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Original poster

Just moved to Cambridge - help with preschools

26 replies

Mucky72 · 08/02/2011 00:20

Hi - I have just moved to Cambridge as DH has got a job at Addenbrookes. Just getting used to the whole SAHM syndrome :) Live in the Cherry Hinton/Mowbray Rd area.
My DS is 3 and DD is 1 and I need to find a pre school for him which supports the Early Years Funding Program (15 hrs/week)- can anyone suggest a list of pre schools in the CB1 area or nearabouts though if push came to shove would have to consider other areas as I do drive.
Also, anyone fancy meeting up over a cuppa or Wine :) I am pretty flexible.

OP posts:
crw1234 · 08/02/2011 10:27

Hi - not in cambridge yet - but the quickish way to find pre-schoola is to go on the ofstead website and put in your postcode - then you can look at reports as well. Often comunity preschools can be really booked up - but you would need to ring them to find out - but private day nurseries often offer the 15 hours a week - and can often - at least where I live now - have more places - its worked well for friends of mine

umf · 08/02/2011 12:30

We've been very pleased with the preschool at Cambridge International School, which is in Cherry Hinton Hall park. You can use the funded hours there.

neolara · 08/02/2011 12:32

Bumble Bears pre-school on Rock Road / Cherry Hinton Road corner is lovely.

Toser · 08/02/2011 12:36

Romsey Mill - both of my youngest two went there. It is fabulous Grin

Hooferoo · 08/02/2011 13:48

Patacake Day Nursery is ace and has pre-school rooms, but they have a year long waiting list. Ridgefild Primary School has a pre-school year. My eldest son is in year 1 there. I don't think Romsey Mill is a pre-school, it does have a playschool, which is different.

Toser · 08/02/2011 13:53

sorry - you're right! My dd went to cambridge Day nursery after Romsey which is on Milton road but which we absolutley adored.

Original poster
Mucky72 · 08/02/2011 14:28

Cheers all for the infos, much appreciated.
@Neolara - I had heard of Bumble Bears so rang them few days ago, they are full up till Sept.
Does anyone know anything about Queen Edith primary? Heard they have a pre school too. Thinking of sending DS there for Reception in Sept. But need to find a pre school till then. Most nurseries/pre schools for the free places (early yrs funding) get booked up way in advance so not sure if any of them have provisions for those like us who have just moved into the county :(

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neolara · 08/02/2011 15:44

Have you asked at Homerton nursery? They will almost certainly be full but may have vacancies popping up.

cazzybabs · 08/02/2011 20:59

Mucky - I am in cambridge and happy to meet up for a coffee. We go to lots at homerton with their surestart centre and it is fab. Queen ediths have a nursery which a neighbour sends her dd to and likes it. They are about to open (in sept) a new primary school with the same catchment

Original poster
Mucky72 · 08/02/2011 23:11

@Neolara - I got a list of pre schools/nurseries in CB1 from the council today and noticed Homerton was in there. Will check them out & hopefully find something sharpish (fingers crossed).
@Cazzybabs - We fall under the Queen Edith catchment so I am hoping DS gets a place there. The new primary will be called Queen Emma I believe Coffee sounds great! My DS/DD are already getting cabin fever :) So any place where they can run around/have a play would be great! Just let me know when & where. X

OP posts:
ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 08/02/2011 23:15

not too far off the beaten track for you and good for your DC's age group is Cheeky Monkeys playbarn in Fulbourn.

Original poster
Mucky72 · 09/02/2011 17:23

Thanks, shall check out Cheeky Monkeys. Went to Funky Funhouse yesterday, took a while to get there as I'm not familiar with Cambridge yet.
Does anyone know of any playgroups suitable for 3 yr olds? Went to the one at St Thomas's Hall yesterday but I think it was mainly for babies/crawlers, not so much for a 3 yr old. Also looking at Tumble Tots classes if they're any good.

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cazzybabs · 09/02/2011 18:43

homerton nursery has some fab groups - we go to messy play on tuesdays

ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 09/02/2011 20:00

I think there is a messy playgroup at queen ediths church (or there certainly was 4 years ago!)

ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 09/02/2011 20:02

here

Original poster
Mucky72 · 10/02/2011 01:23

Thanks both- Both Homerton and QEC are round the corner so will go there defo. Called Homerton nursery (amongst a host of others) today for spaces but no joy :(

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Original poster
Mucky72 · 10/02/2011 22:39

Got a call from Fawcett Primary in Trumpington today. They have spaces in their pre school so will take DS there tomorrow for a wander & meet the people.
What's the take on Fawcett? Anyone familiar with it?
@crw - Which part of Cambridge did you decide on finally?

OP posts:
Colourworld · 11/02/2011 13:45

Homerton is overrated as a pre-school.
Cambridge International according to some parents is not worth the money. Free preschool offer better service than this one.
Usually QE do have spaces.
Try also Cherry Hinton Infant School for pre-school sites.google.com/site/cherryhintoninfants/ The school is one of the best in Cambridge.
Colville school ccp.e2bn.net/e2bn/leas/c99/schools/ccp/web/site/general/ They also have a nursery facilities and you are not obliged to start Foundation there at all.

Fawcett used to be one of the best if not the best state primary school a few years ago according to the OFSTED reports. Have not checked their recent report yet.

Original poster
Mucky72 · 11/02/2011 21:32

Yes I've heard Cherry Hinton Infant is v popular. Went to Fawcett today and loved it (think the huge open area playground and pool did it for me & a really nice friendly environment), DS had a trial session there for 20 mins & didn't want to leave!! So he's got a pre school place there & in QE. Shall visit QE on Mon and decide b/w the 2.
Went to Homerton Surestart toddler group today and liked it. Anyone goes there or in the Fawcett Surestart toddler group??

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Original poster
Mucky72 · 11/02/2011 21:33

Oh and Colville have no pre school places at the mo, so that one's out, but thx so much for the infos.

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jaynebxl · 12/02/2011 13:26

QE is nice and a decent school I think. Is it your catchment school? I would really recommend trying to put your child in a pre-school with other children she will be going to school with - it's great for them to have a ready made group of friends when they move up to school.

Original poster
Mucky72 · 13/02/2011 16:35

Yes QE is the main catchment school for us. Yes it's a good thing if he has the same set of friends for both pre school & reception.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mucky72 · 16/02/2011 13:39

Am chuffed to bits DS started pre school at Fawcett Primary Trumpington today. Shall celebrate with some Wine tonight with DH :) Visited the QE pre school but found it a bit too regimental and messy too, not half as much space and learning aids as Fawcett & DS wasn't that fussed on it too.
Feeling a bit relaxed now. So who's up for a meet up soon?

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LobsterAndMonkey · 16/02/2011 14:06

Mucky, I live in Trumpington with my two. Ds is due to start Reception at the Fawcett in September, it is a lovely school. He doesn't go to the pre-school (is at Rainbow round the corner due to needing longer hours) but we do go to playgroups there. There is a tuesday morning messy play session which is alright, it gets quite busy and the room is small but some weeks it's good. It's quite new so all the toys are beautiful. There is also a Friday morning group which isn't surestart over in the dining hall, it has lots more space plus tea/coffee/biscuits, it's 50p per family. There is a couple of playgroups at the Community Church on Alpha Terrace on a Monday and Thursday mornings too. Lots of the mums that go to playgroups here have older children at the Fawcett pre-school/school and all speak very highly of it.