rooms as it should be and staff response has been very positive.
Read on Google
This is a genuine review of a nursery which is outstanding. Our daughter was already settled at another nursery, but a casual conversation with the Centre Director at the local park was enough to convince us that this was the right place and moving her over to Busy Bees was the best decision we made. I've never met someone so passionate about their work, constantly striving to create, develop and sustain a truly nurturing environment whilst ensuring the basic fundamentals are not overlooked. These values and high standards are shared by each and every staff member who take utmost pride in making sure our little ones thrive through fostering a genuine connection where not only educational but their emotional and social needs are fully considered and provided for - a real family atmosphere! From the outset, I was overwhelmed by the amount of time and flexibility given during settling sessions, and to date, over a year later, the entire team are willing to go above and beyond to address our questions/needs. The facilities are very clean and spacious, the staff very resourceful, and the effort put in to creating a wide variety of fun learning activities is remarkable. Thank you to the entire team for constantly engaging/interacting with us parents, especially our key workers for keeping us up to date with our child's development/progress and sharing best practices to ensure continuity at home. I cannot recommend this place enough, they are exceptional both operationally and administratively. What is most important and impressive is the consistency in terms of the level of care, dedication and support provided by ALL at Busy Bees Thurmaston.
Read on Google
Since our twins have started Busy Bees they have thrived! They love coming to nursery and look forward to seeing the staff. They even talk about them over the weekend! A special shout out to Danielle and Kaylah who have been amazing with our son. They have a fantastic range of activities and we are always kept up to date with the twins progress. We can't thank all the staff enough. Thank you for everything you do for them.
Read on Google
Busy bees thurmaston had been exceptional for our daughter which is why we didn't think twice when choosing a nursery for our son. The staff are so friendly and attentive where they adapt to meet the child's needs. The settling in sessions were unique and based on how my son was getting on where nothing was too much trouble which really helped ease our minds and allowed our son to get used to the surroundings and people taking as much time as he needed. Within the first two weeks of attending full days my son has gone from being fed, to taking the spoon out of my hand and wanting to feed himself which I can only thank the nursery for. The staff encourage the children to be confident and independent, and ensure activities are stimulating, educational and innovative. We are kept up to date regarding developmental milestones and detailed explanations of activities which keep us as parents involved. Thank you to all the staff at busy bees thurmaston your all amazing!
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Busy Bees Nursery in Thumaston. See all on Google Maps
Date: June 2010
Mulberry Bush Day Nursery registered in 2007. The nursery employs 19 members of childcare staff, 12 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. It operates from Monday to Friday all year round, from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.
Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Busy Bees Nursery in Thumaston.
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Leicester · LE4 7HH
Leicester · LE4 9EA
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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more
