Nurseries and childcare in Cambridge
We know of 35 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Cambridge. 3 are state nursery schools, shown below with their latest Ofsted inspection: 3 of 3 judged good or better. Most nurseries are private, voluntary or part of a school, and Ofsted inspects those too: every one has a report on Ofsted’s website.
State nursery schools across Cambridge
- Brunswick Nursery SchoolGood or better Report card Jun 2026: Strong standard in every area · phone and directions
- Homerton Early Years CentreGood or better Report card May 2026: Strong standard in 2, expected standard in 4
- The Fields Nursery SchoolGood or better Good (2024) · phone and directions
Each name goes to its Ofsted reports. Primary schools, many with a nursery class, are on the schools page.
Nurseries and childcare by area
A few to start with
- Bright Horizons Families UK Day care preschool Capital Park, Fulbourn, Cambridge, CB21 5XG 5 Call
- ACE Day Nursery Preschool 6A Priory Rd, Cambridge, CB5 8HT 5 Call
- ACE Nursery School Cambridge Preschool Parkside, Cambridge, CB1 5 Call
- Bright Horizons Cambridge Milton Road Day Nursery and Preschool Preschool 67A Milton Rd, Cambridge, CB4 1XA 5 Call
- Bright Horizons Cambridge Science Park Day Nursery and Preschool Home service 319 Cambridge Science Park Rd, Milton, CB4 0WG Call
- Bright Horizons Families UK Day care preschool Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ Call
- Bright Horizons Families UK Day care preschool Robinson Way, Long Road, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ Call
- Bright Horizons Families UK Day care preschool Clarkson Road, Cambridge, CB3 0EH Call
- Bright Horizons Wolfson Court Day Nursery And Preschool Preschool Clarkston Road, Cambridge, CB3 5 Call
- Brunswick Nursery School School Brunswick Nursery School, Young St, Cambridge, CB1 2LZ Call
- Cambridge Montessori Preschool 73a Tenison Rd, Cambridge, CB1 2DG Call
- Chestnut Nursery School Home service Green End Rd, Cambridge, CB4 1RW Call
- Childcare Office University of Cambridge College university 21 Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1QA Call
- Homerton Messy Play Preschool Holbrook Road, Cambridge, CB17 Call
- Kids Planet Chris Abell Nursery Day care preschool Harrison Dr, Cambridge, CB2 8PH Call
- Millington Road Nursery School Preschool 4A Millington Rd, Cambridge, CB3 9HP Call
- Monkey Puzzle Cambridge Nursery & Preschool Home service Grange Road, Cambridge, CB3 Call
- Monkey Puzzle Cambridge Nursery and Preschool Preschool 12 Regent Terrace, Cambridge, CB2 1AA Call
- Playlanders Playgroup and Pre-School Day care preschool St George's Church Hall, Cambridge, CB4 1LN Call
- Smiths Children Montessori Nursery School Preschool St Lukes Church, Victoria Rd, Harvey Goodwin Ave, Cambridge, CB4 3DZ Call
- The Fields Nursery School Elementary school Galfrid Rd , Cambridge, CB5 Call
- University Nursery at West Cambridge Preschool Charles Babbage Rd, 8 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge, CB3 5 Call
- Abacus Day Nursery Preschool Green End Rd, Cambridge, CB4 1RW Call
- Blue Dolphin day care Home service lichfield Road , Cambridge, CB1 Call
Choosing a nursery
- Read the latest Ofsted report. Search by name or postcode on reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Private nurseries and childminders are on it as well as school nurseries.
- Visit, and ask about the day. Ratios of staff to children, how they settle a new child in, food, naps and time outdoors.
- Ask about funded hours and extra charges. Some nurseries charge for meals, nappies or trips on top of funded hours.
- Check waiting lists early. Popular nurseries fill months ahead, especially for babies.
Questions people ask
What do Ofsted grades mean for nurseries?
Until late 2025 Ofsted gave one overall grade: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate. Newer inspections give a report card instead, grading each area on a scale from exceptional to urgent improvement. Older grades stay on a nursery’s record until its next inspection.
Can I get free childcare hours?
In England every three and four year old can get 15 hours a week of funded childcare in term time. Working parents can get up to 30 hours a week from when their child is nine months old, if each parent earns at least 16 hours a week at the minimum wage and under £100,000 a year. Check and apply at childcarechoices.gov.uk.
How do I check a nursery’s Ofsted report?
Search for it by name or postcode on reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Every registered nursery and childminder in England has a page there with its inspection reports.
How many nurseries are there in Cambridge?
We know of 35 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Cambridge, including 3 state nursery schools. Childminders working from home don’t always appear on maps, so there may be more.
Other things people look for
Nursery school inspections from Ofsted, Open Government Licence. Listings from Overture Maps, the Food Standards Agency and © OpenStreetMap contributors. Missing one? Tell us.