Busy Bees Guildford

Hanover House, Cross Lanes, Guildford GU1 1UG
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8.8 68 Reviews
  • Busy Bees Guildford, Guildford
Busy Bees Guildford nursery is situated close to Guildford town centre, with access to the mainline train stations and the A3/M25.

The nursery is committed to the development of children in a home-from-home environment.

Busy Bees Nursery offers high-quality childcare and education for children aged from 3 months to 5 years. The nursery offers light and airy rooms with staff who are dedicated to providing a safe and stimulating environment for all of the children within their care.

The spacious outdoor play area incorporates astroturf and comprehensive climbing apparatus. The team also actively encourage visits and trips to places of interest.

The security of children is of the highest importance, with CCTV in all rooms and a secure video door entry system ensuring parents have peace of mind that their children are being cared for in a safe environment. There is also a parent room which allows them to see their child as they settle into the nursery. The nursery has its own private parking.

Staff are able to offer the children an environment where they will grow and learn.

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Care Provided by Busy Bees Guildford

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Samantha Packham-Edwards (Centre Director)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 23
  • Total Places for Children
  • 84
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 3 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:30-18:15
    Tuesday 07:30-18:15
    Wednesday 07:30-18:15
    Thursday 07:30-18:15
    Friday 07:30-18:15
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays

Busy Bees Guildford Reviews (68)

Total of 68, showing 1-20
8.8

Busy Bees Guildford has a Review Score of 8.8 (8.762) out of 10, based on 9 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Busy Bees Guildford has 68 reviews.

Overall Experience

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Review from Peter M (Uncle of Child) published on 30 April 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The level of care is outstanding, and the setting consistently goes above and beyond to ensure every child feels safe, happy, and engaged.


A special mention must go to the assistant manager, who has been an absolute rock. He is always present, approachable, and clearly passionate about the nursery.

Despite not having seen the manager for several months, it's the assistant manager who is keeping everything running smoothly. It's clear how much responsibility he has taken on, and it would be wonderful to see him fully recognised for his efforts.


The senior in the baby room is also exceptional. Since joining, our nephew has flourished under her care. The two girls in the baby room are our absolute rocks-consistent, enthusiastic, and deeply committed to their role.


The only downside has been the long-term absence of the manager. While this has been noticeable, the assistant manager has more than stepped up, and the nursery remains an outstanding place for children to grow and develop.


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Review from H H (Mother of Child) published on 22 April 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

The nursery has been through ups and downs during the 3 years that my eldest daughter has attended.
I currently have two daughters there and staff turnover has reduced and the staff who now work there and run it are great. Special mention to 3 staff members in particular. My girls are very lucky to
have such engaging, fun, and dedicated teachers.
The food has also improved and I'm pleased to see that the offerings are much more nutritious and that the children are being exposed to some interesting food.
I have regularly fed back any concerns to the nursery and I feel like the staff do listen. My 2 year old is particularly happy there and I'm sure that her joyful, kind and sociable disposition is partially due to her time at Busy Bees so far.

Reply from Nyssa, Third In Charge at Busy Bees Guildford

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences-it truly means a lot to us. We're so pleased to hear how well both of your daughters are doing and how much they're enjoying their time with us. It's been a journey, and we're grateful for your continued support and feedback over the years-it helps us grow and improve.We're proud of the strong, dedicated team we now have in place, and it's wonderful to hear the positive impact they're having on your children's experiences. We'll make sure those special staff members get the recognition they deserve!It's also great to hear your comments on the food and how your little ones are benefiting from a more varied and nutritious menu-we've been working hard on that, so it's lovely to know it's being noticed and appreciated.Most of all, knowing that your children feel happy, cared for, and excited to come in every day is the best feedback we could ask for.


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Review from Emma W (Mother of Child) published on 22 April 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter didn't take long to settle into nursery, going 2 days a week, she's formed very strong bonds with her lead practitioner and the other lovely staff in her room. She's very excited to get there in the mornings and we always get such positive reviews about how her day has been. She's seems
very happy, cared for, well fed and stimulated so we are very happy with Busy Bees.

