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- Friends Day Nursery, Saintfield






Friends Day Nursery is a family-run day nursery. The purpose-built facility is located in a quiet, rural location in Saintfield, County Down, and provides children with the foundation to grow and develop lifelong learning skills through their ethos of “Learning to Play, Playing to Learn”.
The aim of Friends Day Nursery is to provide a warm and secure environment to allow children to express freely through constructive and imaginative play in...
Funding & Fees
£26-£55 per day, depending on the care type.
Please contact the nursery for up to date fee information.
Contact Friends Day Nursery, Saintfield to get a personalised quote:
Type of Service
- Day Nursery
Opening Schedule
Open all yearFull days available
YesHalf day sessions offered
YesOwner
- Friends Childcare Ltd
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Aoife McPhail (Manager)
Number of Childcare Staff
- 16
Total Places for Children
- 56
Age Range
- from 0 years 6 months
- to 5 years 0 months
Meals Provided
NoConsumables provided
NoOpening 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, 1 week in July & Christmas
Friends Day Nursery, Saintfield Reviews (56)
Friends Day Nursery, Saintfield has a Review Score of 10 (9.981) out of 10, based on 22 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Friends Day Nursery, Saintfield has 56 reviews.
My child loves going to nursery every day! The staff are brilliant and really get to know the children they care for. They are all very friendly and approachable.
Communication is fantastic. Parents are kept up to date and if we have ever needed to contact the nursery we have always been able to do so easily and any questions were answered fully.
Transitions from room to room are well managed and the pace is set by the children. Induction sessions are organised to help prepare the children for room moves.
The building is always clean and well organised. The rooms are bright and inviting for the children, and the toys are in good order. The children also get to go outside ofter and have a safe place to play in with a brilliant climbing frame and garden toys.
I can not recommend Friends highly enough!
Always an activity, craft or something for the kids to do! My daughter loves going! She started off in the toddler room 3 years ago and is not in the after school club.
I have had three children attend Friends over the course of the last 18 years. We have been delighted with the warm, child centred and caring environment. This is down to the staff and management who take the time to get know the children and their families. Many happy memories.
We highly recommend Friends Day Nursery! As parents of a child with Down syndrome, we were naturally anxious about finding the right setting, but the staff here made the transition seamless. They are proactive about staff training and have made thoughtful adaptations, making sure he is fully participating with his peers. Seeing him thrive, make friends, and gain independence has been wonderful. Our son gets excited to visit 'Friends' on every occasion, highlighting the trust, safety and most importantly, the happiness he experiences when in their care.
Fantastic day nursery our oldest child attended for years until they went to high school our 2nd child also attends has done from a baby.They both love it our son is so happy to go the staff our wonderful nursery is so cosy and welcoming and all the staff our brilliant. Fantastic outdoor play area and always doing different activities with the kids.Lovely home from home feel great menu for food our son has tried all different types of food which is fantastic. The staff know all the children and our very approachable would highly recommend this day nursery to anyone your children will be well looked after.
A fantastic nursery with the most caring staff, who always have time for you and nothings ever too much for them. My two girls have been there since they were babies and they love the afterschool. I recommend to anyone local
Staff are tremendous, very caring, hardworking and pleasant to deal with.
They have really taken time to get to know our child.
Our child settled really quickly and helped him settle into nursery school.
It is a brilliant and very well run Daycare!
When we were looking for a nursery for our little boy (then aged 2) we came across Friends and never looked back. The facilities are excellent and the staff are amazing. Our little boy is now in P1 and attends breakfast club and after-school club in Friends, and his brother (aged 3) is in the preschool room. Friends drop them to and from school on the days they are there, which makes life so much easier and gives us peace of mind as we know they are in safe hands. The boys absolutely love Friends and skip out in the mornings if they know they are going that day. They have both learned so much, have so much fun and have made so many little pals. Our 3 year old has a severe food allergy and carries an EpiPen, so we were naturally anxious about sending him into a nursery environment for the first time, but the staff in Friends immediately put our minds at ease. We couldn't recommend them more.
Our child has been with friends for just shy of a year now, and it has flown by. She settled in very quickly, building relationships with all of the kids and staff in her room. The food provided is great and introduces her to food she wouldn't regularly have at home, and she sleeps really well at Friends. The staff are able to communicate very clearly how our daughter is getting on, and we appreciate the regular updates through the app. Overall, our daughter is very happy and settled at Friends, and we couldn't imagine her being anywhere else
When we moved to NI from England last summer, we were anxious about settling the kids into a new setting, especially as my daughter was starting primary school and my son was only about 18months old. We chose Friends because of its fantastic outdoor space and friendly vibe, and it was the best decision. 1 year later, both my kids love going to Friends, and I have to drag them away at hometime! Friends pick up my daughter straight from school for After School Club, and they're also super helpful in covering gaps in childcare when e.g., school finishes early or over the summer holidays. All the staff are not only professional and efficient, but genuinely warm and friendly. I would happily recommend Friends to anyone looking for a fun, vibrant, safe and caring environment for their children with outstanding space for outdoor play.
