nursery practitioner

nursery manager

nursery nurse

early years educator

nursery assistant

Busy Bees Nurseries

Having worked for the company for over a decade, I have experienced many changes. Overall, the company is not horrendous but it can feel as though the upper levels of senior management are somewhat disconnected from the staff on the front line. 

Salaries have recently increased for L2 and L3 qualified staff which is great, but still a way to go to be competitive with other companies. 

Within the actual nursery, there can be room for progression, but this can be quite limited and some never get the opportunity as staff don’t tend to leave senior positions very often. However dependent on management, opportunities can be created for additional roles for staff to cut their teeth on in the meantime. 
My personal progression has been a long road, possibly due to being a POC but that’s a story for another day!

Opportunities to progress from a nursery-based role to something else within the company do present themselves, but not very often and would either need to be remote working or potentially involve relocating which may not be ideal for everyone. 

Area Directors and Quality Advisors are available for support, but this can occasionally have a negative impact on the actual nursery, depending on their approach (I have personally experienced good and bad) and can then leave the nursery management team to pick up the pieces and rebuild what they may have damaged, which can be extremely frustrating. 

Work/life balance and well-being are another thing that probably vary from centre to centre. Personally I (and others I know) have very little work/life balance and well-being does not feel effectively supported by the company as a whole - health and well-being check paperwork is more a tick box exercise than a useful tool. 
Utterly pointless for really getting to know staff and knowing and understanding their issues and them on an individual level. 

Training opportunities are good but getting staff to attend face-to-face training can be difficult due to maintaining ratios so opportunities for developing staff can be missed. 
There are apprenticeship opportunities available for qualifications which are great, but again, can be difficult to get the most out of if you are also working full-time. However, development coaches do offer support where they can.

Company benefits are a bit hit-and-miss. Retail discounts can be ok but not always relevant. Other company benefits only apply to a select few, such as childcare discounts - only apply if you have nursery-aged children so a lot of employees will not benefit and there is no equivalent for these staff. 
There are very few bonuses offered to nursery staff, and the ones that are have t’s&c’s attached so even fewer staff actually benefit from these; example, the recommended a friend offer for recruiting new team members - bonus only applies if referring a qualified, contracted member of staff. Relief staff and unqualified staff void the bonus. 
Staff appreciation seems to be another thing that varies from centre to centre so can feel like something that is overlooked (this may just be my personal experience). 
There are no real rewards (that I am aware of) for loyalty or long service which can be a little demoralising. The company does host an annual awards ceremony, but only nursery managers and upper management appear to be invited to these so again, feels disconnected from the staff actually putting in the effort in the centres. 

Communication can be again, a bit hit-and-miss between head office/ upper management and the centres. Sometimes if you want to know something you either need to go find out for yourself or pester people until you get an answer, but it can feel like a lot of waiting for information, and new initiatives are often not communicated well enough - sometimes finding out about these by sheer chance and then, more waiting for information! 
That being said, some departments are really responsive and extremely helpful so it can just depend on who you go to for what you want/need. 

Overall, Busy Bees is not a horrendous company to work for, however they seem h3!!-bent on being the biggest childcare provider, rather than being the best - it feels very much like they are focused on QUANTITY over QUALITY. Buying more nurseries doesn’t make you amazing, putting time, effort, and funds into the ones you currently have is more important. Ensuring your staff are happy so you can retain them in the company is what’s important. Making sure the nurseries you have are well-maintained and fully resourced is what’s important. NOT global domination. 

The hardest part of the job is the hours, the high level of noise, and digital paperwork. The best part of the job is the thanks you get from parents, the love from the children, and hour and hours of fun watching the children grow and develop.

I have learned a lot in my time at the nursery. Mainly how real teamwork can make all the difference to your day and mental health.

The most enjoyable part of my day is all the hugs my knees receive as I arrive for work. The best part of the job is seeing the children become confident, happy little people who have learned an array of skills under my care. Also, watching new parents' confidence grow with your help and how that reflects in the care of their children is another perk of the job.

