Upminster Nursery
Exchange House,
180-182 St. Mary's Lane,
Upminster, RM14 3BT
Open 51 weeks
Standard hours: 8am – 6pm, Mon – Fri
Extended hours*: 7am – 7pm
A nursery designed for children, loved by families
N Upminster stands proudly on the bustling St Mary’s Lane, set in the former Victorian telephone exchange. Upminster tube station is a handy 8-minute walk away and there are multiple bus routes on the doorstep - making morning drop-offs a breeze!
Seven family rooms span across the nursery with period features restored and original sash windows flooding the nursery with natural light. Each family room is thoughtfully designed and equipped to host babies, toddlers, and preschoolers for N curriculum learning. The atelier – our specialised studio for art, cooking and baking – is where our wonderfully messy and enriching N extras come to life!
Outside, to the rear of the nursery, our enclosed, large garden is complete with a baby area, a messy play zone for mud kitchen and Forest School-inspired learning experiences, and plenty of free-play space for unleashing energy.
We’re all about making things easier for our families, and the buggy, bike and scooter stores mean you can head off hands-free after drop-off. Even better, why not enjoy our welcoming N Café – serving (much-needed!) coffee, tea, and snacks, meaning you’ll be set up for the day in just the right way!
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Open longer
Our standard day is 8am to 6pm. We also offer the option to do 7am to 7pm to ensure flexibility for our families, subject to availability.
Our standard day is 8am to 6pm. We also offer the option to do 7am to 7pm to ensure flexibility for our families, subject to availability.
The great outdoors
Discover our enclosed garden, complete with a baby area, messy play zone and mud kitchen.
Discover our enclosed garden, complete with a baby area, messy play zone and mud kitchen.
Beautiful spaces
Inspirationally designed, with specialist rooms for art and cooking.
Inspirationally designed, with specialist rooms for art and cooking.
Balanced meals
Our curated menus are freshly prepared and cooked on-site.
Our curated menus are freshly prepared and cooked on-site.
N Café
Pick up a tea, coffee and snack as you drop-off, and meet other N families.
Pick up a tea, coffee and snack as you drop-off, and meet other N families.
Hear what our families love about N
Meet our N Upminster management team
Soni
Nursery Manager
Soni brings a wealth of experience in Early Years Education, having worked in the sector for over 12 years, including more than 5 years as a Nursery Manager. She is passionate about providing high-quality childcare and is excited to welcome and build positive relationships with all families. Soni is also dedicated to supporting and developing staff, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth to ensure the highest standards of care and education for every child.
Amy
Education Manager
Amy’s early years journey began over 12 years ago. She has recently earned her Bachelor’s degree in early childhood studies, and has Level 2 qualifications in both speech & language and understanding autism. In her spare time she enjoys baking and using her arty skills to create personalised gifts for loved ones.
Karen
Front of House Manager
With 30 years of admin experience and nearly four in early years, Karen is a versatile professional. Her background in recruitment and a decade as a business owner built her resilience and relationship skills. Outside work, Karen balances family life with her love for reading, experimenting in the kitchen, and hosting gatherings for loved ones.
Monthly fees
Minimum 3 full days, including a Monday or Friday. Fees last updated 13/01/2026
3 days | £1402.50 |
4 days | £1776.50 |
Full time (5 days) | £2162.19 |
3 days | £1402.50 |
4 days | £1776.50 |
Full time (5 days) | £2162.19 |
3 days | £1275.00 |
4 days | £1615.00 |
Full time (5 days) | £1965.63 |
3 days | £357.64 |
4 days | £783.87 |
Full time (5 days) | £1195.65 |
Food All meals, snacks and drinks consumed at nursery, including formula milk. | £0.00 |
Non-food consumables All nappies, wipes, nappy cream, sun cream and emergency medication. | £0.00 |
Activities All extra-curricular activities taking place at nursery, including our N Extras, Atelier time, safety squad, and so much more! | £0.00 |
3 days | £642.64 |
4 days | £1054.60 |
Full time (5 days) | £1459.28 |
Food All meals, snacks and drinks consumed at nursery, including formula milk. | £7.00 |
Non-food consumables All nappies, wipes, nappy cream, sun cream and emergency medication. | £3.00 |
Activities All extra-curricular activities taking place at nursery, including our N Extras, Atelier time, safety squad, and so much more! | £20.00 |
3 days | £1012.22 |
4 days | £1365.36 |
Full time (5 days) | £1722.53 |
3 days | £749.74 |
4 days | £1115.97 |
Full time (5 days) | £1479.72 |
Food All meals, snacks and drinks consumed at nursery, including formula milk. | £11.70 |
Non-food consumables All nappies, wipes, nappy cream, sun cream and emergency medication. | £3.00 |
Activities All extra-curricular activities taking place at nursery, including our N Extras, Atelier time, safety squad, and so much more! | £30.00 |
Whilst the Government funding is structured for 38 weeks of the year (term time), our places are for 51 weeks of the year and so the funding is 'stretched'. When stretched, 15 funded hours become 11.18 hours per week, and 30 funded hours become 22.35 hours per week.
