ACE Day Nursery
Outstanding★ 4.8 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Cambridge for children from birth to 8+, open 08:30 to 17:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in September 2021, though that is 5 years ago now. Open since 2004, with 17 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Cambridgeshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Cambridgeshire from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
CB5 8HTWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
- 21 November 2025 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 16 September 2021 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The babies and toddlers that attend this setting receive a wealth of excellent learning experiences. This means they are extremely well prepared for the next chapter of their education when they move to a pre-school setting. Children form exceptionally strong bonds with the adults that care for them, helping them to feel safe and secure. This also supports them to have the confidence and desire to explore their environment independently. Staff go to exceptional lengths to ensure new children settle in at their own pace and receive excellent support and reassurance.
Children move very confidently between play areas and make their own play choices from the interesting variety of activities on offer. They are curious and excited to explore the resources and show excellent levels of engagement for their age. For example, children independently fetch water from the water butt to use in a variety of ways. They fill their buckets to water plants or tip out the water to make puddles for jumping in. Babies squeal in excitement when they throw a ball in a bucket and the water splashes them.
Children are supported to begin building strong friendships from an early age.
- 16 September 2021Outstanding
- 5 May 2016Outstanding
- 30 March 2011Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for ACE Day Nursery
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.