Explore our FAQ section to learn more about N.
Our standard day in all our nurseries is 8am-6pm. Most of our nurseries offer either 30 minutes or an hour on either side of this, payable on a pay-as-you-go basis to give our families increased flexibility. To check if your nursery offers extended opening times, please see the relevant location page.
Your nursery plan will cover the standard nursery hours, but if you fancy bringing your child in a little later, or would like to start your weekend a little earlier then that’s absolutely fine! Please do remember to let your Key Person know as we wouldn’t want you to turn up to collect and your child be out on a trip!
No – our nursery runs from Monday to Friday. Our families are invited to come along to our in-nursery seasonal parties throughout the year as well as our monthly Family Hub virtual events held by invited guest speakers. Please see our for more information or visit the N app once your child has been enrolled at a nursery.
The Family Club is our programme of online family and in-nursery events. For families, we offer monthly, virtual expert-led talks covering topics related to your child’s development such as potty training, healthy sleep habits, nutrition and weaning, and much more. We also love running in-person events for our families throughout the year to spend quality time together. Past events have included rooftop garden parties, animal handling, yoga sessions, baking classes, Easter egg hunts, and more! Take a look at our What’s On page for more details and check out the parents’ board in your nursery for more details!
Yes! Once your place is confirmed, we’ll add you to our mailing list and you are welcome to sign up and start coming along to Family Club events.
Although all of our Family Club events are free for our N families, we do ask that you book tickets in advance so we know who’s coming along. For parent events, we’ll sign you up to receive our Family Club newsletter, which will let you know all of the upcoming talks for the coming month. For family events, you’ll be invited to all the events your nursery is running via the N app.
Each nursery organises their own parties and workshops, and will invite their families via the N app. On some occasions, nurseries may be able to accommodate more families at their event but on a first come, first served basis. Check out the N App for details and alternatively, don’t hesitate to give the nursery a call to enquire about a space at their event.
Our Family Club is for N members only, but we do allow family and friends of our members to come along too – space permitting!
Whilst we don’t currently have parent committees as such, we offer regular, informal opportunities for our families to chat to the team, with a direct line to the nursery manager and our Support Office too. We send out regular parent surveys & operate a parent mystery shopper scheme, so that we can ensure we’re getting family feedback regularly and in real time.
We don’t provide a babysitting service outside of our normal operating hours, though we are aware that families sometimes ask educators to babysit their children. We do advise our educators not to enter into private babysitting arrangements with families from the nursery, as they’d be working in an environment without the usual safeguarding procedures that we have in place in the nursery.
You can explore opportunities at N by visiting our careers website.
Discover various jobs across our locations – from nursery educators to chefs, flexible roles, apprentices and more. Visit Our roles and find your dream job today.
At N, we offer a generous benefits package and salary transparency. Find out more.
We’re keen on developing our team, as we are on developing the young minds we look after. Take a look at our Academy page and ignite your early years career.
Fees include all meals, snacks, formula for infants, nappies and trips. Fees are due in advance, and we issue invoices mid-month for the following month. Unfortunately, there can be no refunds for sickness or holidays. Fees are calculated based on the weeks of the year that you nursery is open, averaged into 12 monthly payments. The amount of weeks per year that our nurseries are open vary from nursery to nursery, so please check your fee sheet for more information.
Bank / public holidays & INSET days are payable in full. N is closed between Christmas & New Year – please note you will not be charged for this period. Any fee increases are based on the nursery’s running costs. You will receive 2 months’ notice of any changes to our terms and conditions, including any fee increases. Please open your nursery’s fee sheet on our Fees page for more information.
Most of nurseries offer either an extra hour or half-hour of flexibility either side of the day (please check out your nursery’s fee sheet for more details) – this is charged in 15-minute increments at a proportion of the hourly rate. If possible we ask that you provide 24 hours notice of this, but of course, we understand if you’re running late due to overrunning commitments, and as such we’d just ask you to let us know you’d be dropping off earlier/picking up later as early as possible.
