Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery

University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ
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9.9 69 Reviews
  • Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery, Colchester
Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery is a purpose-built nursery offering stimulating and vibrant childcare to university staff, students and the public.

Open all year round, the nursery provides educational childcare for children aged three months to five years, offering morning or afternoon sessions as well as full daycare.

The nursery also operates a fun-packed summer holiday club for children aged five to eight years old.

The picturesque parkland setting offers a range of interactive and stimulating learning opportunities and benefits from an abundance of outdoor space and resources.

Forest school sessions are an exciting and innovative approach to education and are perfectly set in the surrounding landscape.

Funding & Fees

0-2 years:
Morning - £44.15
Afternoon - £44.15
Whole day - £88.30


2-3 years:
Morning - £43.50   
Afternoon - £43.50
Whole day - £86.50


3-5 years:
Morning - £41.50
Afternoon - £41.50
Whole day - £83


Effective from 1st August 2025

Fees are discounted for Staff & Students and will be confirmed on application with the Nursery.

Contact Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery to get a personalised quote.

Contact Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery to get a personalised quote.

Type of Service

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

Owner

  • University of Essex Campus Services
  • Privately Owned

Person in Charge

  • Lucy Rose (Early Years Practice Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 52

Total Places for Children

  • 132

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 & 1 week at Christmas

Parking

  • There are a number of free parking spaces outside the Nursery entrance for parents dropping off and collecting their children. These bays have a 20 minute time limit.

Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery Reviews (69)

9.9

Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.945) out of 10, based on 50 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery has 69 reviews.

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Date Published
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Reviewer Connection to Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery
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Total of 69, showing 61-69
Review from Rachel R (Mother of Child) published on 2 December 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are really happy with the nursery. Our daughter is in the last room now and she runs in every morning! The staff have done fantastic work keeping everything as normal as possible for the children and ensuring they follow safety procedures in an age-appropriate way. We have no doubts that they are
keeping our children as safe as possible. Communication is good and the team are very approachable with any issues. My daughter has developed a love of learning, particularly in the preschool room and has developed immensely since moving up. She talks warmly about her nursery friends and adults. The forest school and outdoor provision is also very good and our child is encouraged to spend time outdoors as much as possible and this love of nature is reflected at home. We are very grateful for how the nursery has supported our child and us as parents during the current pandemic.
Reply from Dawn Saunders, Nursery Manager at Wivenhoe Park Day NurseryThank you for taking the time to leave this review for us. It is so wonderful when we get the privilege to watch the children grow from an early age and transition through to the different nursery rooms. It is lovely to see how the children who naturally show reservation about coming to nursery for the first time, soon progress to come in through our doors with a big smile and a wave goodbye to their parents for the day. We hope that it demonstrates exactly for all new families, that the initial worry and questions about making the right choices as a parent all pay off in the end. Children are resilient and show us every day that in a safe and loving environment, they can and go forth and conquer most things in life. We are glad to have played such a big role in your daughter's wonderful little world so far.
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Review from Camilla T (Mother of Child) published on 25 November 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery is excellent, and my little girl loves going. The staff are so attentive and caring. I always feel confident that my daughter is well looked after and she gets a lot out of the activities and play that she takes part in during her time at nursery. The routine at nursery has
always fit in with my daughter's stage of development, but the staff are flexible and are able to suit different sleep routines for example.
Reply from Dawn Saunders, Nursery Manager at Wivenhoe Park Day NurseryThank you so much for taking the time to complete this review for us, it really means a lot to us and we have shared this with our team, who work hard to ensure all the children are happy, content and that they are reaching their developmental milestones. It helps that we love our jobs and get excited planning activities we know the children will respond well to. There is nothing quite like setting up a new idea for an activity and watching the children’s faces as they arrive and go off to explore – totally priceless!
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Review from A G (Mother of Child) published on 15 April 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has loved the nursery since she started at 1 years old. She's been cared for by 3 teams so far, and each one has been amazing. Her key people have been so friendly and helpful and help me to relax as a parent. I love getting her daily reports and all the fun activities she is involved in.
She particularly loves Diddi Dance, and I can't wait for her to start Forest School sessions.
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Review from S M (Mother of Child) published on 3 March 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our child started going to the nursery when she was 11 months old. We unexpectedly needed a place due to work and the management made it possible. We enjoy going to work after leaving our daughter in the nursery with a smile and full of confidence with her teachers. The nursery offers well balanced
and diverse food, including two cooked meals a day. Children are stimulated by excellent equipped toys assortment. There is a beautiful outdoor space which our daughter loves exploring. The nurser's chickens were essential for the settling in period, one look at them and there were no more tears. Last but not least the nursery staff are absolutely excellent. They are key to our daughter's happiness and development.
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Review from Emma C (Mother of Child) published on 24 February 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Amazing nursery. My son is very happy to attend nursery and really enjoys activities like Diddi Dance on Tuesday. I praise the staff and the amazing job they do at making sure my son and all the children are well looked after and have amazing learning opportunities.
Reply from Lucy Rose, Early Years Practice Manager at Wivenhoe Park Day NurseryThank you for taking the time to give us such a wonderful review. Diddi Dance is a huge hit with all the children. We are currently looking at what other activities/ classes we can introduce the children too
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Review from Christine B (Mother of Child) published on 11 February 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son started nursery at 4 months old. He is now 14 months old and we never see him have a bad day. He loves the food, the playtimes and especially the staff. I really enjoy receiving the daily feedbacks and reports and I find everyone very supportive of my son's time at the nursery. I think the nursery
is also really good at creative out of hours experiences that involve the whole family, it's very friendly and interactive. Highly recommended.
Reply from Lucy Rose at Wivenhoe Park Day NurseryThank you for taking the time to write such a lovely review. We pride ourselves on our strong parent partnerships, whether that’s with the feedback provided to you at the end of the session (verbally and electronically) or through regular progress meetings. We put in a lot of time and effort in organising our parent events/celebrations and it’s wonderful to hear they are so well received.
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Review from James N (Father of Child) published on 3 December 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Superb nursery - our two kids are so happy there. Really caring and attentive staff and brilliant facilities. Both our kids have come on leaps and bounds - I can't recommend highly enough!
Reply from Dawn Saunders, Nursery Manager at Wivenhoe Park Day NurseryJames, we honestly feel blessed to have both your children here with us, we all enjoy listening to your son's stories and adventures, he is a polite and caring big brother for his bright-eyed, contented little sister. I am sure they will make a big difference to the world in which they grow; they certainly are already making a positive difference to our lives here at nursery.
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Review from Graham K (Father of Child) published on 16 September 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our little girl has just started in this nursery. She has settled in so well - as a parent it's really important to know that she's happy whilst you are at work. I can safely say this nursery ticks the boxes. I am also really impressed with the resources, the rooms are well equipped with a variety
of toys and activities and the outdoor space is amazing. My daughter loves playing out in the sandpit and I really like the way the outdoor play is promoted and encouraged as part of the day to day activity. The staff are really welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable. Would recommend to anyone looking for childcare in the area.
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Review from Hannah J (Mother of Child) published on 8 September 2015 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I cannot recommend this nursery enough. My son has been with them from 6 months old when I returned to full time work and he loves it. He is now 14 months old and walking, talking and playing happily with other children. The staff are amazing and extremely caring towards the children, always having
arranged fun things to do each day. The fact he only cries when it's time to go home really does say it all!
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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.945)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.945) out of 10 for Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery 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 50 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 50 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 4.945 for Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery is calculated as follows: ( (568 Excellents x 5) + (31 Goods x 4) + (1 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 600 Ratings = 4.945
  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 Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery is based on 50 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 20 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews, 0.05 Points for the next five Positive Reviews, and finally 0.025 Points for the next ten Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.050, 7th = 0.050, 8th = 0.050, 9th = 0.050, 10th = 0.050, 11th = 0.025, 12th = 0.025, 13th = 0.025, 14th = 0.025, 15th = 0.025, 16th = 0.025, 17th = 0.025, 18th = 0.025, 19th = 0.025, 20th = 0.025) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 = 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 132 number of registered child places is 26.4, which has been reached with 50 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

