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Growing Up Green Nursery

208 Preston Road, Preston, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 6RA
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Growing Up Green Nursery, Brighton
Growing Up Green Nursery, Brighton
Growing Up Green Nursery, Brighton

Growing Up Green nursery fosters a holistic approach to early childhood development, emphasising the well-being of each child through nurturing care, curiosity-driven learning, and a commitment to sustainability. The dedicated team creates a warm, inclusive environment where children aged from birth to five years are encouraged to explore, learn, and grow at their own pace. With a focus on building strong relationships, the nursery ensures that every child feels valued...  

Type of Service

  • Day Nursery

Opening Schedule

Open all year

Full days available

Yes

Half day sessions offered

Yes

Group / Owner

Person in charge

  • Emma Somenzi (Nursery Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 17

Total Places for Children

  • 59

Age Range

  • from 0 years 5 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Opening Times

  • Monday07:15-18:00
  • Tuesday07:15-18:00
  • Wednesday07:15-18:00
  • Thursday07:15-18:00
  • Friday07:15-18:00

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays & Christmas time

Parking

  • Parents, Carers and Visitor can park on Harrington Road and Knoyle road which are adjacent to the nursery. There are parking restriction during the hours of 9am until 10 am and 2pm until 3pm.

Funding & Fees

Over 3’s with 22 hrs Funding prices:

1 day £129.55 per month

2 days £259.08 per month

Under 3’s with 22 hrs Funding prices:

1 day £40.80
2 days £81.60
3 days £375.70

For shorter Days and term-time only options, please contact the office.

Contact Growing Up Green Nursery to get a personalised quote:

Growing Up Green Nursery Reviews (59)

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9.9

Growing Up Green Nursery has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.857) out of 10, based on 21 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Growing Up Green Nursery has 59 reviews.

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Review from Loukia P (Mother of Child) published on 15 September 2025 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
I have been so thankful to Growing Up Green for taking care of my daughter from the age of 9 months up until her reception year at school. I was quite emotional on her last day, as it felt like she was leaving her extended family.
The aunties have been absolutely fantastic and have done a brilliant job preparing her for the transition to school. I always felt confident dropping her off, knowing she would have a fun and fulfilling day.
The aunties are nurturing, attentive to each child's individual needs and always happy to talk to you about your child's progress. Each day was filled with engaging and fun activities to the point that it was often a struggle to get her to leave the nursery at the end of the day.

I sincerely thank them for taking such wonderful care of my child and cannot recommend them highly enough.

Reply from Emma Somenzi, Nursery Manager at Growing Up Green Nursery

Thank you so much for your beautiful words - they genuinely touched us all.We're so glad to hear that you always felt confident leaving her in our care - that trust means everything. The team work so hard to create a nurturing, engaging environment for every child, and knowing it made such a difference to your daughter's journey is incredibly rewarding.

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Review from Francesca I (Mother of Child) published on 6 August 2022 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

Fantastic nursery with wonderful caring and nurturing staff and excellent management. We are really grateful for the excellent care our son has received. His key worker has been amazing and all the staff are experienced and really care about the children.

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Review from C W (Mother of Child) published on 25 April 2022 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

Growing up Green was our son's second nursery setting and we couldn’t have felt more pleased, reassured and positive about his move two years ago. He’s grown up with the nursery, his wonderful key workers and the staff team as a whole. He is always so happy going in and just as happy coming out. We know he has heaps of fun as well as developmental and educational input from his very experienced key workers every day that he attends. Communication is great between us and the nursery which definitely helps. They are compassionate, helpful, skilled and very knowledgable. Let alone dedicated and hard-working throughout the pandemic! We are so grateful to all the staff team, especially his amazing key workers!

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Review from Olivia K (Mother of Child) published on 16 April 2022 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
Growing Up Green is a lovely nursery where my twin boys attend. One of my children has health needs and needs medical equipment, so I was very nervous about him attending nursery. I was worried that he would not be able to participate in activities in the same way as other children. Growing Up Green were extremely reassuring and took time to understand his needs. He is treated the same as anybody else and has thrived at nursery. He shows me, with pride, the dance moves he has learnt to nursery rhymes, or just how good his stacking skills have gotten.
The staff at Growing Up Green have really gotten to know my boys – who, despite being identical, are very different. I have never felt that they have been treated as the same person, or had it assumed they would like the same things.

They are extremely comfortable at nursery and are always excited to arrive at the front doors. The staff are warm and kind and I feel reassured knowing my sons are in safe hands.

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Review from Katie M (Mother of Child) published on 15 April 2022 Submitted via Website
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We have just moved over from Spain and joined our son at this lovely nursery. From day one staff have been so accommodating, helpful and just generally lovely.
My son loves his teachers and thoroughly enjoys his sessions, always asking when he’s next going in!

Thanks so much to everyone at Growing Up Green Nursery for welcoming us in.