You will be required to pay a waiting list registration fee, and once you have accepted a place, this registration fee will become a non-refundable joining fee. You will also be asked to pay place acceptance fee, which will be deducted from the final invoice that you receive from us. If you decide to leave the waiting list, your waiting list registration fee will be refunded.
Waiting list and place acceptance fees differ from nursery to nursery, so please check the relevant fee sheet on our fees page for more information.
Any fee increases will be communicated 2 months before affecting your invoice and are based on the nursery’s running costs. Please open your nursery’s fee sheet on our Fees page for more information.
Yes, unfortunately, there can be no refunds for sickness or holidays. Our fees are calculated based on the weeks of the year that your N nursery is open, averaged into 12 monthly payments.
The Government has introduced new funding for eligible 2 year olds and 9-23 month olds from September 2024. Families can apply for the funding from May 2024.
Children become eligible for age-specific funding in the term following their relevant birthday (or month, in the case of 9 month olds). Their birthday must be before 31st March for funding from Summer Term (April), 31st August for Autumn Term (September) & 31st December for Spring Term (January).
For more information about funding please refer to our funding and bursaries page.
Tax free childcare is a method of paying childcare costs (including your nursery invoice) which provides a significant saving each month. It can be used alongside both 15 and 30 hours of funding.We accept tax-free childcare as a payment method at all of our settings. You will first need to apply for tax-free childcare here. Once set up, you can find your setting by searching for the postcode or the Ofsted registration number.
Full details of eligibility can be found here. However, the eligibility criteria follows that of 30 hours funding closely. Unlike 30 hours funding it is available to all nursery age children.Once paired to your setting, you can pay your invoices using the tax-free childcare system – either full or partial payments of your invoice are possible.
There is a discount if you have two or more siblings in nursery at the same time. The discount is applied to your oldest child’s plan. This discount applies for as long as you have two or more children with us.
Our sibling discount differs depending on nursery location. Please refer to the relevant fee sheet for your nursery’s discount. You can find all of our fee sheets here.
There are multi-day discounts available, though these differ depending on nursery location. Please refer to the relevant fee sheet for your nursery’s discounts. All of our fee sheets can be found here.
As our nursery services are bought by you either over the telephone, through the exchange of emails or our online portal, you have a legal right to change your mind within 14 days and receive a refund.
You have 14 calendar days after we have received your acceptance fee and signed parent/guardian agreement and we have confirmed your sessions are secure.
However, once we have started the nursery services, whilst you will still have a right to cancel during the 14 day period, you must pay us for the services provided up until the time you tell us that you have changed your mind. After the 14 day period, our standard cancellation policy will apply.
As our nursery services are bought by you either over the telephone, through the exchange of emails or our online portal, you have a legal right to change your mind within 14 days and receive a refund.
You have 14 calendar days after we have received your acceptance fee and signed parent/guardian agreement and we have confirmed your sessions are secure.
However, once we have started the nursery services, whilst you will still have a right to cancel during the 14 day period, you must pay us for the services provided up until the time you tell us that you have changed your mind. After the 14 day period, our standard cancellation policy will apply.
We no longer offer half-days at our nurseries and operate a minimum of 2 or 3 days per week, depending on the nursery. Please review the relevant nursery’s fee sheet to find out what places are on offer in your area.
Our nurseries offer a minimum number of days per week that your child must attend. This is either two or three days, depending on the nursery, and must include either a Monday or a Friday.
We no longer offer half-day sessions at our nurseries.
Check out the nursery’s fee sheet to find out what places are on offer in your area.
The first step in joining the N Family is to register your child with us. This can be done by booking an in-person tour at your preferred nursery or arranging an introductory call with one our Admissions team.
We will need to know certain information about your child, including date of birth, medical issues, the month and year that you would like them to start, and the number of days per week you would like them to attend.
In the case of healthcare or childcare emergencies, we can offer up to a maximum of five emergency day swaps per year, subject to availability.
An agreed emergency day swap is to be used in the same calendar month as the absence. Bank holidays and nursery closures are exempt.
In addition to this and subject to availability, you can purchase extra ad hoc days at the standard daily rate. Ad hoc days can be booked a maximum of two weeks before the requested date.
Children can join N from three months old, all the way up until they are ready to start primary or prep school.