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (1)

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Meet the Team (2)

Lucy

Lucy

Job Title: Early Years Practice Manager Joined: 2016

I have worked in a variety of early years settings throughout my career, most recently taking on the role of Nursery Manager at Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery. I am a qualified early years teacher with over 7 years of experience working with the early years. I have a passion for learning through play, allowing children to take risks and make their own decisions as they question and understand the world around them.
I lead the implementation and delivery of the early years foundation stage (EYFS) working in partnership with practitioners and parents to ensure that children learn and develop the broad range of skills and knowledge that provide the right foundation for future progress through school and life. I am passionate about developing strong relationships with parents and understanding the needs of the individual children who attend our setting.
I keep up to date with new research and any changes in Ofsted regulations and I am an agent for change. I support the staff of Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery to develop their practice in order to offer excellent provision for all children, as well as also supporting the implementation of the pupil premium grant to support economically deprived children within our setting.
Developing outstanding care and education is at the forefront of all we (the management team) do here at Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery.

Dawn

Dawn

Job Title: Business Manager Joined: 2019

I am the Business Manager for the nursery, this role ensures the smooth running of the nursery, maintaining records, policies adhered to and that we are compliant with Ofsted and other regulations. I also work on ensuring the nursery remains an integral part of both the University and the local community that surrounds us, so that families find us accessible and welcoming.
My professional heritage includes training and working in early years environments all of my life. I have been an Area Manager for the government funded Children’s Centres for 15 of those years, forming partnerships with families from all over North East Essex. I have two children of my own that are growing up fast and I’ve spent time trying to juggle work and family and understand the challenges this can bring. In one of my previous roles I was privileged to be present at the birth of a baby and do not underestimate the absolute honour it is to be in a position now to care for your baby (they remain our baby’s no matter how big they grow). I understand that parenting is one of the most important jobs in the world, I want you to feel confident about leaving your child here in our care and if you ever feel you would like to discuss your child’s progress or even just tell me about what they did at the weekend, my door will be open.
From the perspective of the nursery, as a management team we remain committed to continuous development and feel passionate about fresh ideas and ways to build on what we do to set us apart from the rest, creating an atmosphere that is caring and positive. Our whole team ethos ensures our dedication to achieving outstanding care and development is achieved for every child, so that when they reach the time they need to go off to school, that they do so with confidence and independence with you safe in the knowledge of the sound investment you have made in their early days.

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