New Bicester nursery has rooftop garden and in-house chef

Busy Bees opened its latest county branch this month on Whitelands Way on the Kingsmere Estate in Bicester.

Parents and families were invited to join staff for a sneak peek at an open day where they could explore the new spaces and toys.

The nursery is well placed to serve the growing population and takes children from birth up to five years old.

Every child has direct access to the nursery garden and parents and children at the open day had the chance to tour the nursery, get to know staff and sample food prepared by the in-house chef.

Laura Agnew, nursery manager at the new Busy Bees branch, has been working in early years for 14 years.

She said: “We’re delighted to be sharing our new nursery with local families. This new setting has so many great features – the children who’ve seen it so far love that they are never more than a few steps away from the outdoors.”

The nursery is designed to have a homely feel while providing separate areas for rest, play and meal times and even has a rooftop garden for children to enjoy.

Ms Agnew added: “Choosing a nursery is a really difficult decision for parents. They want to find the best environment that is going to help their children develop and thrive in their earliest years.

“That’s why open events like these are so important; they give parents and children the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the nursery and get to know the team, as well as ask any questions they might have.

“The team here are all dedicated to giving children the best start in life and we can’t wait to hear feedback from local families on our brand new nursery.”

The new nursery now joins 375 other Busy Bees across the country 'dedicated to giving children the best start in life'.

Hannah Robertson, whose son Dash attends Busy Bees at Kingsmere, said: “The nursery has been so thoughtfully planned out and equipped – one of my favourite things are the taps with different types of handles.

"It's such a simple thing but so important for toddlers growing in independence and facing new challenges.

“We’re two weeks in and my son has settled with ease, asking to go to nursery for the first time ever - the staff have made the switch so smooth.

“I love how he’s involved in setting up and tidying up too giving him real ownership over his time and activities, something which is now evident in his behaviour at home.”