DID YOU EVER IMAGINE BUSY BEES WOULD BE SUCH A LARGE NURSERY GROUP BACK WHEN YOU OPENED THE FIRST SETTING IN THE LATE 80s?
When we opened our first nursery, we weren’t looking to start a business, we were just trying to create the childcare we wanted and needed for our families. A place where we felt our children would be happy, secure, and well cared for and treated with respect, with a real focus on education.
We couldn’t find an option that offered everything we wanted. So, my husband and I, together with Lynn and John Woodward and with help from our friends, David and Sally Thackray, decided to make it ourselves.
We sold our houses, purchased a property, converted it and moved in upstairs with John, Lynn and Steven, their ten-month-old son. And in 1983, we established Rocklands in Lichfield, Staffordshire.
Lynn and I worked in the nursery, juggling caring for our new babies and caring for the other children, and we recruited the most passionate skilled people who were committed to the job. It was a place that children and parents loved being a part of.
Rocklands formed the blueprint for all the nurseries we run today, but we certainly didn’t set out with the intention of building a global operation.
Within 12 months all 50 places in the first nursery were full. It was John who really inspired us to consider opening a second nursery, with a vision to share the experience with as many families as possible. He was always the visionary. But we would not be where we are without our people;past, present and future, doing exceptional things for children and families. With 40 years of providing children with the best opportunities, seeing my own children and now grandchildren experience Busy Bees makes me incredibly proud.
This spring, we’re opening a brand-new, purpose-built centre in Lichfield, going back to where it all began.
WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS?
I am fortunate to have had a career in early years because influencing the lives of children has been amazing. Something that is always really rewarding for me personally is watching as children transition to school.
When my own children started school, they were so capable, confident and eager to learn – it cemented our belief that we were doing the right things and could offer more children the best start in life.
That's why we began to expand overseas and take our philosophy of childcare to other countries. First was Singapore and Malaysia – I’m very proud of the opportunities we have created for people across the world, from children and parents to our centre teams.
Every time we open a new centre, wherever it is, it gives me pause for thought, a moment to take stock and reflect on everything that our amazing teams have achieved.
WHAT HAVE BEEN THE GREATEST CHALLENGES?
At least four recessions, and the Covid pandemic, were certainly a challenge for us, like many others. Fortunately, our Asia teams were well equipped to deal with these situations and we were able to draw on their experience. Also, this was a time when the whole sector pulled together to support each other and to share best practice in the interests of all children.
Our support and nursery teams pulled together to really focus on continuing to provide the best service possible for those who needed us most.
The greatest challenge has always been and continues to be finding the right people to deliver the highest quality of childcare. We ask all of our colleagues to strive towards creating environments where they would be prepared to leave their own children, and if that isn’t the case, it must be addressed.
As we continue to grow and recruit, it's really important that we hold on to the essence of the business and why we started in the beginning – to deliver exceptional childcare with the Busy Bees difference.
HOW HAS OPERATING A CHILDCARE BUSINESS CHANGED OVER THE DECADES?
Over 40 years, government policies and new legislation have inevitably shaped the way the industry has developed. Our approach to teaching early years has definitely evolved and improved over the years. When we first opened, our programme was split between direct and child-led learning. Following the introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework in 2008, there was more focus on free play and the sector moved away from directed learning.
Recently, thinking is moving back towards a more teacher-led approach. We sow the seeds of interest and the children enjoy learning about things they didn’t know they were interested in.
The main thing is to make learning fun and relevant to a child's interests to keep them engaged. Learning in the early years is so important to their future because it lays down educational foundations for years to come, a significance which is often overlooked. We want to help children develop curious minds and a love of learning, to be creative, independent and to be caring and considerate to each other and the world around them.
HOW HAS YOUR ROLE WITHIN THE NURSERY GROUP EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS?
At the beginning, I was extremely focused on learning in nurseries and implementing our curriculum from the ground up. My background is in teaching, and it's something I’ve really held on to as it's the foundation of our business.
Now, as non-executive director, my commitment remains in quality and safeguarding and supporting others in delivering exceptional care and education across the world. As part of this, I work with the government bodies and national associations to help provide the best opportunities for children – not just in our nurseries, but across the early years sector.
40 YEARS IN BUSINESS IS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT, HOW WILL THE GROUP CELEBRATE?
We'll be hosting celebrations at Busy Bees nurseries across the world. I am extremely proud of all that we have achieved over the past 40 years, and marking this anniversary is a real milestone for us.