We receive lots of requests to view our nurseries, and knowing that too many tours can be disruptive to our children’s daily routine, we carefully monitor the number of tours we offer.
Currently, tours are offered to families once a place becomes available.
Depending on availability, we may also offer tours to our waiting list ahead of a place becoming available. For more information, reach out to our Admissions team.
Once the nursery you are interested in opens, you will be able to attend our open day event before making a final decision on accepting a place for your child.
At existing nurseries, we have a limited number of weekly tour spots and give priority to families on the waiting list.
If a place is not immediately available for your child, you can join our waiting list. You will be required to pay a registration fee to join the waiting list – please check your nursery’s fee sheet for more information.
Once your payment has been received you will be sent an email confirming that you are on the waiting list.
Availability is assessed on an ongoing basis taking into account any leavers or room moves. We will inform you if a place becomes available.
If your child does not receive a place to start at the requested time, they will remain on the waiting list until a place becomes available or until you request for them to be removed. In this instance, your waiting list registration fee is refunded.
Places are offered in the following order of priority:
1) A child who is currently at nursery with us, wishing to increase sessions
2) A child with a sibling already at the nursery3) Existing children transferring to another location4) The date of registration for the waiting list. You will be contacted based on whether there is a match between the days available and your stated preferences. If you don’t take the offered days, please note that your child will remain on the waiting list until your preferred days are available.
You will receive an offer letter from us by email and will have two days to accept the place. We ask that you agree to the offer letter and terms and conditions by e-signing the parent/guardian agreement. You will also be asked to pay the acceptance fee by using our online portal.
Upon receipt of your acceptance fee and signed parent/guardian agreement, we will confirm if your sessions are secure. A contract will then be formed between N and you, committing both parties to the terms of the offer letter, the parent/guardian agreement, the terms and conditions, and the policy documents on our website.
Someone from the Admissions team will be in touch eight weeks ahead of your child’s start date to set up a convenient time for a home visit and to schedule settling in days – which usually take place over three sessions in the week prior to the agreed start date.
It begins with a virtual ‘meet the family’ session, where you’ll meet your child’s Key Person and they can learn everything about you and your child – particularly the things that might enable them to settle quickly into nursery! It’s also a chance for you to get to know them ahead of starting with us.
Beyond that, you will have three settles at the nursery. The first session is 1 hour and you’ll attend with your child to settle them into the nursery environment. The second is 1.5 hours and you’ll be able to leave your child in a playroom with their Key Person. The final settle is 2 hours and over a mealtime, without you there.
Don’t worry – we know settling a child into a nursery can bring a wealth of emotions for the family and our teams are on hand to support you through the process.
There are several leading theorists in early childhood education, whose work has shaped many modern approaches - including ours. Our two core influences are the Reggio Emilia approach, developed in Northern Italy, and the educational theories of Jerome Bruner, an American psychologist. Both schools of thought have inspired our practice in a different way, and you can find out more about what we’ve taken from each on The N Approach page.
We are also inspired by the work of Maria Montessori and the Forest School movement, which both bring valuable ideas that complement and strengthen our philosophical foundations of Reggio and Bruner.
Working with leading experts within the early childhood sector as well as using the philosophical foundations of Reggio Emilia and Jerome Bruner, we have developed our own N Curriculum which is bespoke to each child. Our curriculum is divided into four pillars and is designed to prepare children for life in the modern world. These four pillars are: Holistic Health, Global Responsibility, Self Expression and Inventive Ideas. You can find out more about each pillar on The N Curriculum page.
We developed our curriculum using our hugely experienced in-house education team alongside guidance from early years experts. They have been influenced by our founding philosophies – Reggio Emilia and Jerome Bruner – as well as emerging evidence on child development. The late Dr David Whitebread, an early years specialist at the University of Cambridge, was one of our key advisors when we founded N Family Club and his guidance on the benefits of learning through play are still at the core of everything we deliver.
A typical day is 8-6pm, though this can be extended by an hour each way. Breakfast is from 8-9am, lunch from 11.30am and dinner at 4pm, with morning and afternoon snacks.