A typical day:
8 am: Breakfast
9 am: Circle time
9.15 am: Activities being set up for all
9.30 am: Planned activities
10 am: -10.30 am: Nappy and toiletting
10.30 am: Garden
11 am: Lunch
12 -2 pm: One person trying to get 7-15 children to sleep. Another person cleaning up after lunch. Team lunch breaks start after activities have been set up for the other children awake.
2 pm: Nappy and toileting. Free play
3 pm: Teatime
4 pm: A member of staff to go to the kitchen to do the washing up. Check nappies and toileting needs.
4 pm - 6 pm: Go to the garden again, try and do another planned activity. Is dependable on staffing level, how much paperwork you need to do, how quickly the person can finish in the kitchen and if parents are beginning to arrive to take children home. 

NB: At some point in the day you will get told off for not doing something you have been asked to do/doing what you have been asked to do but the manager doesn't like the way you have done it or doesn't remember telling you to do it in a certain way.

Pro: 
No weekend work. 
Lots of training available. 
Supportive colleagues.

Cons: 
You are always rushing. Rushing to do your activities, rushing to try and do observations and write them up. You are blamed for not finishing your digital paperwork because you are watching the children and blamed for accidents because you were doing your digital paperwork. No extra time is given to you if you struggle to do your paperwork in the room, change wall displays or change activity areas in the room. You are then constantly being talked down to for trying to do your best and for not keeping an eye on the children whilst you were doing these thing activities to keep the room looking outstanding.

There is never enough full-time permanent staff. 

Lots of children potty training without extra cover which means you are constantly leaving the room out of ratio. 

There are not enough resources. You are paid poorly and find yourself buying resources from your own money, which is typically never reimbursed so that you have resources for your planned activities.  You also have to use your own personal time to plan activities and make resources.

Some supervisors are under a lot of stress and shout or talk down to the staff in front of others, including the children.

Shifts 7.30am/8am - 6pm. You might work a 9 or 10 hour day with only a 40-minute break. 40 minutes is actually a 30-minute lunch break plus a 10-minute break. The 10 minutes is taken back in the first 10 minutes of your day which is supposed to be used to set yourself up for your activities.

Team meetings after work, sometimes lasting until 8pm.  They five zero f**ks if you have an appointment booked or childcare issues. Staff meetings can be called on the same day with very little notice. 

Poor communication from management to staff.


A typical day at work....Clock in early in the morning it was vital to be 15min on time before your shift began. I would set up the room if i was on the 7:30am shift. Each area with different objectives. Soft play, Block play, The black white and lilac area with with different sensory toys or activities exploring wet and dry this could be all forms or arts and craft. I mentioned those colours as studies show that these are the colours that babies tend to develope and see first before primary colour tones like Blue Red or Green. Once the room is set up with age appropriate equipment for the morning shift as its constantly change during the course of the day. Before all the children start entering the nursery room i will make sure the health and safety check hand books and been checked sign in the milk bottles and food form for the chef highlighting the children in for the day with allergies "we call them red plates" As they eat from red plates and children with preferences eat with blue plates and non allergy children eat from nursery branded plates. I will sign the boards and highlight the childrens name with a colour and match it to a member of staff. This is called the key buddy system, this enables parents and staff to know who is looking after who for the day. As parents drop of their children if there is any message to be passed on to staff members we write it down on the communication sheet its vital this be done failure too look at the message board and signing it could result to a disciplinary. We also would use sticky notes and monitor the children and write down or circle the progression of the child and link it to the EYFS and put in the learning journals. That the most fun part getting involved with them during one to one or group activities and noticing great new achievements and catching them in action we would take photo's so parents could view and see for them self. Hardest part of the job is having to explain to parents the accidents there child may have faced when calling them over the phone you dont want them to worry and panic so you always make sure you back your self up with a accident form did you apply cold compress was management aware forms have to be signed there's a lot of detail that go into accidents. it get quite emotional when the child gets in distress when hurt and you have to see there little faces all sad and assure them back to good health. you may have to deal with angry parents but its apart of the job face to face and communication skills come in handy with those types of situation.Other than that overall the job is very fun the staff are great especially if you have good team work that is vital in any vibrant working environment. Management is fair and supportive

