Nursery Advice
Claim Your Nursery

Smiths Children

Ofsted: Good
(Mar 2022)
·
4.4(14 parent reviews)
·St. Lukes Church, Victoria Road, CAMBRIDGE, CB4 3DZ · Cambridgeshire
Number of places
45 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2022
Local authority
Cambridgeshire

About this day nursery

Smiths Children, a childcare setting on non-domestic premises in Cambridge (CB4 3DZ), was registered in 2011 and operates with a Montessori philosophy. The nursery provides full-day care from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round, with the exception of bank holidays and one week at Christmas.

They cater to children aged 0 to 4 years, with a total capacity of 45 children and currently 41 on roll. Smiths Children employs a dedicated team of 10 childcare staff, with eight holding appropriate early years qualifications, including one with qualified teacher status.

The setting offers funded early education for three- and four-year-old children. The latest Ofsted inspection on 30th March 2022 rated Smiths Children as "Good" across all areas, including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

The previous inspection also awarded a "Good" rating, highlighting consistent quality. The team at Smiths Children is known for its nurturing care, creating a welcoming environment where children form strong attachments with their key persons.

They skilfully support children's physical development and foster positive social interactions, ensuring a supportive and engaging environment for all.

What it's like

Children receive a warm welcome from staff and show they feel happy and safe in their nurturing care, forming strong attachments to their key person. Staff get to know children well and are sensitive to their individual needs, supporting their emerging language skills. Children's behaviour is good, and older children are learning to manage their feelings and develop social skills.

Nurturing careMontessori philosophyGood quality educationStrong attachmentsSkilful supportPositive social interactions

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, 8am until 6pm

Term time / All Year

All_year

Established

2011

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Smiths Children

Last inspected 30 March 2022

Overall effectiveness
Good

What it's like to attend

Children receive a warm welcome from staff and show they feel happy and safe in their nurturing care, forming strong attachments to their key person. Staff get to know children well and are sensitive to their individual needs, supporting their emerging language skills. Children's behaviour is good, and older children are learning to manage their feelings and develop social skills.

Inspector highlights

  • Children receive a warm welcome from staff and form strong attachments to their key person.
  • Staff get to know children well and are sensitive to their individual needs, supporting emerging language skills through effective interactions.
  • Children's behaviour is good, with older children learning to manage their feelings and developing social skills.
  • The manager maintains adult-to-child ratios, ensures qualified staff, and provides effective supervision and training.
  • Staff have good knowledge of their key children and use observations to guide planning.
  • Staff promote good health, encourage physical activity, and children follow sensible hygiene routines.
  • Older children are confident communicators with a wide vocabulary and engage in stimulating conversations.
  • Staff skilfully support children's physical development, encouraging exploration and safe risk-taking.
  • Parents praise the provision, noting well-settled children who enjoy a range of activities and appreciate staff efforts.

Areas to develop

  • 1Plan and provide more highly challenging activities to extend older children's learning.
  • 2Strengthen the planning for the outdoor area to provide children with the same rich experiences for learning as those inside.
Inspection #10232760 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

Outdoor space

While children enjoy being outdoors, the curriculum content is not yet consistently embedded in the outdoor area to guide children's learning in meaningful ways. Staff are working to strengthen planning for outdoor activities to ensure they offer the same rich experiences as indoor learning.

Parent Reviews of Smiths Children

4.4
(14)
Quintin Young
a year ago

Wonderful Nursery with Exceptional Care and Amazing Food! We couldn’t be happier with the experience our daughter has had at Smiths Children Montessori. From the moment she started, the staff have been incredibly welcoming, nurturing, and attentive. The level of care they provide is exceptional, and it’s clear they genuinely care about each child’s individual needs and development. They care just like family would. One of the things we love most is the balance between structured learning and creative play. The Montessori teaching method, led by qualified AMI Guides, has really helped our daughter grow in confidence, independence, and curiosity. We’ve seen remarkable progress in her development, especially in how she interacts with others and approaches new challenges. The nursery also has great facilities, including a secure outdoor area where the children can explore and play safely. We particularly appreciate the regular walks to local attractions, which provide exciting opportunities for the children to engage with the world around them. The fact that all meals, including breakfast, lunch, snacks, and tea, are included in the price is a bonus—it’s a relief knowing she’s eating a variety of nutritious meals every day. Another highlight is the ParentZone app, which allows us to follow her learning journey and see photos of her day. It’s such a joy to receive regular updates and feel connected to her experiences at nursery. On top of that, they offer early years government funding, can pay through tax free childcare and we’ve also benefited from the 10% sibling discount, all of which is a big help for families like ours. The staff are always approachable and happy to discuss any questions or concerns, which makes us feel even more confident in our decision to send her here. Overall, we are so grateful to have found Smiths Children Montessori and would highly recommend it to any parent looking for a warm, safe, and stimulating environment for their child.

Read on Google
geraldine gl
a year ago

I couldn't be more grateful for the warm and welcoming environment that the Montessori nursery provided for my daughter. The staff are attentive, caring, and my daughter regularly talks of all the fun activities she has experienced. The community here is supportive, and I appreciate the open communication that the school maintains with parents. I highly recommend this Montessori nursery to other parents looking for a nurturing and stimulating environment for their children.

Read on Google
Oskar Sotres
9 years ago

We cannot think of a better nursery. Top of the tops. Our eldest daugther is now at primary school and after two years at the nursery now she is extremely confident, is able to read and write and is well beyond the knowkedge expected for her age. Our youngest daugther is doing also very well. She is happy and enjoys every minute there. We are extremely please with the staff and the management, always there and very supportive. The best option for my kids no doubt! :-)

Read on Google
Tersoo Sugden
11 years ago

I used Smiths children for a number of years until my LO reached school age. I would certainly recommend them to any parent who appreciates the benefits of the Montessori approach. My son has just started school and can count higher than children 4 years older than him! Georges carer (Ingrid) was really attentive and really connected with him which made it much more enjoyable for him and less stressful to drop him off. Thank you Max and Pam as well for giving a single parent one less thing to worry about. Definite thumb up!

Read on Google
Natalia Belozerova
8 years ago

A fantastic nursery which my daughter enjoyed a lot. The staff people are really fond of kids, not only providing the great diversity of activities for the development of kids but being really very attentive and caring for them.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Smiths Children. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: May 2012

  • March 2022Good
  • August 2017Good
  • September 2013Good
  • January 2013Inadequate
  • May 2012Good

Frequently asked about Smiths Children

Nearby day nurseries in CAMBRIDGE

Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Smiths Children.

Are you the owner of this nursery? Claim this listing to manage photos, hours and contact details.

Claim listing

Share this nursery

Send to a partner, friend or family member.

This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more