Our younger children nap a few times a day, depending on their home sleep pattern, while older children usually nap after lunch until they stop napping during their preschool years.
In the mornings and afternoons, children will be engaged in a balance of purposeful play and Educator inspired experiences, while spending lots of time outdoors. We also have our N Extras, the special group sessions that we run every week covering everything from cookery and yoga to Spanish – check out The N Day and The N Curriculum pages for more information.
All children will spend time outdoors every day, as we really encourage outdoor learning, but it will depend on what the children are learning that week and how extreme the weather is (we take children outside no matter the weather but if it is really rainy/snowy this might be for a shorter period!).
We do plenty of different activities outside, including physical activities, games, planting, Forest School and learning about the local community. You can find out more about our Outdoor Learning programme on the Outdoor Learning page.
We have a Spanish programme which involves weekly Spanish sessions, focusing on building an early appreciation of how different languages work through simple songs and play.
In addition to our core curriculum, we offer the N Extras, which are Spanish, Yoga, Doodle Dance (which leads to Phonics), and Cookery. We also have the N Passport - a cultural experience programme. You can find more information about these on our N Curriculum page.
Our N App is where we upload observations regularly, along with a daily picture of your child and what they’ve been up to at nursery. We also use the N App to share key dates, news and announcements. Every term a child’s progress is assessed against EYFS and updated on the N App. We also add ‘next steps’ for each child in line with The N Curriculum, so you can see what your child’s learning goals are.
We informally observe the children (including a Baseline Assessment), with termly assessments and twice-annual parents evenings. We will complete a Two Year Check, and we also have a Before School assessment which ensures a smooth transition from nursery to school.
They are held twice a year, in Autumn and Spring. These are a more formal way for parents to receive updates about children’s progress and time at nursery!
Their results will be shared on the N App termly.
The number of children in each room will vary from nursery to nursery, room to room. For more information about your specific nursery, please feel free to give us a call!
We follow statutory Department of Education guidance on this, and the ratios of educators to children are 1:3 in the baby age group, 1:5 in the toddler group, and this rises again in preschool to 1:8.
We don’t count our Managers or Deputies in this figure so there are always extra pairs of hands if needed!
We keep our key groups as small as possible and always plan them in line with children' s attendance, to ensure that every child has the best experience with their Key Person. Nearer your start date we’ll be able to update you as we’ll have a clearer view on attendance and patterns.
Ofsted typically inspects a new nursery within 18 to 30 months of its registration date, with plans to move toward the shorter 18-month timeframe from April 2026. Once they’ve visited, their report will be available to access around a month after the inspection.
We’re proud to have achieved a number of top grades across our portfolio, with many nurseries achieving the coveted ‘Outstanding’ grade in all areas. We don’t want to wait for an inspection to know and celebrate our successes, and so we work with a team of Ofsted consultants to audit each of our nurseries regularly.
Before we open, Ofsted will sign-off our nursery, and they could then come to perform a full inspection within the first 30 months, but we don’t know when this will be as their visits are random! Once they’ve visited, their report will be available to access around a month after the inspection.
Ofsted were really impressed with our leadership and management, the quality of teaching, learning and development that our children receive, alongside their personal development and welfare. Ultimately, all of these factors mean that we’re able to ensure that the children’s outcomes are really positive – Ofsted’s report is available to access online if you’d like to read it in full.
We don’t feed into any particular prep schools but if you have one in mind for your child we will do our best to support them to get a place – we want all of our children to feel happy and confident taking their next steps in education!
We have a school readiness programme which is focused on getting the children ready for school e.g. getting changed for PE, intro to phonics, etc.
We also visit their new school with them to introduce them to their new teachers and encourage them to feel at home in their new environment.
When you collect your child from nursery, you’ll be met by either their Key Person or one of your child’s key team. They will run you through all the activities and exciting developments of your child’s day.
In addition to the daily updates, each enrolled family at N is invited to download the N app – our handy digital tool for allowing you to check out your child’s learning journey. We’ll also post a picture a day to your news feed so that your family can see what they’ve been up to!
The amount of trips we offer depends on a number of things such as weather and what the children have been learning, as the trips are designed to support and enhance their learning.
