Sawston Nursery
Outstanding★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Cambridge for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in January 2024. Open since 2000, with 68 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
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
CB22 3UWWhat 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.
- 18 May 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 25 March 2022 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 3 January 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children excitedly come into nursery and are greeted by smiling practitioners. They are strongly supported by a dedicated team, who prioritise children's needs. The environment sparks children's curiosity as they explore and endeavour to find out about the world. The ambitious curriculum is clearly embedded. Children make significant progress in all areas of learning. The transition between rooms is seamless, ensuring children are moved when they are developmentally ready and settle quickly. Key persons know their children exceptionally well and meet their individual needs. Practitioners and leaders have the same shared vision for outstanding practice.
Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities make rapid progress from their starting points. The special educational needs coordinator provides highly supportive care to both children and families. The nursery liaises with a diverse range of outside professionals, who provide focused help and support. The drive and focus for meeting children's individual needs ensures children receive early help where needed. The passion from leaders and practitioners to ensure all children receive the highest quality care and attention to reach their full potential is extremely inspiring.
Children are exceptionally well behaved and show manners saying please and thank you. They are encouraged by practitioners to follow simple rules that children know and implement. Children openly talk about their feelings and these learning opportunities are captured for further discussion. Practitioners are attentive and nurturing. They quickly recognise how children are feeling from their emotions and seek to comfort them. The use of songs and rhymes is celebrated and embedded in every room. Practitioners burst into song and children join in, clapping along, and dancing to the beat.
- 3 January 2024Outstanding
- 23 February 2018Good
- 6 August 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Sawston 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.