Best nursery schools in Buckinghamshire
Many of the Bucks prep schools run nurseries and the stand-alone ones are popular too. Always make sure you know how long the wait for a place is likely to be because while some may be able to squeeze you in the following week, others will be booking children in at least 12 months down the line. Our article on choosing a nursery provides advice on making the right selection.
Nurseries in Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross
Many chain day nursery groups can be found in the area. Popular options Old Town Day Nursery and Brindley House in Beaconsfield have recently joined groups Partou and Bright Horizons, respectively. In Gerrards Cross, the Acorn Montessori School is popular. And in the Chalfonts, long-standing favourites among locals include The Chalfont St Peter Montessori School and Chalfont St Giles Infant School & Nursery. Slightly further afield is Odds Farm Park Day Nursery and Pre-School (run by Farm Day Nurseries Group) set on a farm in Wooburn Green.
Several private schools boast superb nurseries for 3+, including Maltman’s Green, High March School, Dair House School, Gayhurst School and St Mary’s School.
Names down at birth if you want a morning place for the most popular nurseries and most established pre-schools – and even the less popular ones usually need at least nine months’ notice. It’s always worth checking where the children go on to as well – at Acorn, for example, nearly all go on to Gerrards Cross CofE School, so everyone knows each other before they go.
Nurseries in Amersham and Chesham
Favourites in Amersham include Daybreak Nursery, with its friendly staff and great facilities, as well as Acre Wood Nursery School, which is newly refurbished and has plenty of play areas. Ollie Owl is also worth considering, with its great location near Tesco and the station. Beehive Montessori School is popular, along with Rectory Hill Nursery, Henry Allen Nursery School and Woodlands Day Nursery. Meanwhile in Chesham, parents flock to Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery, Kiddies Cove Day Nursery, Flower Pots Day Nursery and Ollie Owl Nursery. Around nine months’ notice is safe, but you might get lucky and find a place six months’ ahead.
Berkhamsted School has its own day nursery for babies as well as its pre-prep starting at 3+, as does Little Beacons, the nursery for boys at The Beacon School – you can take a virtual tour on the website. Although Heatherton Prep School is girls-only, the nursery is co-ed. Chesham Preparatory School’s nursery, also co-ed, is Little Acorns. Expect to put your name down a year in advance for these, in some cases more.
Nurseries in Marlow
Hot choices among locals are Marlow Day Nursery, First Steps First and The Old Station Nursery. Kingfisher Preschool runs from the main hall in the Baptist church. Marlow Montessori School has a good local reputation for parents keen on this early years ethos that nurtures independent, child-led learning. Places are sought after – apply early.
Nurseries in north Buckinghamshire
Ashbourne Day Nurseries and Princes Risborough Nursery are among top picks in Princes Risborough, while parents in Buckingham rate Bourton Meadow Academy and Nursery and Manor Grove Montessori. Over in Milton Keynes, there’s a vast choice including Acorn Day Nursery, Aristotots Nursery School and Adorable Nurseries Ltd. In Aylesbury, Beech Green Day Nursery is a favourite, while Grasshoppers Day Nursery and Willows Day Nursery are also highly rated. Places sometimes available straightaway, though more popular ones have at least a six month wait.