University Nursery at West Cambridge

The University Nursery, 8 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge CB3 0FZ
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9.9 146 Reviews
  • University Nursery at West Cambridge, Cambridge
University at West Cambridge is a purpose built nursery situated on the West Cambridge campus of Cambridge University.

A friendly and enthusiastic staff team works closely with the children to provide continuity between nursery and life at home. Professionals believe parent partnership is important to allow key people to support each child and their families as individuals.

The nursery offers childcare for employees of the University of Cambridge but also have a restricted amount of spots for local families who do not work or study at the university.

Each age group has its own designated garden directly outside its playroom, enabling all children to access a secure outdoor environment at any time of the day. The nursery has also obtained their Green Flag Eco-Schools Award.

In each of the five age groups, the children explore in light, airy and spacious rooms which provide them with the opportunity to grow and develop through a stimulating and sociable environment.
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Lesa Clare (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 64

Total Places for Children

  • 120

Age Range

  • from 0 years 3 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Opening Times

  • Monday 08:00-18:00
    Tuesday 08:00-18:00
    Wednesday 08:00-18:00
    Thursday 08:00-18:00
    Friday 08:00-18:00

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays (excluding May Bank Holidays)

Parking

  • Parking is on a shared car park pass.

University Nursery at West Cambridge Reviews (146)

9.9

University Nursery at West Cambridge has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.943) out of 10, based on 32 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time University Nursery at West Cambridge has 146 reviews.

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Review from Sally A (Mother of Child) published on 31 January 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have been very happy with the welcome that we have had since our son started in November 2018. All staff have been very helpful, kind and welcoming. We have been reassured when needed about our son settling into the nursery. We were very happy with the change in his developments already. Overall,
excellent service so far by all.
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Review from Dale B (Mother of Child) published on 18 December 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter loves University Nursery at West Cambridge. She really enjoys the range of activities on offer and we love the fact she gets to do so many things we can't offer her at home. She has already made good friends with her peers and always introduces them to us when we pick her up! We know the
staff really care for the children they look after and the relationship between the children and their key workers is particularly special. Thanks for all you do for us West Cambs!
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Review from Y B (Mother of Child) published on 11 December 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
An excellent nursery that meets the needs of my child fully. She is very happy here and her learning progress has been outstanding. I am very pleased with this nursery.
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Review from S S (Mother of Child) published on 30 November 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff and management were very supportive while my son settled into nursery. Due to this he settled more quickly than we initially expected and he bonded with all the staff in the room. He loves going to nursery and is thriving there.
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Review from Tiago M (Father of Child) published on 11 September 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Very caring staff, alert to the children's needs which creates a relaxing environment.
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Review from Youngjoo A (Mother of Child) published on 6 June 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
For the last 2 months, my Daughter has been going to the nursery at Settlement Step. I am very impressed because all the staff at the nursery give help with adapting to the nursery. I know she is safe playing with her peers and staff in the nursery. Not only the facilities but also the staff in the
nursery are highly qualified and excellent. I recommend the nursery to parents who are sending their child to nursery for the first time.
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Review from Laura W (Mother of Child) published on 30 May 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Found the staff very accommodating to my child's personal needs. Always friendly and welcoming. Happy to help with personal needs and accommodate learning desires.
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Review from Rachel B (Mother of Child) published on 18 May 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Due to room staff change, the staff made sure my daughter felt at ease with the new staff and to help the morning drop off, they had a familiar face in the room until my daughter felt at ease again with the new staff.
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Review from Xiaonan W (Mother of Child) published on 23 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been in the nursery since one. All staff are very friendly and helpful. Every day, I try my best to persuade her to go home at the pick-up time as she just likes the nursery and her friends too much.
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Review from Silvia F (Mother of Child) published on 14 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both our son and our daughter started in this nursery in October 2017 and they settled in very quickly. This was thanks to the amazing staff in the nursery. The children love going there every morning and this makes us, parents, feel happy and relaxed during our working day.
The staff are great at
providing daily feedback (positive and constructive) and to help us to understand and improve our children's behaviour, listening, concentration, development, interests, etc.
Their key persons are lovely and our children have connected very well with them. Also, the other practitioners in the room and the room leaders are very nice and very good at coming up with ideas and suggestions to help us and our children.
For work-related reasons, this is the third nursery my children go to and by far the best one in every sense (facilities, outstanding care, staff, activities, feedback, support for parents, etc.).
Thank you!
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Review from A A (Mother of Child) published on 20 February 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
We are very pleased with the nursery.
The staff is caring and friendly and our son appears to be settling in rather nicely.
It is reassuring to see the diversity in activities and to receive updates throughout the day.
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Review from Carmen D (Mother of Child) published on 9 February 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
As a parent, I am extremely happy that my daughter attends this nursery. From when she was a baby to now, she has received outstanding care.
She has thrived in this nursery and I am grateful to the staff for providing such a wonderful environment.
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Review from John C (Father of Child) published on 9 February 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
A delight, such care, such happiness. Could not have been happier with our choice.
Staff always friendly, always attentive and so creative in their writing of the days.
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Review from Stef J (Mother of Child) published on 7 February 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff are very friendly and I feel that my son is in very capable hands.
Good mixture of fun/learning.
Great resources/equipment.
My son clearly loves their room facilities/outside and inside - he really has connected very well with his key worker.
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Review from A B (Father of Child) published on 14 December 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff are very loving and caring, my son loves going every day.
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Review from Amy S (Mother of Child) published on 24 November 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child loves coming to nursery. The resources in Butterflies are brilliant and the staff work really hard with new activities to keep them interested.
The food is always amazing.
School readiness is so appreciated as my child can't wait to go to school.
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Review from Sam G (Father of Child) published on 22 November 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This nursery is a very welcoming and friendly place to bring our child three days a week. The staff have the interest of the babies first and foremost. The facility is clean and tidy which shows hygiene standards are set high. Our son is very happy here and we hope he continues to enjoy future years
at this nursery.
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Review from Cinzia C (Mother of Child) published on 22 November 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Excellent experience overall, staff very reassuring. My daughter loves coming into nursery, which contributes to keeping my stress levels low, as an anxious first-time mum. Especially love the language support for bilingual children, makes mum and dad's job easier!
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Review from Hong (Mother of Child) published on 26 October 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
The staff are quite friendly and professional. My daughter starting at 15months settled well in a month. Teachers are very enthusiastic, helpful and considerate. The facilities overall are very good although, I hope the garden could be larger.
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Review from Gosia D (Mother of Child) published on 10 October 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The University Nursery at West Cambridge is lovely on all levels. My 6 months old baby has a great and strong attachment with his key person and is always happy to stay and play. The staff and quality of care is excellent there and as a first-time mum, I have no worries leaving my son in their care.


