Chiltern Hills Montessori has three sites - one for babies, one for toddlers and one for pre-school aged children.
All sites are very short walks from each other in the small, picturesque village of Downley, a Chiltern Hills area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Downley Common, where the children regularly play and walk, is also designated as a Conservation Area meaning all three sites are surrounded by historic buildings and lovely,...
Chiltern Hills Montessori has three sites - one for babies, one for toddlers and one for pre-school aged children.
All sites are very short walks from each other in the small, picturesque village of Downley, a Chiltern Hills area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Downley Common, where the children regularly play and walk, is also designated as a Conservation Area meaning all three sites are surrounded by historic buildings and lovely, green spaces and woods to explore. Wildlife forms a fascinating part of Downley's natural environment with children regularly encountering pheasants, partridges, red kites and muntjac deer, to name just a few.
The Toddler site and Pre-School have been graded as outstanding by Ofsted (January 2024) and the Baby room achieved a good grading at their very first inspection. All teams are incredibly proud of these grades.
The nursery takes children from three months old up to reception school entry. Babies aged from 3 months to 2 years attend the Moor Lane setting, 2 to 3 year old toddlers are located at the High Street POD setting and pre-school children, aged 3-4, attend nursery on the Downley Primary School site, known locally as TDS.
The pre-school site offers a Forest School for the older children to help develop a lifelong love and understanding of the natural environment, whilst developing self-esteem, confidence and social skills.
All staff are highly trained and enhanced DBS checked.
The nursery is open Monday to Friday, 51 weeks a year, closing for one week at Christmas, on bank holidays and for Inset training days.
Chiltern Hills Montessori nursery has 3 buildings in the Downley village. Please contact the team to arrange a visit.
Funding & Fees
Accepts government fundingAccepts tax-free childcare
Typical monthly cost for a 3-days place
£401/ month
Activities such as outings to the Horse's Trust, Tumblestone Hollow, Pantomine or theatre are charged at cost but are optional.
Calculated from data given to us by this nursery. Your final quote may vary slightly.
Averaged monthly figure. Actual billing varies; some nurseries bill weekly or by use.
Defaults shown
9 months to 2 years • 3-days • 30 hours funding • all year
How this price scales (per month)
2 days per week
£86
3 days per week
£401
5 days per week
£1,202
Adjust for your situation
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What this price covers
Standard chargeable day 8:00am to 6:00pm (10 hours)
23.3 funded hours used per week. Remaining hours charged privately.
Included in this price: Breakfast, Dinner / Tea, Lunch, Snacks, Wipes, Nappy Cream and Suncream
Price without government funding: £1,342 / month (£110 / day)
If you're not eligible or haven't claimed funded hours.More info
£941/month more than the funded price.
This is what you'd pay if your child is under 9 months, or if you're not eligible for or haven't claimed funded hours.
About this price
How funding is applied, how the monthly figure is calculated.More info
Working parents of children aged 9 months to 2 years can usually claim up to 30 funded hours a week. The working-parent hours depend on each parent meeting the minimum earnings rules and earning under £100,000 a year. This nursery stretches funded hours across 49 weeks of the year. You've selected 30 funded hours.
This nursery applies up to 10 funded hours per day, stretched across 49 weeks of the year. With your selected funding, 23.3 hours are covered each week. Hours beyond this, including the early and late parts of the day, are charged at the standard rate.
We work out the total cost across the year and divide by 12, so the figure shown is a smoothed monthly average. In practice, nurseries bill in different ways. Some bill monthly at this average. Others bill weekly, or charge for what happened that week or month, which can vary across the year. Confirm billing details with the nursery when you enquire.
Contact Chiltern Hills Montessori Nursery to get a personalised quote:
Chiltern Hills Montessori Nursery has a Review Score of 9.0 (8.975) out of 10, based on 7 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Chiltern Hills Montessori Nursery has 30 reviews.
Reviewer Connection to Chiltern Hills Montessori Nursery
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Showing 30 reviews matching selected criteria
Review from H K (Mother of Child) published on 12 October 2023 Submitted via Website•
Overall Experience
My child first started at the POD and has transitioned to TDS. I can not thank the team enough for the ongoing care they provide to my daughter. She loves all the staff and huge shout out to the POD room manager as she goes above and beyond for the kids. The TDS team are also very polite, friendly...
My child first started at the POD and has transitioned to TDS. I can not thank the team enough for the ongoing care they provide to my daughter. She loves all the staff and huge shout out to the POD room manager as she goes above and beyond for the kids. The TDS team are also very polite, friendly and attentive. I can’t recommend this nursery enough and am so glad that someone recommended it to me! As this is not my closest nursery to home. But worth the travel!
