Life at Shelford
Day-to-day life, routines, our learning spaces, and everything you need to know about your child's experience at Shelford.
A Typical Day at Shelford
Every day at Shelford is a blend of warmth, discovery, and purposeful play. Our structured routines prioritise both care and education — fostering a sense of belonging and safety whilst nurturing curiosity throughout the day.
Welcoming Arrivals
From 7:30am, your child is welcomed by their Key Person and friends. Our morning routine is calm and nurturing — giving children time to settle, connect, and prepare for the day ahead.
Children are encouraged to be independent learners, choosing from a rich selection of play provocations set up across our learning zones — engaging in activities of interest whilst our schedule includes group activities to develop essential skills.
Learning Through Play
Outdoor learning is seamlessly integrated throughout the day, fostering connections with nature and physical development. Children move freely between indoor and outdoor spaces, exploring STEM-focused activities, creative arts, and imaginative play.
We offer diverse learning opportunities to nurture curiosity — from science experiments and construction challenges to music, storytime, and sensory exploration.
Nutritious Meals & Snacks
We prioritise children's health with nutritious meals aligned with EYFS and Eat Better, Start Better guidelines. Our chef prepares daily hot meals from a rolling 3-week menu for variety and balanced nutrition.
Full-day children receive breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon tea, and a light snack. We support weaning with personalised plans in collaboration with parents. We accommodate special dietary needs, including allergies, religious restrictions, and lifestyle choices like vegan or vegetarian diets.
Mealtimes are social and educational — promoting communication, cultural understanding, and healthy eating habits. Child-friendly water fountains promote hydration throughout the day.
Activities & Wind-Down
Afternoons are filled with a rich mix of child-led and guided activities — from outdoor adventures and messy play to STEM experiments, creative arts, music, and storytime. Our Sensory Room offers a tranquil retreat for children who need a break from the bustling, noisy environment.
We accommodate varying energy levels, providing rest and quiet time as needed. Children are collected from 3pm, with the nursery open until 6pm for families who need our full provision.
Our Learning Spaces
We pride ourselves on offering three distinctive indoor learning environments, complemented by two outdoor learning areas and an indoor sensory room — with diverse opportunities for exploration and discovery.
Discoverers' Room
Ages 0–2Our youngest learners spend their time in a nurturing environment that caters to their needs. Babies and toddlers are provided with the time and space to develop physically and emotionally, forming bonds with parents, Key Persons, and peers as they embark on their social and emotional development.
Explorers' Room
Ages 2–3Our 2 and 3 year olds are encouraged to explore, learn, and develop at their own pace. With direct access to the outdoor areas, they enjoy free-flow play, seamlessly transitioning between indoor and outdoor spaces — stimulating their curiosity and encouraging active exploration.
Inventors' Room
Pre-SchoolOur pre-school room offers a vibrant setting where stimulating activities enrich children's skills and imagination. With direct access to a dedicated first-floor outdoor learning area, children also engage in enriching outdoor experiences. A slide facilitates easy access to the lower ground area, further enhancing their outdoor adventures.
Our Outdoor Play Spaces
Discovery Cove
Lower Garden — STEM-FocusedOur lower garden offers a plethora of stimulating STEM-focused play opportunities for all our children to enjoy. STEM learning is promoted through Loose Parts, Large Construction Materials, Water Exploration, Pulleys & Cranes, and a Mud Kitchen. The Baby Safe area includes Sensory Surfaces and Boards designed to support creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving in our youngest learners.
Inventors' Island
Upper Garden — Nature-BasedOur upper garden is exclusively designed for our pre-school children, providing age-appropriate challenges and exploration. Here, children can immerse themselves in nature and engage with resources tailored to their developmental stage, fostering independence and self-discovery.
Our Sensory Room
At Shelford Day Nursery, STEM lies at the very core of our ethos, and we've crafted a specially designed Sensory Room with that in mind.
Here, children are enveloped in a world of lights, sounds, and tactile sensations — stimulating their senses and fostering sensory development. Sensory stimulation plays a crucial role in children's development, enhancing their visual, auditory, and tactile processing skills.
Aligned with our STEM approach, this immersive sensory experience encourages scientific thinking and exploration.
Parent Information
Everything you need to know about joining Shelford Day Nursery.
We offer a gentle, gradual settling-in process to help your child feel safe and confident. Over a series of short visits, your child will get to know their Key Person, explore their room, and build familiarity with our routines before starting their regular sessions.
Parents are welcome to stay during early visits, and we'll work with you to ensure the transition feels right for your family.
Every child at Shelford is assigned a dedicated Key Person who builds a close bond with your child and maintains open communication with you. They get to know your child's personality, interests, and needs — tailoring their care and learning to help them thrive.
We keep you connected to your child's day through the EYLOG parent portal — where you can view daily updates, photos, observations, and learning journals. Alongside daily verbal handovers at drop-off and collection, we also offer termly Key Person meetings.
Safeguarding is our highest priority. All staff undergo enhanced DBS checks and continuous safeguarding training. We follow the procedures outlined by the Cambridgeshire Children's Board and maintain rigorous recruitment and supervision practices.
Our full range of policies is available to parents on request.
Our Team
At Shelford Day Nursery, our team is meticulously curated to provide a warm, safe, and stimulating environment for every child. We promise safeguarding through rigorous recruitment practices, ensuring background checks for all staff. Continuous professional development is central to our ethos, with specialised training offered to implement inquiry-based, hands-on learning.
Deborah
Nursery Manager
With 36+ years in Early Years, Deborah holds a BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies and Early Years Professional Status. She was part of the founding team setting up Cambridge's first STEM-based nursery and is passionate about providing high-quality, child-centred environments that foster natural curiosity.
Sona
Deputy Manager
With over 10 years' experience in Early Years, Sona holds a BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies and Early Years Teacher Status. She believes Shelford's unique STEM approach allows children to engage with their world and make sense of it — there's always another question or something else to find out.
Rosana
3rd in Charge
Rosana plays a key role in the day-to-day leadership of the nursery, supporting both the management team and practitioners to deliver the highest standards of care and STEM-integrated learning across all rooms.
Staff profiles are updated regularly. Please contact us to meet the full team.
Fees & Admissions
We believe in keeping things simple. Our fees consist of a single flat rate per day, covering all aspects of your child's care and learning experience.
| Session | Hours | Age Group | What's Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Day | 7:30am – 6:00pm | 2 months – 5 years | All meals, snacks, activities & resources |
| Morning Session | 7:30am – 1:00pm | 2 months – 5 years | Breakfast, morning snack, lunch & activities |
| Afternoon Session | 1:00pm – 6:00pm | 2 months – 5 years | Lunch, afternoon snack, tea & activities |
10% Full-Time Discount
We offer a generous 10% discount for full-time enrolment to support families who are not eligible for Government funding.
Registration & Deposit
To secure your child's place, a non-refundable registration admin fee of £100 is required. A £150 deposit is payable upon acceptance, which will be refunded against your first invoice.
Operating Schedule
We operate throughout the year, with closures on all bank/public holidays, Christmas to New Year, two training days around Easter, and the Summer bank holiday.
15 Hours Free Funding
All 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week (38 weeks per year). We accept this funding at Shelford.
30 Hours Free Funding
Eligible working families with 3–4 year olds can access 30 hours of free childcare. Check your eligibility at childcarechoices.gov.uk and speak to us about how to apply.
Gallery
A glimpse into life at Shelford Day Nursery.
Come and See For Yourself
We'd love to show you around. Book a visit and see what makes Shelford Day Nursery so special.