Reply from Nyssa, Third In Charge at Busy Bees Guildford

Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We're so happy to hear how quickly your daughter settled in and that she's formed such strong bonds with her practitioner and the team-it's always our goal to create a nurturing and welcoming environment where children feel safe and excited to learn and play. Knowing that she looks forward to her days with us and is thriving makes us incredibly proud. We truly appreciate your kind words and your trust in Busy Bees!


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Review from Abigail H (Mother of Child) published on 22 April 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

They have a really wonderful and caring staff that provides good updates throughout the day. The kids always seem happy and well looked after, I never worry about leaving my little one in their capable hands.

Reply from Nyssa, Third In Charge at Busy Bees Guildford

Hi Abigail,Thank you so much for your kind words! It truly means the world to us to know you feel confident and comfortable leaving your little one in our care. Our team works hard to create a safe, loving, and fun environment for all the children, and it's so rewarding to hear that it shows. We're grateful for your trust and support-it's families like yours that make what we do so special!


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Review from F S (Mother of Child) published on 24 March 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My child has attended the nursery for the past year and a half and learnt so much in this time. Despite periods of high staff turnover, the current staffing situation appears stable and we rate the Assistant Manager and Heads of Room very highly. My child happily goes into nursery and has formed strong
bonds with the teachers and other children who all seem to enjoy their time at nursery and are polite and well-behaved during drop off and pick up time. I feel the nursery are very strong on arts & crafts and outdoor time as well as supporting children to learn new skills (dressing themselves, holding a pen etc.) but could improve the area of communication with parents. We are yet to be invited to a parents' evening and haven't had a progress review for quite some time having previously had them every 3 mos. I would personally love more info on what the kids have been learning each week and what focus areas are so we can build on this at home but I feel I don't get this unless I ask.

Reply from Nyssa, Third In Charge at Busy Bees Guildford

Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful feedback. We're so happy to hear how well your child is forming strong bonds with our team, and enjoying their time at Busy Bees. It's wonderful to know they feel happy, safe, and supported while learning and growing each day. We're proud of the improvements made in staffing and nutrition, and we're grateful for your recognition of these efforts. Your praise means a lot to our team. We also truly value your honest suggestions around communication and are working on ways to keep parents more informed about progress and learning. Your feedback helps us continue to grow, and we're so thankful to be part of your children's early years.


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Review from Joe H (Father of Child) published on 13 January 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little girl attends this nursery three days a week and loves it!
She is so excited to go in and even asks to go to nursery on a Sunday.
She has made great connections with all staff and even has some little friendships too.
We get updates all day on the app and cute photos which puts my mind at
rest.
They do lovely activities, loads of messy play and arts and crafts.
The staff are so kind and loving to the children, so nice to see.
Any issues with funding and fees are quickly rectified by the management, they are very helpful.
Really happy with my first nursery experience.

Reply from Samantha Packham-Edwards, Centre Director at Busy Bees Guildford

Thank you so much for your kind words and valuable feedback! We're thrilled to hear that your little one loves coming to nursery and has formed such great connections with both the staff and her friends. It's wonderful to know she enjoys the activities, from messy play to arts and crafts, and that the updates and photos help put your mind at ease. We're so proud of our team for being kind and loving towards the children, and we're glad you've noticed! We're also happy to hear that any concerns regarding fees and funding were resolved promptly. Your satisfaction with your first nursery experience means a lot to us, and we're grateful to have you as part of the Busy Bees family. Thank you again for your trust and support!


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Review from M W (Mother of Child) published on 9 August 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son loves coming to nursery. He has been to a few nurseries before and I’ve really seen a difference since coming to Hanover House. All the staff are lovely and I can see how comfortable he is with them, especially his key worker. Although it’s a busy environment I always get a great insight of his
day, what he’s done and what activities he’s taken part in. I love looking at pictures on the app of him having fun, it really puts my mind at rest knowing he’s having so much fun. There’s nothing better than knowing your child is in the best hands, I can’t thank them enough!

Reply from Emily Graves, Digital Content Assistant at Busy Bees Guildford

Hello, We love reading feedback like this! Thank you for sharing it with us; we will pass on your lovely comments to the team at Guildford Hanover House.
40 years of Busy Bees – 40 years of best beginnings. Celebrate our milestone year with us! Visit our Busy Bees website or search for ’40 years Busy Bees’ and find out more and how to join us. We’re grateful for your trust and the opportunity to provide your child with the best start in life. Best wishes, Busy Bees.