↩Reply from Virginia Roden, Owner at Chiltern Hills Montessori Nursery
Thank you very much for your review. Our wonderful team of staff have been hand-picked to ensure both knowledgeable experience and enthusiastic commitment to supporting the children and families at our nursery. Together with a powerful partnership with parents this provides the winning formula to enable our capable children to reach their potential.
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Review from K S (Mother of Child) published on 25 September 2023 Submitted via Website•
Overall Experience
I'm very happy with this nursery. The staff offer a friendly, caring approach to looking after my son. The daily activities help to develop my son’s learning, as well as lots of free playtime. My son is always happy to be dropped off and is always excited for his day at nursery.
I'm very happy with this nursery. The staff offer a friendly, caring approach to looking after my son. The daily activities help to develop my son’s learning, as well as lots of free playtime. My son is always happy to be dropped off and is always excited for his day at nursery.
↩Reply from Virginia Roden, Owner at Chiltern Hills Montessori Nursery
Thank you very much for your review! We carefully monitor the progress of every child, thus creating a unique learning pathway to enable each child to enjoy new learning each and every day and reach their potential by the time they move on to the next step of their learning journey.
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Review from H T (Mother of Child) published on 21 August 2023 Submitted via Website•
Overall Experience
We’ve had a wonderful experience at the nursery, my daughter settled in very quickly and loved going in. I would highly recommend this nursery, the staff are so friendly, provided regular feedback and are very approachable.
We’ve had a wonderful experience at the nursery, my daughter settled in very quickly and loved going in. I would highly recommend this nursery, the staff are so friendly, provided regular feedback and are very approachable.
↩Reply from Virginia Roden, Owner at Chiltern Hills Montessori Nursery
Thank you for your review. We aim to make our nursery irresistible to children through rigorous planning of our activities, employing staff who are highly tuned in to the needs of each individual child, and developing strong partnerships with parents. This is a winning formula.
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Review from T E (Father of Child) published on 14 August 2023 Submitted via Website•
Overall Experience
I was dreading sending our first child to nursery and filled with guilt. They made the whole process relaxing and managed my son’s transition really well. Have complete confidence in them. The nursery is a really cosy, relaxed environment. It’s more like leaving him with a good friend. He gets to...
I was dreading sending our first child to nursery and filled with guilt. They made the whole process relaxing and managed my son’s transition really well. Have complete confidence in them. The nursery is a really cosy, relaxed environment. It’s more like leaving him with a good friend. He gets to go out in the garden most days and his insatiable appetite is well catered for. So pleased we made the choice to go with them.
↩Reply from Virginia Roden, Owner at Chiltern Hills Montessori Nursery
Thank you for your review. Tapping into the unique character of each child and ensuring our nursery adapts to meets those needs in terms of their emotional, physical and intellectual development is our aim. We are thrilled to read feedback to let us know that it works!
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Review from Amira M (Mother of Child) published on 14 August 2023 Submitted via Website•
Overall Experience
My son started the Chiltern Hills Montessori Nursery in 2022 at 10 months old as one of the first to the new baby room. I have watched him develop leaps and bounds since starting the nursery. The staff have always gone the extra mile to ensure he is learning whilst having fun. I was very nervous...
My son started the Chiltern Hills Montessori Nursery in 2022 at 10 months old as one of the first to the new baby room. I have watched him develop leaps and bounds since starting the nursery. The staff have always gone the extra mile to ensure he is learning whilst having fun. I was very nervous when he started as I suffered badly with separation anxiety as did my little one and the nursery accommodated us both with settling sessions and made the transition so easy. I would like to give an extra special thank you to the principal, she truly goes above and beyond, not only for the children but offering training to both staff and parents, always trying her best to enrich the lives of the children inside and outside the nursery. Also giving parents the opportunity to connect through trips which are thoughtfully planned out. I am so glad I chose this nursery and would highly recommend it to any parent looking for a child-focused nursery that involves the parents in all aspects.
↩Reply from Virginia Roden, Owner at Chiltern Hills Montessori Nursery
Thank you for your review. We love what we do and it gives us the greatest of pleasures to help children thrive and families feel involved and supported in making that tricky work-life balance come together.
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Review from Victoria N (Mother of Child) published on 14 August 2023 Submitted via Website•
Overall Experience
My daughter started at Chiltern Hills Montessori Nursery in April 2023 at 14 months. As first-time parents we were nervous about returning to work and leaving our baby in the care of others but choosing this nursery has been the best decision. I would say our daughter can be sensitive and takes a...
