Kindred St Ives Nursery and Pre-School offers a warm, imaginative space where our children thrive through outdoor, open-ended play. Our garden features a woodside area, playhouses, logs, and a sensory rich mud kitchen; perfect for everyday exploration.
Tucked away is our secret garden; a calming space with a canopy, where our children build dens, play with natural materials, and enjoy peaceful moments in nature. Open-ended resources like crates, hosepipes, and steering wheels spark creativity and problem-solving through child-led play.
We're proud of our long-standing team who bring experience and continuity to every child's journey, providing the kind of personalised and consistent care that help your little one flourish.
Trusted by families, loved by children. Find out why…
We offer fees that are simple, transparent, and all-inclusive. We proudly accept all childcare funding schemes. Any extra hours of care beyond your funded hours are simply charged at our standard fee rate.
| Full Day (08:00 to 18:00) | ||
| 3 days £285 |
4 days £657 |
5 days £1,029 |
| Short Day (08:00 to 16:00) | ||
| 3 days £65 |
4 days £381 |
5 days £696 |
| Half Day (08:00 to 13:00/13:00 to 18:00) | ||
| 5 days £117 |
||
Consumables charge per month
Under 3 years old: Food £31.50, Non-Food £10.50, Activities £10.50
Over 3 years old: Food £53.00, Non-Food £6.00, Activities £22.00
| Full Day (08:00 to 18:00) | |||
| 2 days £328 |
3 days £700 |
4 days £1,072 |
5 days £1,444 |
| Short Day (08:00 to 16:00) | |||
| 2 days £190 |
3 days £506 |
4 days £821 |
5 days £1,137 |
| Half Day (08:00 to 13:00/13:00 to 18:00) | |||
| 3 days £168 |
4 days £388 |
5 days £608 |
|
Consumables charge per month
Over 3 years old: Food £26.50, Non-Food £3.00, Activities £11.00
| Full Day (08:00 to 18:00) | ||||
| 1 day £372 |
2 days £744 |
3 days £1,116 |
4 days £1,488 |
5 days £1,860 |
| Short Day (08:00 to 16:00) | ||||
| 1 day £316 |
2 days £631 |
3 days £947 |
4 days £1,262 |
5 days £1,578 |
| Half Day (08:00 to 13:00/13:00 to 18:00) | ||||
| 1 day £220 |
3 days £440 |
3 days £660 |
4 days £880 |
5 days £1,100 |
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We are located in St Ives a short commute from surrounding Cambridgeshire villages such as Houghton, Hemingford Grey and Needingworth.
Shelia Herbert
Nursery Manager
A little about me...
What is one of the most important things you should know about us? That’s easy: our fabulous teams! Pure and simple.
Dedicated to being the best that a family could ask for, our team are constantly developing themselves through our training program run by childcare and EYFS experts.
It is not just our little ones who are the passionate lifelong learners here at Kindred! It’s all a testament to their love of what they do, and what makes Kindred the incredible, loving place that it is.
Our doors open from 07:30, where you and your little one will be greeted by a member of our friendly team who will strive to ensure that the transition from home to nursery is a smooth and happy one. Wave ‘see you soon!’ to your child in the knowledge that they will be safe, well cared for and having endless amounts of fun as they settle in for the day ahead.
Our children start their day off correctly with a healthy range of options to choose from, such as cereals, fruit and toast for breakfast. For weaning babies at all mealtimes, a specially curated weaning menu is prepared by our trained chef and can be mashed, chopped or pureed depending on your child's individual needs.
Fuelled with a yummy breakfast, children enjoy a range of enrichment activities, adult-led learning linked to focus topics and child-led play experiences. From loose parts exploration and sensory activities to creative arts, imaginative role play and cosy reading corners, there is truly something for every child to enjoy. Outdoor play also forms an important part of the morning, allowing children to build confidence, develop physical skills and explore through active play. A healthy snack is available from 09:30 to keep everyone energised throughout their busy morning.
From 11:45, we enjoy lunch, freshly prepared by our on-site chef. Mealtimes provide a wonderful opportunity to socialise with friends, develop independence and explore a variety of flavours and textures. Our seasonal menus offer plenty of choice and are carefully adapted to accommodate individual dietary requirements and preferences.
Following lunch, our younger children can enjoy a well-earned nap or quiet time. For our little sleepers, we create a calm and comforting atmosphere using soft lighting, soothing music and cosy bedding to support rest and relaxation. Children who are not sleeping can enjoy quiet indoor activities, stories and gentle play, helping to create a peaceful transition into the afternoon.
Children continue their learning journey through a balance of indoor and outdoor experiences that encourage curiosity, creativity and independence. Whether exploring open-ended resources, engaging in imaginative play or enjoying active time outdoors, every afternoon offers opportunities for discovery and development.
To keep little ones fuelled and ready for all the awe and wonder their days hold, we offer a healthy mid-afternoon snack, including fresh fruit and vegetables alongside other nutritious options. From 15:15, our children enjoy a delicious evening meal before settling into a relaxed period of child-led play, giving them time to unwind and enjoy activities of their own choosing.
As the day draws to a close, children enjoy relaxed play with their friends before being collected throughout the evening. Families are kept up to date through Satchel during the day, and at collection time your child's key person will share highlights of their learning, achievements and wellbeing, along with any important information. Nursery closes at 18:00, when we wave our final goodbyes and wish everyone a safe journey home.
This is just an example day that the nursery follows, each day is subject to variation depending on activities and the needs of the children.
We have our own private car park on-site, making it easy and safe for you to drop off and pick up your child.
We have a very caring team with a real mix of experience. Some of our staff have been with us for 30 years, while our newer staff bring fresh ideas. Many of our team members are parents themselves, so they really understand the ups and downs of family life and are always happy to offer support if needed.
We make sure staff are always available at drop-off and pick-up to have a proper chat with you. If you ever need a more private conversation, we have a dedicated meeting room that you can book whenever you feel you need a bit more time to talk.
We have strong links with schools in St Ives and the surrounding areas. Before their transition reception teachers and/or support staff will come into the nursery to meet the children in a familiar setting.
In the term before they leave us, we turn our "Imagination Station" into a pretend school. We put up photos of the local schools, let the children practice wearing uniforms, and even practice eating from lunchboxes so they feel confident and ready for their first day.
We usually run three sessions to ensure your child is confident before they start. During the first session you stay with your child to meet their keyworker and fill out the "All About Me" booklet. This is followed by a short-drop off session where your child can begin to independently familiarise themself with the nursery. The last session is a longer stay that includes a lunch or tea time, so they can get used to the routine of our nursery.
Hear what our families think on daynurseries.co.uk, the UK's most trusted nursery directory with ratings based on reviews from verified parents.
“My daughter has been coming here since she was 6-months old and has always been very happy. She's been with excellent staff and key people throughout her time here, so we're always reassured that she's well looked after. The setting itself is fantastic, with plenty of indoor and outdoor space.”
“My youngest child has just started at Kindred and she was able to settle really well as the team made her feel welcome and always looked happy to see her, the nursery room has a lovely atmosphere and both practitioners and the children look comfortable, confident and content and I find the team really approachable and friendly. I feel that practitioners genuinely care about the children and they are always open and honest.”
“Kindred St Ives has been amazing for my little boy. He has come out of his shell and now is happy to try absolutely anything and interact with anyone. He has made a little group of friends who he's always excited to see, and becomes very animated when he comes into his room. All of the staff who care for him are helpful, compassionate, and always working with me to do what's best for him.”
Rated Good by Ofsted