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Review from L R (Mother of Child) published on 27 July 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My 17 month old daughter has gone from strength to strength since starting at Hanover House at 9 months old. She has made such strong bonds with her networkers and all the other staff, and I feel she is truly cared about. She always has so much fun at nursery, comes in happily in the morning and leaves
happily at the end of the day!

Reply from Emily Graves, Digital Content Assistant at Busy Bees Guildford

Hello. Wow! Thank you for this glowing review! We are delighted your little one is having a good experience at our Guildford nursery. 40 years of Busy Bees – 40 years of best beginnings. Celebrate our milestone year with us! We’re grateful for your trust and the opportunity to provide your child with the best start in life. Best wishes, Busy Bees


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Review from Paula M (Mother of Child) published on 20 June 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 2.0 out of 5

They don’t change baby nappies frequently. My baby was there for 5 hours with that same nappy. I coloured his nappy with a pen mark. I can prove this because I took my baby to the GP. My baby got a really bad nappy rash with fungus.
They let babies play with dirty brushes.
They don’t give enough
water to the kids.
On the first day while I’d been waiting during the settling-in session a little girl was with poo nappy for more than half an hour. The teacher just changed because I told her.
They don’t update their app frequently. My baby arrived with wet clothes twice. They don’t wash their hands after changing baby nappies. I saw this three times with 2 different teachers on his settling sessions.
After all of that, my baby just stayed there for one month due to the month's notice period.
Definitely, I don’t recommend Guildford Hannover Busy Bees.

Reply from Emily Graves, Digital Content Assistant at Busy Bees Guildford

Hello, Thank you for taking the time to review Busy Bees Guildford Hanover House. We value your feedback and are sorry to read about your experience. Providing children in our care with the best start in life is of paramount importance to us. Following your review, we would be interested to hear more from you so that we can understand your concerns. Please email enrolments@busybees.com if you are happy to discuss in more detail. Best wishes, Busy Bees.


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Review from Robert W (Father of Child) published on 6 September 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been at Hanover House since she was 6 months old. It was a very nervous time for me but the staff settled her greatly into nursery life. Her key worker was extremely patient and caring for my daughter.
My daughter has learnt so much from being at Hanover House. As she has transitioned
into new rooms the staff in each room all have great knowledge, patience and are very loving and caring towards the children. Management has always been great with communication and keeps parents up to date with upcoming events.

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Review from Demi S (Mother of Child) published on 9 July 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 1.0 out of 5

Staff are lovely but get treated poorly. Higher up staff and managers shout at staff for things they haven’t done wrong in front of the children. This needs to change. They are doing an amazing job for our kids but they shouldn’t get treated like rubbish.

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Review from C W (Mother of Child) published on 19 April 2021
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter has thrives at nursery. She loves the creative activity and baking. We are glad of the on-site chef and food. She has a real bond with her key workers and is always ready for another day of nursery. We have been happy with her care.

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Review from Lucy M (Mother of Child) published on 9 April 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our two boys have had such a brilliant time at Busy Bees at Guildford. The team have made them feel so welcome and have nurtured their development over the last two years. The boys love their team and key workers who have worked tirelessly, especially with the uncertainty of lockdown and Covid-19 restrictions.
We have now moved out of the area but highly recommend the team and facilities. Thanks to all for looking after our boys so brilliantly.

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Review from A T (Mother of Child) published on 5 February 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I would highly recommend Busy Bees at Hanover House. My baby is always happy to go there, she loves all the activities. She accesses such a wide range of early learning opportunities and fun activities. All the staff are very friendly, I really feel that the staff truly care about her and always give
us feedback about how the day has gone. I feel reassured when my daughter is there while we are working. I strongly recommend this nursery.

Reply from Charlotte Self, Acting manager at Busy Bees Guildford

Thank you very much for your positive review and we are so glad your daughter is happy and settled in Nursery. The team are great and extremely fond of your daughter who has developed a wonderful personality since starting her time at Nursery. We hope you continue to receive the high expected care for your daughter during her days at Nursery.