Additional charges apply only to the portion of your place covered by funded hours, and are reflected in the monthly breakdown above. Any additional private days will be charged at our standard all-inclusive daily rate. Families receiving funding may choose to opt out of additional charges – please speak with your Nursery Manager or our Admissions team for more information.
Families can assess their eligibility for funding and the application process by visiting the Better Start in Life website.
For more information about available funding, please go to our Funding and bursaries page.
Please note: A multi-day discount has been applied to all 4 and 5 day places. For funded places, a discount has been applied to the additional charges. Fees are calculated based on the 51 weeks of the year that N is open, averaged into 12 monthly payments. Monthly payments will include bank and public holidays as well as inset days, which are payable in full in spite of closure, as our monthly staffing costs remain the same.
Processing Information
Day Rates
Under 3 years: £110.00 per standard day
3 years +: £100.00 per standard day
Fees include all food, drink, consumables and activities.
Making payments
Fees are due in advance, and we issue invoices mid-month for the following month with Direct Debits taken on the 27th of each month. For Payments via Tax-Free Childcare or Childcare Vouchers, fees are due by the last day of the month. Unfortunately there can be no refunds for sickness or holidays. Any fee increases will be communicated 2 months before affecting your invoice and are based on the nursery’s running costs.
Flexibility
You can extend the standard day (8-6pm) by up to an hour each way at the same hourly rate on a pay as you go basis - i.e. £11.00/hr for under 3s or £10.00/hr for 3 years+; equivalent to £5.50/30mins or £5.00/30mins.
Joining fees
To join the waiting list at N, families are required to pay a waiting list registration fee of £250.
On accepting a place, this fee will become a non-refundable joining fee, and you’ll be asked to pay a £400 place acceptance fee, which will be deducted from your final invoice.
Funding eligibility deadlines
Families who are eligible for the 30 hours of funding are responsible for applying for a positive determination of eligibility from HMRC - e.g. a valid eligibility code. You must apply for the code before the 30th of the term before in order for the code to be eligible. The term start dates are 1st January, 1st April, and 1st September. The eligibility code must be provided to us before your child's early years funding can be claimed.
Frequently asked questions at N Upminster
What are the nursery fees at N Upminster?
Our standard day rate is £110.00 for children under three years old, and £100.00 for children aged three and over. Our fees are all-inclusive, covering your child's progressive education programme, all freshly prepared meals and snacks from our on-site kitchen, formula for infants, nappies, wipes, and sun cream. Your fees also include any local trips or excursions the children take part in.
If you ever need a little extra flexibility, you can extend our standard 8am to 6pm day by an hour either side on a pay-as-you-go basis (subject to availability).
Does N Upminster offer funded childcare places?
Yes. We support government-funded childcare entitlements for eligible families, including the 15 and 30 hours schemes. Because our nursery operates throughout the whole year rather than just during term time, we stretch these funded hours across our full 51-week calendar to offer consistent, year-round fee reductions. For full details on eligibility deadlines, how codes are applied, or to discuss a funded-hours-only pattern, please speak directly with our team.
How many weeks of the year is N Upminster nursery open?
Our nursery is open 51 weeks of the year, closing only for bank holidays, select team training days, and the period between Christmas and New Year. This structured calendar allows us to provide reliable continuity for the children while establishing a stable routine that supports our families' busy schedules.
What is the minimum number of days required at N Upminster?
To ensure the children settle happily into nursery life and can fully benefit from our progressive N Curriculum, we have a minimum attendance requirement of three full days per week. Every booking pattern must also include either a Monday or a Friday. This consistency helps children form strong relationships with their key person and peer groups, enabling them to grow and explore at their own pace.