It's been amazing to watch how much my daughter has grown and developed. Especially her speech and social skills. She's always singing songs and loves showing off her art and crafts. Every day is filled with interactive and engaging experiences that clearly make her happy and excited to go in.
Knowing my daughter is in a positive, caring environment gives me peace of mind. I would recommend Friends to any parent looking for a place where their child will be truly valued and supported.
Upon relocating home (NI) from England, I viewed Friends and instantly got a warm and welcoming feeling. Management were really understanding about reserving days as I hadnt ironed out the finer details with my employer etc. Being a first time mum, and anxious enough about leaving my 9 month old to return to work, I couldn't rate the experience ive got from the staff at friends enough. My daughter has formed a great bond with all the staff; knowing she is safe, happy and extremely well cared for makes it all the more easier leaving her to go to work. The activities they do & learning through play has had a positive impact on her development and character. Fabulous Nursery.
From the start, the staff in the baby room were so warm, welcoming, and calm - they instantly made both me and my daughter feel comfortable. They've created such a lovely bond with her, and she's always so excited to go to nursery each day. I've noticed such amazing progress in her development since starting.
She loves the range of activities they do, and the food at Friends is brilliant too. My daughter has a dairy-free diet, and this has never been an issue - they always provide great alternatives and make sure she's getting healthy, nutritious meals.
The daily updates on the app are also fantastic. We can see what she's eaten, what she's been up to, and get little photos from time to time, which means so much while at work.
It's such a comfort knowing she's so well cared for, happy and thriving.
My little boy has been at Friends Nursery just over a month now and it has been a great experience so far. Whilst we are very new to the setting we have been made to feel very comfortable and reassured that my son is being well looked after and cared for in a safe and secure enviornment. My little boy has settled in so well and all the staff have been very welcoming and supportive. There is excellent communication, with lovely updates on how my little ones day is going.
I couldn't recommend this nursery enough! Being a first time mum I was very nervous putting my son into child care, but the staff and the environment really put me at ease. I love how they treat every child as an individual and really take the time to get to know them. They have made my son's nursery transition very smooth and knowing he is safe hands when I leave for work is the best thing a mum could ask for.
Book a visit so you can see for yourself.
A fabulous setting with really caring and approachable staff. I feel happy in the knowledge that my kids are well looked after and are both learning and having fun. The place has a very homely and family feel.
Friends Day Nursery is a great nursery. My daughter has been going there since she was 7 months old and now 16 months, runs through the door and over to the staff. They take great care of her and are always doing fun activities. The staff are all very friendly and trustworthy. Highly recommend!
Friends Day Nursery is the best nursery with the best staff. I have worked in nurseries and had my children in numerous settings and Friends out do them all. The staff are so caring and loving, my little girl loves every member and has settled in every room. Two staff members in particular are fantastic and not just managers who sit in their office they are hands on and approachable! The food is fantastic as well my little girl loves her food and she eats like a queen everyday!
The nursery keep us updated with pictures and their app which has been invaluable to me as a mum who is nervous. It's extra peace of mind seeing what she's eaten, naps etc.
Overall I would really recommend Friends Day Nursery it ticks the boxes I was looking for as a parent. I have already started enquiring about a place for my next child.
Child Vacancies
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
News (0) & Events (0)
There are no news items for Friends Day Nursery, Saintfield.
There are no upcoming events for Friends Day Nursery, Saintfield.
Awards / Recognitions (6)
- Recipient: Friends Day Nursery, SaintfieldDate: Tuesday 31 Mar 2026
- Recipient: Friends Day Nursery, SaintfieldDate: Monday 31 Mar 2025
- Recipient: Friends Day Nursery, SaintfieldDate: Thursday 28 Mar 2024
Meet the Team (1)
I provide a safe, welcoming environment for children "Learning to play" & "Playing to learn".
Frequently Asked Questions about Friends Day Nursery, Saintfield
What is the Age Range of Children that Friends Day Nursery, Saintfield accepts?
Friends Day Nursery, Saintfield accepts Children aged from 0 years 6 months to 5 years 0 months.
What Days & Hours is Friends Day Nursery, Saintfield Open?
Friends Day Nursery, Saintfield is open: 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.
How many Children does Friends Day Nursery, Saintfield have capacity for?
Friends Day Nursery, Saintfield has capacity for a total of 56 Children.
How far is Friends Day Nursery, Saintfield to the centre of Ballynahinch?
5.3 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Friends Day Nursery, Saintfield to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Friends Day Nursery, Saintfield has an Enhanced Service - more info.