Open 7.30am - 6.00pm
Open 51 weeks
Outdoor learning
Early start
Through role modelling and teaching independence at a young age, children at Apricot Pre-school St Neots become confident and can achieve their own goals, exceeding in many areas before they seamlessly progress to their next stage of early years education at school.
Our pre-school rooms benefit from large, enclosed outdoor play areas equipped with age-appropriate resources. Free-flow access to the outdoors allows children to enjoy the fresh air, explore independently and in groups, and develop physical skills such as running, climbing, and balancing. Whatever the weather, we enjoy stimulating chatter about the changes in seasons and the effects on the environment and wildlife around us.
The team at our St Neots pre-school is proud of its Ofsted ‘Good’ rating, where engaging learning opportunities enable children to gain knowledge and prepare for school life through routine, and child-led, and adult-led activities.
Well-being and individuality are important to our experienced practitioners, and activities are thoughtfully prepared to entice curiosity. We take special educational needs and disabilities seriously and actively form partnerships with parents, professionals and local schools to personalise and support children through their learning journey.
We would love to show you around our pre-school and introduce you to the team so that you can see our early years education provision and ask any questions you may have.
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View Ofsted report
The Brighter Learning Approach (BLA) is unique to The Old Station Nursery group and is our advanced approach to the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and core pedagogy. It differs from traditional nursery teaching methods by providing real-life opportunities to enhance children’s natural curiosity, with emphasis on hands-on experiences, child-led learning, and whole development.
The six core areas promote active engagement and critical thinking whilst encouraging exploration, creativity, and collaboration. Each child learns at their own pace and is challenged and extended at appropriate times.
The best place to see the BLA in action is via our local nursery Facebook page, where each post explains which part of the curriculum the children are working on. Our parents also receive updates on the Parent App too.
Championing children's holistic health and laying the foundations for a happy, healthy and successful life.
Helping the future generation of global citizens to understand the world they live in and to believe they can make a difference.
Enabling early experiences in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM). Nurturing our next generation of investigators, inventors and innovators.
Enticing children to develop a life-long love of books and reading through engaging and interactive storytelling experiences. Building strong literacy skills while sparking imagination and creativity.
Engaging children in meaningful mathematical learning. Developing knowledge, building skills and exploring concepts, through purposeful play and plenty of practice.
Developing confident communicators by engaging in quality conversations with children every day, in a language rich and communication friendly environment.
With such an expansive outdoor space at Apricot Pre-school, our children delight in sporting activities that take place out in the fresh air. Clubs throughout the week enhance our Brighter Learning Approach, our bespoke version of the Early Years Statutory Framework and instil curiosity, creativity, and well-being to support readiness for school.
Age-appropriate French lessons are a frequent feature in our timetable to learn basic vocabulary, phrases and cultural insights through songs, stories and books, which can also be shared with parents to continue learning at home. Children leave for their next learning stage at primary school feeling confident about exploring languages and participating in class.
Children at our St Neots pre-school thoroughly enjoy their time with external professionals from Superstar Sports. They focus on developing children’s agility, balance and co-ordination while following EYFS goals.
Our pre-schoolers develop an activity and healthy lifestyle that will last a lifetime, with sessions that help children develop problem-solving, self-evaluation, and decision-making skills.
Zumbini classes connect children with their peers through song, dance and instrument playing. Using a variety of rhythms, children’s moods can shift, boost energy and help them to relax whilst improving cognitive development through language, memory and literacy.
Children at our pre-school love to explore daily arts and crafts to help them understand the world around them. The messier the art project, the better, and we take the opportunity to discuss different types of materials, textures and colour mixing, creating fantastic projects to take home to parents .
Come rain or shine, we tend our vegetable plots, teaching the children about the different stages of growth cycles and exploring the different tastes and textures of the produce.
As Budding Gardeners, children learn about the environment and gain lifelong sustainable growing skills and enjoyment, which they will carry with them throughout their lives.
Children learn so much during their early years and take great joy in exploring the world around them. At our nursery they’re immersed into the world of Science through age appropriate hands-on experiments and activities designed to spark their curiosity.
Our nursery group is passionate about the link between home and nursery; the nursery experience is as much about the parent as it is for the child.
Apricot Pre-school commits to verbally updating you about your child’s day at pick-up time and via digital updates on the parent App.