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Review from Jo M (Mother of Child) published on 19 November 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My two-year-old daughter loves going to nursery! She settled in really well and bonded with the staff quickly. Lots of activities each day and plenty of time spent outside. Staff are friendly and welcoming and they’ve been really good during the craziness of this year. My youngest will be joining next
year and I hope she takes to it just as well.

Reply from Charlotte Self, Acting manager at Busy Bees Guildford

Thank you for your positive review and we are so glad your daughter has settled and having an enjoyable time at Nursery. She will continue to grow with the care she receives during her day with all the fun-filled learning opportunities that are given here each day.


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Review from C F (Mother of Child) published on 29 October 2020
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We have been thrilled with the care and support provided for our 2 children. The staff are warm, friendly and caring, full of exciting ideas to make smooth transitions from room to room as the children grow up. Excellent communication especially in recent changes due to Covid-19. A very approachable
manager to answer any queries. Ever since their first day they have both marched inside without a backward glance! They are very happy there. Many thanks.

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Review from E H (Mother of Child) published on 2 October 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I would highly recommend Busy Bees. All the staff are very friendly and helped my daughter settle in; I cannot thank you enough. She always happy to go to the nursery and talks a lot about how much fun her day at preschool was.

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Review from Karen P (Mother of Child) published on 2 October 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter was understandably unsettled when she first started her introduction sessions at Busy Bees, however, I was really impressed with how it was handled by the nursery. They offered her as many sessions needed until her official start date and went above and beyond to make her feel happy and
secure. Since, my daughter is doing really well and is loving her nursery life and the staff. Anything that may crop up along the way the nursery have worked with us as parents and visa versa. The wide range of activities keep her busy throughout the day and the variety of meals and snacks offered ensure she's getting a healthy nutritious diet.
Regular updates/pictures from the nursery on parent zone keeps me and my husband well informed throughout the day which in turn keeps our minds at ease. We have honestly been more than happy with our choice in nursery and would highly recommend them.

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Review from Sophie (Mother of Child) published on 2 October 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We could not be happier with our choice of nursery. Our youngest started at Hanover House at the age of two and has settled in very quickly, in just a matter of days - she literally pushes us out of the door each morning to get there! The staff are all extremely helpful, friendly and caring and we feel
very reassured knowing our daughter is thriving in a safe and happy environment. The meal variation is excellent and there is a wide range of fun play activities on a daily basis to keep our daughter entertained and content.

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Review from Amy E (Mother of Child) published on 27 July 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Busy Bees is a wonderful setting, all the staff are so friendly and have really helped my little one settle in. It’s lovely how all the staff know the names of all the children and everyone is always so smiley!
Thanks, Busy Bees for looking after my absolute madam!

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Current Review Score: 8.8 (8.762)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 8.8 (8.762) out of 10 for Busy Bees Guildford is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.5 out of 5 from 9 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.3 out of 5 from 8 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.486 for Busy Bees Guildford is calculated as follows: ( (71 Excellents x 5) + (23 Goods x 4) + (4 Satisfactorys x 3) + (5 Poors x 2) + (2 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 105 Ratings = 4.486

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 4.276 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Busy Bees Guildford is based on 8 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 3.8

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 84 number of registered child places is 16.8. 8 Positive Reviews ÷ 16.8 = 0.476

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please Contact Us for Latest Vacancies

Awards / Recognitions (1)

Top 20 Large Nursery Groups 2018

Recipient: Busy Bees Nurseries Ltd

Date: Thursday 01 Mar 2018 More details

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Meet the Team (1)

Samantha

Samantha Packham-Edwards

Job Title: Centre Director

Hi, my name is Samantha and I am the Centre Director here at Busy Bees Guildford Hanover House.


Frequently Asked Questions about Busy Bees Guildford

What is the Age Range of Children that Busy Bees Guildford accepts?

Busy Bees Guildford accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Busy Bees Guildford Open?

Busy Bees Guildford is open: Monday 07:30-18:15, Tuesday 07:30-18:15, Wednesday 07:30-18:15, Thursday 07:30-18:15, Friday 07:30-18:15.

How many Children does Busy Bees Guildford have capacity for?

Busy Bees Guildford has capacity for a total of 84 Children.

How far is Busy Bees Guildford to the centre of Guildford?

0.6 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Busy Bees Guildford to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Busy Bees Guildford has an Enhanced Service – more info.