The

nursery is very well equipped and well organised with lovely facilities and management is always welcoming and friendly. You can also tell that staff members are happy working there.


I absolutely love the flexibility to be able to pop in and breastfeed my baby. I would recommend the nursery.

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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.943)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.943) out of 10 for University Nursery at West Cambridge is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 32 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 32 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.943 for University Nursery at West Cambridge is calculated as follows: ( (365 Excellents x 5) + (16 Goods x 4) + (3 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 384 Ratings = 4.943
  2. 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5'). The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for University Nursery at West Cambridge is based on 32 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4
    2. 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 120 number of registered child places is 24, which has been reached with 32 Positive reviews. Points = 1
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

10 Child Vacancies

Posted: 13 Nov 2025

Spaces available for University and non-University families

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Awards / Recognitions (21)

Meet the Team (1)

Lesa

Lesa Clare

Job Title: Nursery Manager Joined: 2009

Lesa is the Manager of West Cambridge Day Nursery in Cambridge and has a wealth of experience, having worked in the early years sector for 21 years. Lesa has several qualifications, including an NVQ Level 3 Early Years Care and Education and has been with Childbase Partnership for 12 years.


What is your favourite feature of West Cambridge?
I love the family environment at the nursery, the warm and welcoming staff and the outstanding practice delivered throughout all of our rooms.


What are you most proud of about your nursery/team?
Being recognised as a top 20 rated nursery in East of England from DayNurseries parent reviews.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact University Nursery at West Cambridge to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. University Nursery at West Cambridge has an Enhanced Service - more info.