My daughter started at Chiltern Hills Montessori Nursery in April 2023 at 14 months. As first-time parents we were nervous about returning to work and leaving our baby in the care of others but choosing this nursery has been the best decision. I would say our daughter can be sensitive and takes a while to settle and warm up to others. The nursery has been ideal as it feels intimate and the staff are so kind, supportive and loving towards our little girl. She has come out of her little shell and grown so much in confidence and character. She has made little friends, adores the facilitators and gets up to all sorts of interesting and exciting activities. I can genuinely say my favourite parts of the working week have been dropping her off and picking her up.
↩Reply from Virginia Roden, Owner at Chiltern Hills Montessori Nursery
Thank you very much for your review. It gives us huge pleasure to support children through these delicate first steps into the big outdoor world. Our team of practitioners are well versed in the multiple ways children react as they transition into nursery. We always aim to work very closely with...
Thank you very much for your review. It gives us huge pleasure to support children through these delicate first steps into the big outdoor world. Our team of practitioners are well versed in the multiple ways children react as they transition into nursery. We always aim to work very closely with parents who know their child best, and together we find the 'magic key' to helping your child enjoy life, grow and develop whilst parents are working hard.
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Review from Mirela A (Mother of Child) published on 14 August 2023 Submitted via Website•
Overall Experience
I can highly recommend the nursery. Both my kids attended the nursery at Downley High Street. My younger son just graduated from the preschool nursery. I was absolutely amazed by their friendly approach and professionalism throughout the whole journey with both of my kids. My son was born just a...
I can highly recommend the nursery. Both my kids attended the nursery at Downley High Street. My younger son just graduated from the preschool nursery. I was absolutely amazed by their friendly approach and professionalism throughout the whole journey with both of my kids. My son was born just a few months before the pandemic started, so when he joined the nursery he had a strong separation anxiety. It was a difficult time for him and us as the parents, but with the help of the staff, they made it easier and smooth to settle into sessions, very flexible to meet family needs. I am so grateful for all the hard work! Thank you.
↩Reply from Virginia Roden, Owner at Chiltern Hills Montessori Nursery
Thank you for your feedback. We have been delighted at the resilience of the pandemic children. Throughout the recovery period, we have focussed on the children's social skills, language development and confidence, and are delighted that they are now ready to move on to their schools with confidence and the skills they need to achieve their potential.
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Review from Fay G (Mother of Child) published on 14 August 2023 Submitted via Website•
Overall Experience
We fully trust and love this nursery. There's lots of outdoor play, but they really do follow your schedule which I love. Starting at 11 months, I was worried her needs wouldn't be met but the staff are amazing and followed everything I asked. She's now 20 months and absolutely loves it still and...
We fully trust and love this nursery. There's lots of outdoor play, but they really do follow your schedule which I love. Starting at 11 months, I was worried her needs wouldn't be met but the staff are amazing and followed everything I asked. She's now 20 months and absolutely loves it still and gets so excited when I take her there. Lots for her to do and lots of friends made.
↩Reply from Virginia Roden, Owner at Chiltern Hills Montessori Nursery
Thank you for your review. Partnership with parents is a 'golden nugget' in supporting each child's learning and development. Listening to your views is key to our support for your child.
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Review from Sarah B (Mother of Child) published on 14 August 2023 Submitted via Website•
Overall Experience
My child loves coming here, the staff really care about the children and have high standards. They are very welcoming and professional and I can't praise them enough. Admin have been flexible and very helpful. There are regular trips to outside space for exploring, and good quality food and my...
My child loves coming here, the staff really care about the children and have high standards. They are very welcoming and professional and I can't praise them enough. Admin have been flexible and very helpful. There are regular trips to outside space for exploring, and good quality food and my child has become more confident and independent.
↩Reply from Virginia Roden, Owner at Chiltern Hills Montessori Nursery
Thank you for your feedback. We have a wonderfully stable and committed team of professionals who work hard to make our nursery the best for each and every unique child.
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Review from N W (Mother of Child) published on 14 August 2023 Submitted via Website•
Overall Experience
We absolutely love the Chiltern Hills Nursery. Our son attended the pre-school in Downley last year and I can honestly say it was magical. The focus and attention given to the children and the rates at which they develop is just wonderful. Our daughter is now at the pod (age 2) and we absolutely...
We absolutely love the Chiltern Hills Nursery. Our son attended the pre-school in Downley last year and I can honestly say it was magical. The focus and attention given to the children and the rates at which they develop is just wonderful. Our daughter is now at the pod (age 2) and we absolutely love it too. It’s such a community nursery, the staff are great, the kids are outside all the time, walking in the woods, and her speech and understanding have come on leaps in the 3 months she’s been there. It’s clean, safe and just a lovely happy environment. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this nursery to anyone.
↩Reply from Virginia Roden, Owner at Chiltern Hills Montessori Nursery
Thank you for your review. We feel proud to be able to have a helping hand in helping the next generation thrive.
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Child Vacancies
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
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