Depending on shift if I am on an early which is 7 till 5 which means I would have to be at work for about 630 as I have to open up the nursery, turn all the lights on, make sure the computers are on in the office, make sure that the food board has change to what the children will be having for their snack, lunch and tea. That the rooms are ready for the day and the boards are done to see what staff and children are in the rooms for that day. I make sure the breakfast trolleys are set up and ready to take them to each room. I also make sure the washing machine and dry is on and that the health and safety books are sign. When the children come we ask what they want for their breakfast, but we do follow each child individual needs so we make sure we are prepared for all the children, then we go into the garden before snack. We would come in for snack, so we would wipe the tables down, get the children to wash their hands and to sit at the table ready for their snack, then we would do a messy activity like painting, sticking, play dough ect and free play. Then when coming up to lunch time we tidy up the room and activity and clean the tables down. While one member is cleaning the tables down the other members will sit with the children at a group time and do some circle time which could involve singing, talk time baskets and looking treasure baskets. After group time the children will wash their hands and sit at the table waiting for their lunch, after lunch it is then sleep time. After sleep time it is time for the children to have their milk and to do some more free play if they are all up before tea we go out into the garden again, if they are not then we do more messy activities, we also have the sand and water tray out all the time as well. Then we would do tidy up and do group time before tea then wash their hands and sit them out the table ready for tea. we do nappies every three hours from when they come into the nursery as children come in at different times but from when they come in it is every three hours or when they have poo. After tea it is free play and home time the nursery closes at 6:30 Monday to Friday.
I learn how to develop the children's development further everyday and to see what I can do better to improve my learning. My co-workers are lovely to work with and we get along very well, we work as a team and if their is an issue or a situation then we make sure we talk to one and another about it or the manager depending on the issue/situation. The hardest part is to make sure that I am up to data on all the paper work and observations but I do get it all up to data. The one thing that I fine most enjoyable apart my work is  that I get to watch the children to develop and hitting their milestones.

What is the best part of working at the company?
One of the best parts of working for Busy Bees is the strong sense of teamwork and support across the setting. Colleagues are always willing to help each other out, which creates a positive and welcoming atmosphere every day. Management are approachable and genuinely care about both staff wellbeing and professional development, offering training opportunities and encouragement to grow within the company. It’s also incredibly rewarding to be part of a workplace that makes a real difference in children’s early development, where you can see the impact of your work firsthand.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
At times, the role can feel busy and fast-paced, which is very typical within the childcare industry. Managing ratios, paperwork, and daily responsibilities can be demanding during peak periods. However, there is a strong support system in place, with colleagues and management always willing to step in and help. This makes challenging days much more manageable and reinforces the team-focused environment.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment at Busy Bees is friendly, supportive, and very team-oriented. There is a strong sense of community within the setting, where everyone works together to create a positive atmosphere for both staff and children. Colleagues are approachable and encouraging, and there is consistent support not only from immediate team members but also from higher management. Leadership promote an open and inclusive culture where staff feel valued, listened to, and supported in their roles. It’s a workplace that focuses on collaboration, respect, and creating a nurturing environment, making it enjoyable to come to work each day.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day at Busy Bees is busy, rewarding, and well-structured. The day usually begins with welcoming children and supporting them as they settle in. Throughout the day, you plan and carry out a range of engaging activities that support children’s learning and development, while ensuring their safety and wellbeing at all times. There are also responsibilities such as observations, updating records, and working closely with colleagues to maintain a smooth routine. Communication with parents is an important part of the day, sharing updates and building positive relationships. Although it can be fast-paced, every day is different and offers plenty of rewarding moments.