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Review from Clare T (Mother of Child) published on 20 April 2021 Submitted via Website
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We are so pleased with the care, activities and environment at Growing Up Green Nursery, as is our son who is always happy and excited for his nursery days! It was and is really important to us to have a “home from home” environment for his childcare and we are so pleased to of found it here. The fact we walk past four other nurseries to get there also says a lot! The brilliant big outdoor space made us decide to choose this nursery initially, along with the smaller sized baby room in comparison to other nurseries for when he first joined, so it felt the best of both worlds. The aunties are wonderful, caring and he always has a lovely day full a variety.

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Review from Rachel M (Mother of Child) published on 3 April 2021 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

My child started at the beginning of the year and was a real lockdown baby, I feared nursery had their work cut out but he has settled in beautifully and seems to enjoy being there a lot. He has already come back with some paintings and each week the baby activities are shared, they look varied and interesting. He has also started to pick things up from nursery, one of the big ones is clapping himself when he does something good, we love this! Would definitely recommend Growing Up Green Nursery.

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Review from Bernard M (Father of Child) published on 3 April 2021 Submitted via Website
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We have been very happy to send our child to Growing Up Green Nursery these past three years. He is always willing to go there to see his friends and his 'aunties'. The activities are varied, educational and he loves going in the garden. An organisation is only as good as the people there and we really have to give a special shout out to four members of staff. They are intelligent, kind and caring. As for the food, it is a lovely varied menu and every single day without fail, he has two lots of everything. He loves it, all thanks to one member of staff. In fact, he says he doesn't want to go to school and wants to stay at Growing Up Green Nursery.

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Review from Georgina (Mother of Child) published on 1 April 2021 Submitted via Website
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I could not sing this nursery's praises enough! Our daughter is a "lockdown" baby and we were so nervous about someone else looking after her and also meeting other children, especially after it just being the three of us for all her life. The staff know what they are doing, even from the first contact to enquire they were the only nursery who made me feel completely at ease from the start. Our daughter had no tears or anything on her first day, and if anything, now hates when we collect her, I think that says it all about the care the children receive. I am impressed with the flexibility of them to assist you with any questions or requests quickly, their administration is efficient and accurate also which is also an important factor. You can see how well the children are looked after and the staff are always happy which also says a lot about a nursery. I'm so glad I was recommended them!

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Review from Susie F (Mother of Child) published on 1 April 2021 Submitted via Website
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I’ve had two kids at Growing Up Green and both have loved it! Having 4 age group classes means the kids are with others their age. The staff go out of their way to make really exciting and engaging activities for the kids, no matter how messy! The staff are the kindest and most hard-working individuals, they have a clear passion for their work and the kids all love them. The space is great, with healthy meals and a lovely garden. They’ve coped with Covid really well too. I couldn’t recommend them more!

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Review from Charlotte W (Mother of Child) published on 31 March 2021 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
I have two children at GUG, my boy had been at a previous setting where he cried daily and was described as ‘mute’. We moved to the area and tentatively booked him and his sister into GUG. The transformation has been incredible. He’s smiley, chatty and asks to go every day. They have a wonderful array of activities and we get sent photos all the time and daily feedback cards. The ‘aunties’ (I mean how cute is that) are really kind and patient. There’s just so much thought put into everything, even the food is good and interesting for them. It’s been a joy for both kids to come home full of smiles and chatting about their new friends.

GUG is a wonderful place.

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Review from Nelia M (Mother of Child) published on 31 March 2021 Submitted via Website
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My daughter started at Growing Up Green at 15 months old she has been through the baby room, tennis, toddler and she is now in the preschool room. The staff are wonderful and extremely supportive with progressing learning developments. The nursery has taught my daughter how to behave and be kind when playing with others, respect other's spaces and also supported her with her potty training. I am so grateful that I choose Growing Up Green my daughter has developed extremely well from being a little baby not even able to walk to now fluently speaking English and having the support to push her to be speaking another language. The nursery have encouraged mathematics through play and reading time. This has really driven my daughter to be very interested in stories and learning through play.

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Review from Alison D (Mother of Child) published on 6 August 2019 Submitted via Website
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We've been more than happy with the care both of our children have received at Growing Up Green. The staff are attentive and professional. The menu is imaginative and varied and most importantly my children eat the healthy meals and snacks. The outside space is fantastic, with play areas, a secret garden, bug palace and a small vegetable patch. My children engage in so many fun and educational activities that I would never have the imagination or resources to provide at home. There is a homely, family feel to the place. My children enjoy it and I highly recommend it.

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Review from Derek C (Father of Child) published on 6 August 2019 Submitted via Website
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We have been extremely happy with Growing up Green (Preston Road) over the past few years - they provide a caring, helpful, friendly, relaxed, outdoorsy environment, where both of our children feel safe and happy all year round. The staff are a delight! we've built up a great rapport with many staff: they are chatty and informative and have provided a wonderful experience for our children. We would wholly recommend it there!

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Review from Emma M (Mother of Child) published on 30 July 2019 Submitted via Website
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An amazing and loving environment for my children to be looked after and learn in. The staff are kind and give informative feedback.

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Review from Emma P (Mother of Child) published on 29 July 2019 Submitted via Website
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Both of my children have loved going to Growing Up Green. They joined when we moved to Brighton, but settled in very quickly. The staff are supportive and interested in the children's individual development and I have been impressed at the care that they have provided to my children.