In addition to this, we also take the children on trips as part of the N Passport – a ‘child’s bucket list’ of key cultural experiences that we feel they should all have had by the time they leave us to go to school. In the past, trips have included the theatre, fire stations, local farms, a literary festival to see Chelsea Clinton, and local shops.
All children wear hi-vis jackets when on trips and all team members are prepped fully on risk assessments to ensure that our trips run smoothly and safely. Our older children hold hands and are partnered with an adult, while our younger children love the novelty of our three-seater buggies for their adventures.
We plan each trip on a case by case basis but always have a minimum of three team members on each trip, and meet all statutory ratios.
We always maintain ratios of team members at the nursery and enhance our numbers when off-site.
Our on-site chefs create fresh, balanced meals daily, aligning with the Early Years Guidelines endorsed by the Department of Education and Public Health England.
We serve breakfast and a two-course lunch and dinner. We also offer the children a morning and afternoon snack.
We work alongside families to support them with alternatives for allergies, intolerances, and cultural preferences.
Our menu features a blend of plant-based options and sustainably sourced white meat and fish dishes, ensuring every child receives wholesome, nourishing meals that support their growth and development. Explore our N guide to food.
Food deliveries occur regularly throughout the week as we only cook with fresh and natural ingredients. Meals are prepared by our on-site chef every day. Have a look at our menu to see what the children are eating this week!
Your child will sleep in a quiet area, either on a little mattress or on one of our cosy rugs. They will have their own Baby Mori sleeping bag or blanket, and any comforter that you have brought in from home to make nap time as comfortable as possible.
The room won’t be dark but the lights will be dimmed to create a quiet and calm environment, with soothing sounds that encourage the children to fall asleep.
At your virtual ‘meet the family’ session, your child’s Key Person will take down all the details about your child’s nap routine. When they start at nursery we will follow this routine, though we do tend to find that children gradually transition to follow the pattern of their peers (though there isn’t a time pressure for this).
No, we provide Pura nappies and Sudocrem. If you would prefer to use an alternative brand or reusable nappy then please feel free to bring these in. Remember to update your Key Person via the N app or in-person at the nursery.
We try where possible to minimise wastage and our used nappy waste is transported to the Grundon Waste site in Knowl Hill to be incinerated, producing electricity!
We ask that families bring in at least two changes of clothes. If your child is due to attend a Forest School-inspired session, they will also need waterproof clothing and wellies. Your handy N backpack from your welcome pack is the perfect bag for bringing changes of clothes into the nursery!
We will follow what you do at home and work with you on the potty training process. You can bring your own potty or are welcome to use ours. We will offer advice on how we can work together to toilet train your child. Explore our N Guide for potty and toilet training.
All of our nurseries have been fitted with state-of-the-art CCTV technology to keep our children and team safe. CCTV footage is used in order to review any accidents, incidents, or security breaches. In order to align with GDPR and personal data protection regulations, we do not allow this to be viewed by families or third parties, unless stipulated by legal proceedings or law enforcement.
We set our opening and closing times based on feedback from our families. If you are running late and think you won’t arrive until after closing, we ask that you give the nursery a call and let us know at the earliest possible opportunity. We would only implement our late collection policy for families who haven’t given us prior notification.
Our baby rooms are shoe-free zones, but shoes are allowed in all other areas of the nursery. We ask parents and/or carers to provide socks with built-in sole grips to aid the children’s stability when they are learning to walk.
We employ N housekeepers, and the nursery space is cleaned every day, ensuring that it is always a fresh and welcoming environment for our families, children, and team. Enhanced cleaning will take place as required.
You can view our medicine policy on our Policies & Procedures page.
If your child is to be given prescription medication, we’d give these in line with the prescription. Over the counter temperature relief will be given if they develop a temperature – only with your prior consent. Anti-histamines will also be kept at the nursery and can be used when needed and/or approved by families.
This depends on the child and their symptoms – if a child has a cold but is happy in themselves, it’s ok for them to stay at nursery. However, if the nursery team thinks the symptoms are or could be contagious, then the child will need to be picked up. Refer to our illness policy which you can find on our Policies and Procedures page.
