University of West Cambridge Day Nursery
Outstanding★ 3.8 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 May 2025. Open since 2009, with 120 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
CB3 0FZWhat 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.
Ofsted inspector, 29 May 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive in the well-run nursery. They freely move around to explore, experiment and investigate with the wide range of resources both inside their group rooms and gardens. Staff expertly use their knowledge about the children they care for to ensure resources that reflect children's interests are readily available. In addition, staff add further items to help support even more learning experiences. Children enthusiastically recall the facts and information they already know before staff encourage them to think more deeply, contributing to expanding their knowledge and understanding even further. For example, staff ask children to recall the types of bees found in a hive. Children confidently identify the bees before staff ask them to explain how a new queen bee develops. Staff add new words to children's vocabulary, such as 'colony', helping to strengthen children's knowledge about bees. Children look at reference books to help them find new information and listen to the clear explanations staff give them. This is reflected in the rapid progress children make in their learning.
Children are inquisitive and eager to learn. Through the carefully structured and well-sequenced curriculum, staff support children to begin to recognise and manage their emotions and behaviours. Very young children begin to take turns through simple games and activities with staff. Older children know they can find resources, such as sand timers, to help them take responsibility for sharing and equity during their play. Staff are on hand to give gentle reminders and to help children to regulate their behaviours when they struggle. As a result, children learn in a harmonious and happy environment.
- 29 May 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 9 January 2020Outstanding
- 19 June 2013Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for University of West Cambridge 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.