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Harpole Day Nursery

Ofsted: Good
(Feb 2023)
·
5.0(12 parent reviews)
·47 Carrs Way, Harpole, NORTHAMPTON, NN7 4BZ · West Northamptonshire
Number of places
34 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Feb 2023
Local authority
West Northamptonshire

About this day nursery

Apricot Day Nursery, situated in St Neots, is a nurturing and intimate setting that prioritises early childhood development. The nursery offers a comprehensive educational experience grounded in the Montessori approach, encouraging learning through play and fostering independence.

With a focus on the Brighter Learning Approach, the nursery provides varied activities and learning opportunities, including cookery, movement, art, music, gardening, and science, to ignite children's natural curiosity and enhance their cognitive, social, and physical skills. The nursery operates across two sites, with a separate pre-school for older children, ensuring a tailored experience as children grow.

It boasts three well-equipped rooms, each with its own outdoor play area, promoting exploration in all weather conditions. Apricot Day Nursery also prepares children for school through its "Next Stop School" programme, building confidence and social skills.

The nursery offers flexible benefits, such as not charging for food or enhancements, and provides funded sessions for eligible families. The team maintains strong parent communication through daily updates and a parent app, ensuring a collaborative partnership in each child's development.

Meals are freshly prepared on-site, catering to all dietary needs. The nursery fosters a safe environment with robust policies, and each child benefits from a dedicated key person who acts as the main point of contact for both child and family.

Our ethos

At Apricot Day Nursery, we know that nursery education has many benefits. Evidence shows that it contributes to cognitive, social, and physical development, boosts confidence and independence, and supports children’s preparation for school. Our smaller size enables us to work closely with children and families to form a partnership which allows us to meet their individual needs and develop capable learners and communicators. We aim to look after our parents as well as our children so you can carry on with your day, work and career with a sense of peace.

What it's like

Children thoroughly enjoy their time at Harpole Day Nursery, greeted by warm, friendly staff who know them extremely well, helping them feel secure and develop a good sense of belonging. Children are encouraged to independently manage their own belongings, and staff's positive interactions support their learning and behaviour. The environment is well-resourced, allowing children to make independent choices, and the curriculum is planned around their interests and needs.

Montessori approachOutdoor learningBrighter Learning ApproachCookery and Gardening activities

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare
Pricing on request

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

Request pricing →

Key facts

Opening hours

Open 7.30am - 6.30pm, 51 weeks a year. Full day 8am to 6pm, Early start 7:30am to 8am, Late finish 6pm to 6:30pm.

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

2005

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Harpole Day Nursery

Last inspected 27 February 2023 · Karen Siddons

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Children thoroughly enjoy their time at Harpole Day Nursery, greeted by warm, friendly staff who know them extremely well, helping them feel secure and develop a good sense of belonging. Children are encouraged to independently manage their own belongings, and staff's positive interactions support their learning and behaviour. The environment is well-resourced, allowing children to make independent choices, and the curriculum is planned around their interests and needs.

Inspector highlights

  • Children thoroughly enjoy their time at Harpole Day Nursery.
  • The environment is well resourced and babies and children can make independent choices about what they want to play with.
  • Parents and grandparents speak very highly about the nursery.
  • The very youngest babies are supported at mealtimes while older babies are encouraged to feed themselves.
  • Staff have developed a well-considered and exciting curriculum that supports children's learning.

Areas to develop

  • 1develop staff practice when working with groups of children, in particular in the pre-school room.
Inspection #10234943 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents and grandparents speak very highly about the nursery.

They comment that the verbal and electronic feedback they receive supports them to know about their children's development.

They believe children's positive social development is due to the time they spend at the pre-school.

They specifically mention the strong bonds children have with staff.

Consequently, parents are confident that children are safe and very well cared for.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are making good progress. Children, including those with SEND, learn to pour drinks and serve their own lunch.

Outdoor space

All children enjoy learning, both indoors and outdoors. Pre-school children enjoy being outside in the 'secret garden'. They are eager to play in the mud kitchen and to have a go at woodworking.

Parent Reviews of Harpole Day Nursery

5.0
(12)
Kelsey Power
a year ago

My son has only been Harpole Day Nursery for three weeks and already he is thriving. From the moment we first looked round the nursery you could see how much love and care is given to the children. He is already forming bonds with the girls in his room, Lucy and Poppy always make me feel so reassured at drop off and collection. Within the first hour and a half we have an update on the app to show my son is settled and playing nicely. The nurseries staff, management, the food, facilities and community spirit is what I'd highly recommend the nursery on. I struggle to leave my son with anyone but I just know he is so well looked after and cared for when in their care.

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Irina Volovaja
a year ago

My little girl have been attending Harpole Day Nursery since she was 13 months and she is 3 year old now, time flies when having fun! We are very grateful to Harpole Day Nursery family for looking after our baby, for helping with toddler challenges and for being so accomodating. Really love the fact that nursery is small, you get to know all staff by name, the manager is super friendly and available for a chat. Food is cooked on site, healthy homemade meals. Very glad we chose Harpole Day Nursery for our little one.

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Hannah Gaster
a year ago

We’re really happy with our decision to send our child to Harpole Day Nursery. The staff are caring and attentive and spent a lot of time and effort to help the settling in period. It’s been over a year and a half now and she’s come on leaps and bounds. They do lots of varied activities to keep the children occupied and even go out for walks around the village or to the park. They have a lovely healthy menu and a great outdoor space for playing too.

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bethany collyer
a year ago

I have a 3 year old that has been attending the nursery for over 2 1/2 years now and my youngest is due to start soon, I could not recommend this nursery enough! Lauren the nursery manager is great, she puts so much time and effort into making sure the nursery is a great place to be for children and staff. All of the staff are amazing, you can really tell they care about the children so much and have all formed a great bond with my child over the years as he’s transitioned through the different rooms. Its a lovely sized setting, not too big but not too small so the children really get a lot of one on one time with the teachers. They have always gone out of their way to make sure my child’s specific dietary needs are met and honestly made it so easy for me that I don’t need to worry. Food is varied and nutritious but also exciting, the outside space is brilliant they have a secret mud garden which my little boy particularly loves, they often take them for walks around the village and to the park and we receive daily updates so you always know what your child is doing that day which is lovely - it genuinely is a fantastic nursery!

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Steph King
a year ago

Would recommend Harpole Day nursery to anyone. Our little boy has been attending for around 5 months now and absolutley loves it. He's always so excited to see the lovely ladies that work there and you can see how much he's bonded with them in a short space of time. Love the homecooked and varied food and the amount of great activities they do with the children which we wouldn't do with him at home. Such a warm, friendly environment and the staff care so much about the children. The communicatuon is brilliant and we get lots of updates on the app everyday. Our sons development has come on leaps and bounds since he started and we are so glad we chose this nursery.

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Reviews from Google for Harpole Day Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: December 2005

  • February 2023Good
  • March 2017Outstanding
  • April 2014Good
  • March 2010Outstanding
  • December 2005Outstanding

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