If your child has had vomiting or diarrhoea, please do not let them return to nursery until 48 hours from their last bout. All exclusion periods are in line with UKHSA guidance on infectious diseases.
For those still receiving childcare vouchers, we still accept all major providers. If you are unable to find us with your provider it is likely because we are not set up with that provider but we are always happy to do so. Contact your nursery manager who will have this set up for you.
Cancelling more than 3 months prior to starting: We will refund your place acceptance fee if you cancel your child’s place more than 3 calendar months ahead of your child starting nursery with us. Your joining fee will remain non-refundable.
Cancelling less than 3 months prior to starting: We ask that you inform us as soon as possible. We will not be able to refund either your place acceptance fee or your joining fee, and you will be liable for any fees over and above the value of the place acceptance fee, that are payable during the 3 month notice period.
Serving notice once your child has started N: We require 2 months notice, which means that your contract with the nursery will not end until 2 calendar months after the day on which you contact us to cancel your child’s place. You will be responsible for paying the fees during that time. All outstanding fees remaining will need to be paid in full.
Place acceptance fees and joining fees differ from nursery to nursery – please see your nursery’s fee sheet for more information.
For children in their final year with us before leaving for a reception class, we assume that your child’s last day will be at the end of August (31st August or the last scheduled session prior to that date) unless you inform us otherwise. We ask that you inform us a year ahead at the end of their penultimate year.
Please note for siblings: even though N offers a sibling priority on the waiting list, we still require families to register their younger siblings as early as possible. We cannot always guarantee a place, though we try our best to accommodate everyone.
We try to stagger our settles so that each Key Person is only ever settling one key child at once.
We want to hire the best and most passionate educators in our nurseries, and have built extremely robust recruitment procedures to make sure that our team lives by our core values and have the relevant qualifications & experience.
All team members go through a rigorous pre-employment checks process and induction, with first aid and safeguarding as standard.
Our teams’ qualifications range from apprentices to qualified Early Years Teachers and PGCEs. We invest in our team through our N Academy so that they can develop their knowledge & grow with us.
Team happiness and retention is a huge focus for us at N, as historically team turnover in the early years sector has unfortunately been high. In order to combat this, our People team has developed an industry-leading salary and benefits package for our educators, which includes free lunches, a bonus structure and a round-the-world trip for long service. You can see our full benefits package on our Benefits page.
We frequently measure our team’s happiness to see how we’re doing and welcome honest and open feedback as to how we can build the best possible culture. N is a happy place to work & we support our team’s training & development through the N Academy.
We’re very proud to have a diverse and multi-national team at N. We are also a member of the MITEY Charter, which actively encourages men into early years, and are lucky enough to have some fantastic male educators in our teams.
As well as experience, we hire based on cultural fit and how much we feel someone represents N’s values – which you can find here.
We’re always looking for great people, and are committed to honouring the MITEY charter – encouraging more men into the Early Years sector. We have some fantastic male educators across our nurseries and welcome applications from male applicants.
If a child refuses to eat what is being served, we will always offer an alternative, but we will first try to encourage them to taste new foods.
Early years guidance suggests that children often need to try new foods up to ten times before they become accustomed to the change in taste and texture, and so don’t be disheartened if it takes a bit of time.
We repeat and rotate dishes on the menu in order to speed this process up and establish familiarity.
Yes, we can provide vegetarian and vegan-friendly options at N.
We leave the decision to you – you can either express to bottles that our educators will give to your baby or pop back in throughout the day to feed your child in the N cafe.
Yes – we provide formula of your choosing to infants under one year old.
Yes – if you’d prefer to provide expressed milk, we’ll be able to give this to your child instead of formula.
Yes, we will follow either baby-led weaning, spoon-fed weaning or a combination approach. We will follow your lead from home and we will work together on this exciting food milestone!
As soon as you enrol at N, your child’s allergy information is given to our chefs and flagged on your child’s N app profile. We also use colour-coded allergy bowls and every room has allergy information on the walls for the team to see. If your child has a severe allergy, it is crucial that you let us know as soon as possible so that we can arrange a meeting with the senior management, kitchen and your key person to make an action plan.