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Review from Sarah C (Mother of Child) published on 29 July 2019 Submitted via Website
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My son is in the baby room and absolutely loves it. The room is fab and the aunties are amazing. He is always having fun and loves the food.

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Review from Adam B (Father of Child) published on 24 July 2019 Submitted via Website
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They are a great nursery, really friendly staff and provide a very stimulating and secure environment for the children.

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Review from Jennifer P (Mother of Child) published on 24 July 2019 Submitted via Website
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Since our son started at Growing Up Green this year, he is more relaxed and content within himself. His process with speech, play and interaction has improved immensely in just a couple of months. He is happy to go into nursery and also happy after I pick him up. He shows no signs of anxiety and tells me all the things he’s done that day which he loves.

The staff are exceptional and truly care for each child’s needs. My son can’t get enough of the huge garden and eats salmon and mackerel which he wouldn’t eat previously. I can’t fault this nursery, we are extremely happy parents with a very happy little boy who’s coming on leaps and bounds!

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Review from Georgina (Mother of Child) published on 23 July 2019 Submitted via Website
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We've been so happy with Growing Up Green Nursery, they take care of our daughter so well and clearly care very much for her. All of the Aunty's and Uncles know her name and I really like that it's not all just ladies working there. Our daughter has thrived over the past 2 years and it's a huge credit to the lovely staff. She's made lots of friends and talks about her aunty's all the time. Someone always has the time to talk to me at pick up and I've built a really good relationship with them. It's the people that make a place a happy place and this is certainly true at Growing Up Green Nursery.

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Meet the Team (4)

Emma Somenzi
Emma SomenziJob Title:Nursery ManagerJoined: 2024

Hello, I’m Emma, the Nursery Manager at Growing Up Green. I’m originally from Italy and have been living in Brighton since 2016 — a city I now proudly call home. I have over 8 years of experience in childcare, working with children aged 5 months to 4 years, and I joined the Growing Up Green family in January 2024.

My passion for childcare began at an early age. Growing up in a big Italian family, I was surrounded by nieces and cousins from when I was just three years old. Being part of their lives inspired me to turn this love into a career. I particularly enjoy building strong bonds with children and parents during settling-in periods, and tailoring activities to each child’s interests to help them grow in confidence, curiosity, and independence.

As Nursery Manager, I’m equally passionate about supporting and developing my team. I believe that nurturing staff growth, sharing knowledge, and creating a collaborative environment are essential for providing the best care and learning experiences for every child.

Outside of work, I love reading, going to the cinema, and treating myself occasionally to a spa day with my husband or friends.

Clare Crosby-Adams
Clare Crosby-AdamsJob Title:Nursery ProprietorJoined: 2010

I have been the co-owner of Growing Up Green Nurseries since we opened our doors in 2005.

Childcare has always been a central part of my life- I grew up living above a nursery owned by my family, which gave me a real love and understanding of Early Years from a very young age. That early experience stayed with me and shaped the path I have followed ever since.

After earning my Bachelor of Education (Bed Hons) from Nottingham Trent University, I went on to teach overseas for several years, broadening my perspective and deepening my understanding of different educational approaches.

On returning to the UK, I opened my first nursery in Cambridgeshire before relocating to Brighton in 2004 to start my family and pursue my vision of opening a nursery in the area.

Founding Growing Up Green has allowed me to combine my personal experience, professional training and passion for creating nurturing, enriching environments where children can truly thrive. It has been a real privilege to create a space where children feel safe, happy and inspired to learn every day.

Adey Blackwell
Adey BlackwellJob Title:Nursery OwnerJoined: 2005

I have been the co-owner of Growing Up Green Nurseries since we opened our first setting in 2005, following the birth of my first child.

I began my pathway into education and childcare when I started my teaching degree at the University of Brighton. After spending time travelling and teaching abroad, I returned to work in London as a primary school teacher, where I took on subject leadership in the Early Years with specialisms in Literacy and the Arts.

Moving back to Brighton in 2000 with a wealth of experience from working in a challenging inner-city school, I took on a senior management role within the largest first and middle school in Sussex, leading the Early Years team and lower school. I progressed to a deputy headteacher role and coordinated the SEND and Inclusion provision.

Stepping away from mainstream teaching and leadership to create an independent nursery environment at Growing Up Green has been an incredibly fulfilling endeavour. It enabled me to put my years of early years and management experience into something that I felt truly passionate about. This led to creating an enriching learning environment, developing a child-led curriculum, inspiring staff to look for awe and wonder and building a strong, nurturing community for our children, parents and staff.

India Smith
India SmithJob Title:Deputy ManagerJoined: 2025

Hello, I'm India, and I am currently the Deputy Manager at Growing Up Green.

I have 7 years of experience in childcare, and 5 of those years have been with Growing Up Green, where I started my apprenticeship at 17 and haven't stopped since!

I love my job because I have a passion to care for children and find such joy in watching them grow and reach all their little and big milestones.

Outside of work, I enjoy going on walks with my dog and spending time with friends and family.

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