Busy Bees is not a happy or supportive place to work! Staff are very cliquey and toxic towards each other often resulting in drama and gossip behind each other's backs, the management and senior staff are the WORST for this!! The staff who don't fit in with the cliques are isolated and made to feel like they're an inconvenience. The staff turnover is incredibly high but positions are rarely filled leaving the remaining staff understaffed and unsupported. Work rotas are never sorted properly meaning staff are constantly having to work overtime making the days super long, impossible to make plans and the half an hour lunch break basically pointless. Due to the lack of staff, ratios are regularly incorrect making staff very stressed, the rooms way over capacity and the welfare of the children a major concern! Any concerns raised are brushed off and ignored. There are strict restrictions on what can and can’t be used and played with making resources and experiences available incredibly limited resulting in the same resources being used almost daily. This makes it a very boring and unstimulating environment for both staff and children and a big concern that children aren’t developing a variety of skills to the best of their ability. Staff are also expected to use their own money to provide resources for the nursery otherwise the children will be left with even less e.g. if books break staff are expected to replace them otherwise the children will be left with basically none. Overall Busy Bees as a company DO NOT care about their staff or their wellbeing, they put on a show about how much they care but never act on anything they say making it all just pointless words. They also care little for the children and their welfare, only caring if the nursery will pass the Ofsted inspection resulting in staff being overworked and under extensive pressure to keep up appearances. 
I would never recommend this company to anyone, parent or employee, it is a horrible place with a horrible environment which is unhealthy for everyone! There are so many better nurseries out there that actually look after their staff, genuinely care about the children and actively make the environment a fun and healthy place for everyone. 


Left alone with 20+ children, unfulfilled apprenticeship promises and underpaid.

Before working for busy bees I had a passion for childcare and wanted to pursue a career but since working here has put me off childcare forever if that's how anywhere else treats their employees.
At first I was offered a job as an unqualified nursery assistant, which means I had no idea what I was doing but was told I would be given some training and help, but wouldn't be left alone with children as my DBS hadn't come and as an UNQUALIFIED staff had no childcare qualifications. I also had been communicated that I would be able to pursue an apprenticeship which after I started was not spoken about ever again. 
I started by reading about a 50 page health and safety and child safeguarding sheets by myself and then was put straight into a room and told to start. I wasn't told what to do just put in a room and expected to know what to do/what role I would be doing and wasn't really introduced to the staff member or children.I felt very inferior to everyone else there and felt like everyone else looked down on me as I was 'unqualified' and just seen as an extra pair of hands and they were clearly desperate for help. There was even one occasion I was left alone in the lunch room with 20+ children despite not having my DBS or qualification to look after children. (There's also a ratio of 1 adult to 3 or 4 children which was definitely broken.) After working here I suffered really bad with anxiety and had anxiety attacks everyday after work which I have never experienced before or after working there because of how I was treated and how stressful the staff made it at times.
I was just put in new rooms every time someone went on break as I was just a helper but none of the kids knew me and obviously were wary of me as I was a stranger to them. Being moved around so much I never got to form a good relationship with the children.
The first payday I didn't receive my pay and told I would get it the next month instead. When I finally received it I was underpaid and when I spoke to the manager about my issues I was told i'd been taxed and was laughed at when I told them I shouldn't be taxed 20%+ for £100 and the issue was dismissed by them so I had to sort it out myself. 
Long story short I would never work for them again, would NEVER recommend to a friend and it was the worst job I've ever applied for and put me off childcare. 
Save yourself the time and stress and work for a different company.