We are here at any time should you wish to call us or want to discuss any area of your child’s care. We aim to look after our parents as well as our children so you can carry on with your day, work and career with a sense of peace.
First and foremost, you and we need to know that your child is safe. Before we can deliver the excellent curriculum that makes our nurseries so special, robust policies and procedures are followed to meet the exacting standards of Ofsted, building and fire regulations, food safety standards and staff DBS background checks and references.
Our staff are trained in numerous areas and we offer further training opportunities for staff who have an interest in a particular area.
For example, some of our nurseries have attained Millie’s Mark, an accreditation gained by having 100% of staff on site trained in paediatric first aid.
Meals at our St Neots pre-school are freshly prepared on-site by our cook. We use fresh, seasonal ingredients to create nutritious menus that are rotated regularly for variety. All dietary preferences, including intolerances and allergens, are catered for.
Every child has a nursery key person who knows them best and who will be the child and parent’s main contact. Your key person at our nursery will update you about your child’s day and is there to answer your questions.
When your child moves to the next age group room, we hold several settling sessions with a new nursery key person.
We encourage our parents to view the new room too, and we will work with you to discuss the new routines, just like we did when you first started nursery.
It is wonderful to nurture and see our children graduate to primary school. Part of the unique offering of Apricot Pre-school is our focus on the next stage of your child’s learning journey.
We prepare the children through school activities, teacher meet and greets and graduation ceremonies. Our commitment is to support our parents too by providing child learning journey updates, parents evenings or one-to-ones and home link learning kits to enhance the link between nursery and home.
All our nurseries follow the Brighter Learning Approach to the Early Years Statutory Framework, our bespoke curriculum. Within this, each nursery chooses extra clubs, activities, and enhancements suitable for their space.
A wide range of child-centred activities builds confidence and self-esteem. They also encourage children to learn how to assess and take appropriate risks depending on their environment. We hold open days, where parents and carers are encouraged to come along and meet other parents to build their own personal friendships and networks ahead of primary school.
Apricot Pre-school commits to providing a simple fee structure so you can manage your nursery costs.
To support our community, we do not charge for additions such as food, enhancements or consumables and some fully funded and part-funded sessions are also available for eligible families.
Please contact us for the nursery fee that is correct for your individual circumstances.
Our spacious rooms at Apricot Pre-school are equipped with natural resources for children to discover freely throughout the day. Independence is encouraged with children choosing activities of interest and self-serving meals and drinks to foster healthy decision-making and portion control skills, with supportive guidance as needed.
Children enjoy seamless indoor and outdoor play with free-flow access to the garden. This setup encourages free-flowing exploration and physical activity in a natural environment, enriching their learning experiences.
In this room, we emphasise school readiness using the skills children have learned in previous rooms so that they leave for school feeling confident in managing their emotions and eager to listen and learn continually.
Through independent activities, children feel a sense of accomplishment, including getting dressed and going to the toilet. Structured activities encourage listening and following instructions, and children recognise their names and enjoy learning to write them out.
We have a dedicated area for creative and messy play, encouraging children to express themselves and use their imagination. Equally, a quiet area allows children to enjoy some downtime and for circle time activities to listen to and participate in storytelling.
Join us for our upcoming open day, where you can tour our vibrant classrooms, meet our caring staff, and discover how we nurture your child’s growth and development.
Taking place on 16th November, 10am-2pm, it’s the perfect opportunity for families to explore our facilities and learn about our engaging early learning programs!
The new funding term is starting again in January and it’s important to understand the different kinds of funded childcare available to you and when you need to apply before the deadline closes on 30th November.
We have online experts who are on hand to answer any questions you may have via a web chat service, whether you’re a new or existing nursery parent.
Find out how you can save money on nursery fees through funding.
“My passion is creating the best outcomes for the children in my care. Every child is an individual, and supporting and nurturing the foundations of who they are gives them the very best start in life. Childcare and children’s mental health are my passions, and making a difference to a child and their families' lives is the best job.”
Louise Wright, Pre-school Manager, Apricot Pre-school
Working parents of children from nine months old can now access 15 hours a week of free childcare...
Please note that this is not a confirmation of your tour. One of our nursery team will endeavour to get back to you ASAP to confirm your date and time. Thank you.
If you are looking to arrange a tour within the next 48 hours, we recommend calling the nursery directly.
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