Our menus do contain allergens because the NHS advises that all allergens should be introduced regularly from 6 months and that delaying the introduction of allergens can increase the risk of developing an allergy.
We do, however, have processes in place to ensure that a child with a diagnosed allergy is not exposed to their allergen.
We cannot guarantee that our nurseries are completely free of all known allergens. However, we have specific processes in place to ensure that a child with a diagnosed allergy is not exposed to their allergen.
We don’t at present use nuts in our menus and we do ask parents and team members not to bring nuts into the nursery.
We also ask that you don’t bring in any medications including Arachis Hypogaea or other nut oils.
However, many foods are labelled as having ‘traces of nut’ and ingredients with these warnings can be used in the nursery unless a risk assessment specific to a particular child indicates otherwise.
We do offer a halal menu in some of our nurseries. Speak to your nursery manager or the Admissions team to find out whether your nursery does.
We’ve made the decision at N not to serve red meat to support both children’s health and environmental sustainability. Red meat is often high in saturated fats, which can impact heart health, and its production has a significant environmental footprint.
Instead, our menu focuses on plant-based proteins, white meats like chicken, and fish – all nutrient-rich options that provide essential protein while being lower in saturated fats. We ensure children receive balanced meals by pairing iron-rich plant-based foods with vitamin C sources to enhance absorption.
Additionally, we do not serve processed meats such as bacon or sausages due to their high salt content. Our chefs use natural herbs and spices to create flavorful, nutritious meals without added salt, supporting healthy eating habits from an early age.
The NHS guidance is that all allergens should be introduced from 6 months and that delaying the introduction of allergens can increase the risk of developing an allergy.
Once introduced and if tolerated, allergens should continue to be offered as part of a baby’s usual diet (to minimise the risk of developing an allergy).
During the virtual home visit, if the child is over 6 months old and in the weaning process, we will work together with the family to review which of the 14 main allergens have not yet been introduced to the child. We will document, review, and keep this information up to date throughout your child’s journey at N.
We encourage families to offer foods containing the 14 allergens to their child before they start nursery, to help with a smoother transition.
At N, every meal is crafted with your child’s health, wellbeing, and enjoyment in mind.
We use carefully selected ingredients that meet the highest standards of quality, sustainability, and safety:
All our suppliers adhere to rigorous standards for food safety, animal welfare, and environmental responsibility, with many holding or working towards LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) and Global GAP accreditation (ensuring compliance with strict EU food safety and pesticide standards).
Our fruit and vegetable growers also employ natural, biological methods to protect crops and minimise chemical use, supporting a healthy, balanced environment.
We also avoid processed meats due to their high salt content.
This approach also ensures reliability and consistency. By focusing on responsibly sourced, premium ingredients and sustainable practices, we provide meals that are fresh, nutritious, safe, and consistently excellent.
Absolutely – if you’d prefer us to use reusable nappies, you’ll just need to bring these in and then take them home to be washed once used.
We don’t exclude non-vaccinated children from our nursery, in line with government guidance.
If your child is unwell and needs to rest at home, we are unable to provide containers of the food cooked at the nursery – we cannot guarantee that the food is suitable to eat once it has left the nursery. However, if you would like to take some fresh fruit home when you collect your child, this can be accommodated.
We require a family’s permission to administer anti-histamines to relieve any allergic symptoms. Following this, we use colour-coded allergy bowls for your child’s food, and all allergy information would be on the walls of nursery rooms so that our team is fully aware. If your child has a severe allergy, please let us know as soon as possible so we can make an action plan with your Key Person, senior management and the nursery kitchen.
We keep anti-histamines and temperature relief at the nursery, but would never administer prescription medication unless it was assigned to a particular child and was in its original packaging. We do not keep spare EpiPens at our nurseries.
Safety is our first priority for all children, families and team members. Our nurseries all have entry controlled systems. Alongside this, all nursery rooms have the ability to secure their entrance door should there be a need to instigate lockdown. We engage with specialist contractors to provide all our health and safety requirements that the nursery environment needs.