Busy Bee's was my first nursery experience, having never worked in a nursery before I was quite naïve to the nursery environment however even I could tell after a short while that this is NOT a good working environment. Firstly management was awful, the manager often had mood swings which made them unapproachable and therefore I felt that I could not openly talk about my concerns or feelings. Secondly staff were down right bullies towards particular members of staff, I always worried what was said about me behind my back. Thirdly the focus was neither on the welfare of the staff or the children. Staff often worked way after their shift finishing times, and I was never paid or given time back for the extra time I worked which ranged anything from 10 mins to 45 minutes. Staff were not supported with their mental health, I for one definitely felt the effects of being overworked with no one to talk to confidentially about how I felt, I feel that other staff members felt the same way as they were often stressed. Children were not offered a good nursery experience as there were so many ridiculous health and safety issues that we could not provide experiences that would give children the potential to develop different skills but more importantly have fun. Therefore the same activities and toys were used on a daily basis, making it tedious for both children and staff. I do not believe the pay reflects the work required for looking after children for 10-11 hours per day, I believe I was paid minimum wage, however staff younger than me were on less which was also a concern. As this is a chain nursery I feel that personality is lost, the company is more concerned with keeping up appearances than looking after its staff and children correctly. I personally would not work again for busy bee's nor would I recommend it to any parents as I feel that there are other nurseries out there who treat their staff better and also provide better learning experiences for children.  I wouldn't normally post a review however I felt compelled to after seeing that this company received an overall 4 star review. I know each place will differ and so will each experience but I feel that potential employee's should be aware of what they are letting themselves in for.

Busy Bees nurseries are the definition of "IF YOUR FACE FITS". If you're liked, don't go against the grain, don't question anything, never have a family emergency, sickness for yourself or your children, eat, sleep and live the nursery you will get on great. Don't forget to be willing to buy your own supplies when needed as the "budget doesn't spread that far" when trying to provide education experiences for the children in your care. The promised career progression is a work of fiction that everyone is told about but never materialise. All promises are made verbally so there is no paper trail to be provided as evidence when you eventually ask what's happening and how to progress.
The "learning and development" are kept for the managers favourites and if you think to question it, you will be ostracised!!
Higher ups are not interested in helping with issues within the nursery and everyday managers are calling different settings to secure staff. Based in Edinburgh no problem we will send you to Dundee and don't forget it's your responsibility to make your own way home.
Children are seen as pound signs and managers are questioned when the settings aren't full or aren't making enough money. Which in turn causes stress to the practitioners working the floor. Six babies settling in one week, no problem the two staff ratio will sort that.
If you don't like having a set finishing time then this is the place for you. We are open till 6pm but will only schedule staff till 5pm because some children will be gone and if they aren't well we will just force those staff to stay and use threats like, its part of your SSSC registration to provide quality care and ensure the team are not over ratio. Be a team player, don't let your team mates down!
Overall an awful nursery chain who have a lacking professional team with good practise and the ones who do care get fed-up and leave. 
Please read the care inspectorate reviews before considering a job.
The fact they have a staff package that includes a mental health team shows the company is bad for your health. I would not recommend working with this company.

I am appalled at the organisation and their ability to function adequately. 

Furthermore, rooms are frequently out of ratio (staff to children) as seniors prefer spending their time in the office, instead of in rooms caring for the children within the set ratios.

As a result of poor management within this nursery and lack of ability to prioritise the children within their care, many issues have arisen. A mother of a child had specifically discussed with staff in a room not to attempt to move the child to another room as a lot of changes were happening at home. The staff agreed and reassured the mother that this wouldn’t happen, however, a senior within the room decided to move the child into another room and brought the child back into the baby room in time for Mum to pick the child up. No staff members explained the child had been moved, despite the child screaming and being severely unsettled in the other room. It was brought to my attention that the child was moved into another room so that a senior member of staff could go home, despite the parent specifically expressing that they didn’t want this to happen and staff agreed. 

Also, children are not being challenged and very little set group activities (if any) are planned and carried out. Therefore, the majority of the time children are left to their own devices, in which I believe is not benefitting their progress as no thought and planning is demonstrated.

If senior members within the nursery spent less time in the office conversing, children would therefore have more time and attention to progress their learning. 

In conclusion, I would recommend that senior members spent less time in the office conversing, I believe that children would ultimately then be provided with more time and attention to ensure healthy development. Scheduled and consistent activity sessions should be planned and delivered to ensure children’s learning is at an optimum. Also, the most crucial factor I would like to see improved is the trust between parent and staff as situations are carried out in which are against the wishes of their guardians and I strongly believe this is not good practice. 


Thank you for taking the time to read my response, i hope that issues are rectified in order for this nursery to provide a stable home from home for these children.

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