Northumberland Day Nursery

14 Northumberland Avenue, Reading RG2 7PW
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9.3 43 Reviews
  • Northumberland Day Nursery, Reading
Home from home childcare set in a large Victorian townhouse with secluded but spacious gardens.

Full-time and sessional care.

There is a bright and open feel to this well-equipped children’s day nursery, with experienced and friendly staff.

Complete Childcare offers a complete learning experience covering science, Boogie Mites, cooking, gardening and much more.

The all-inclusive package includes meals, nappies, wipes and formula milk to help working families have a smooth drop off and pick up each day.

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Care Provided by Northumberland Day Nursery

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Erin Harris (Nursery Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 15
  • Total Places for Children
  • 60
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 3 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:30-18:00
    Tuesday 07:30-18:00
    Wednesday 07:30-18:00
    Thursday 07:30-18:00
    Friday 07:30-18:00
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays & Christmas

Funding & Fees Guide for Northumberland Day Nursery

  • Please contact setting for information on Fees

  • We offer the following sessions
    Day time 8:00am till 16:00pm
    Full Day 8:00am till 17:30pm
    Extended Day 07:30am till 18:00pm
    Funded only spaces are limited
    Please contact the nursery direct for a copy of our fees sheet

Northumberland Day Nursery Reviews (43)

Total of 43, showing 1-20
9.3

Northumberland Day Nursery has a Review Score of 9.3 (9.295) out of 10, based on 9 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Northumberland Day Nursery has 43 reviews.

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Review from K R (Mother of Child) published on 24 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

2024 was a tricky year for Northumberland Day Nursery, with a lot of staff turnover and instability. However, our son absolutely loves going there, and we can see how much the staff adore our son so decided to stick it out. We're so glad we did, there is a new manager in place who has brought warmth
and calm back to the setting, the staff are noticeably happier and more at ease and all around it was a great ending to the year. I cannot compliment the staff enough, there is not a single member who I can pick out above the others, they're really all as fantastic as each other. The most important thing for us is that our child is cared for genuinely and these girls really go above and beyond.
Cost wise, unfortunately, it is at the higher end of the scale for the area. There are newer/similar nurseries within walking distance/short drive that are significantly cheaper which raises some questions that only the nursery group could answer.

Reply from Erin Harris, Nursery Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Thank you so much for taking time to review our nursery. It's really nice to read your kind words! The team are so hard working and do so much for all the children here at Northumberland. We will continue to bring the warm energy and enthusiasm to every day.


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Review from Chelsie S (Mother of Child) published on 5 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son started nursery here in January 2025. We are very happy with the level of care and professionalism we have experienced so far. All the staff are friendly and keep us well informed at all times. Very pleased we chose this nursery.

Reply from Erin Harris, Nursery Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Thank you so much for taking the time to review our nursery, We are pleased your little one has settled in so well. Its so lovely seeing his little smile each morning, excited to come in!


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Review from K H (Mother of Child) published on 3 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Northumberland Day Nursery is truly one of the best in town and I wholeheartedly recommend it. The staff offers exceptional support, always greeting us with genuine warmth and a friendly smile. The settling-in process for my 2.5-year-old was seamless, thanks to the attentive and caring team. There's
nothing more reassuring than seeing my child leave the nursery each day with a bright, happy face.

Reply from Erin Harris, Nursery Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Thank you so much for your amazing review! We are so happy you and your family have had such a wonderful experience with us so far. Seeing the progress your little one has made in such a short time is wonderful.


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Review from Gareth H (Father of Child) published on 15 January 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Had my twins in this nursery since they were 1 year old, the staff are caring and attentive always. The nursery has also provided 1-1 staff for my child that has CP. Can not recommend this nursery enough, the staff really do care and aim to give you the best possible experience and learning for your
children.

Reply from Erin Harris, Nursery Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Thank you so much for taking the time to review our nursery. We are so glad you've had such a wonderful experience with us over the years.


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Review from Emma B (Mother of Child) published on 14 January 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Northumberland Day Nursery have been nothing short of incredible with my child. From the moment he began around 2 years ago, he's grown from strength to strength with the support and education from the staff. They're always looking at ways to best support the children and in constant communication of
the child's development. I am a very anxious person but I wholeheartedly trust them with my child, they are like a second family and my son has the best relationship with everyone there! He's always so excited to go and has grown in confidence. The food provided is always healthy, filling meals and the children are always well fed even if they aren't sure on something. This is our last year and I'm heartbroken we will miss them so much! I can't thank them enough for everything they've done.

Reply from Erin Harris, Nursery Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Thank you so much for taking time to review our nursery. We are so pleased you and your son have had such a great experience with us here and it's lovely to hear how excited he is to come in everyday! We will continue to make sure your little one has the best time with us before taking that leap into big school.


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Review from Tania P (Mother of Child) published on 2 October 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My daughter joined the nursery when she was 1 year and a half. She has always had a great time and despite being quite shy at the beginning, she has never had problems settling in this new environment. Baby room up to 2 years I think is great. Now that she is in the toddler room, she also has a good
experience apart few incidents. The food is good, my daughter learnt to eat everything, even food that at home she wouldn't eat. Her language is also progressing and I can notice the work that the nursery is doing to improve her development. It's the most expensive nursery in the area, but when a kid is happy, you don't wish anything better. Most of the staff is great, friendly and sweet. My daughter loves them.

Reply from Erin Harris, Nursery Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Thank you for your review. We are pleased to see your daughter has grown so much in confidence since starting with us and her language is progressing.


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Review from D P (Father of Child) published on 23 January 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My child enjoys nursery and has a lot of fun. Always fed well with nice meals and eats a good variety of food. Staff are friendly and supportive and we have a great key worker.

Reply from Lauren Heward, Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Thank you very much for your kind words, we are very glad that you are happy with the care you receive. Kind regards.


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Review from M P (Mother of Child) published on 26 April 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Overall good.

Reply from Lauren Heward, Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Thank you for your review on Northumberland Day Nursery.


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Review from S B (Father of Child) published on 19 April 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My second child has not been sick a lot in this nursery like my first one used to be at the previous nursery. Minimal nappy rashes and is happy with the team in the nursery. The only thing is the nursery is very expensive but with the care that has been provided, I am happy to pay as long as I can.
The service is fantastic.

Reply from Lauren Heward, Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Thank you for your lovely review about Northumberland Day Nursery.


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Review from C C (Mother of Child) published on 9 January 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our little boy started at Northumberland in the Spring of 2022 when he turned one and I was returning to work. It was really reassuring to have several settling-in sessions, he soon settled in and now loves the nursery. I'm always delighted to see notifications via the app of what he's been up to, eating
at mealtimes and when he's napped. Northumberland offers such a fantastic range of activities including French, singing, movement, messy play, and art, which are all perfect for our active little boy. I feel confident the staff know our little boy well and take excellent care of him. Communication is always really good when needed. Our little boy is more confident and we've seen a huge development in his verbal, physical and communication skills since starting nursery. It's nice they have an outdoor play area too. I would highly recommend this nursery.

Reply from Lauren Heward, Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Thank you so much for your lovely review on Northumberland Day Nursery.


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Review from P T (Mother of Child) published on 6 September 2022
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been attending this nursery for six months now and it is an amazing place! A clean, safe and fun environment for children to attend. Amazing stuff they do lots of fun activities with him. I will recommend the nursery to anyone who is looking for one for their children

Reply from Lauren Heward, Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Thank you so much for your lovely words I will pass all feedback on to the staff.


Kind Regards
Lauren Heward
Nursery Manager


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Review from Sharday S (Mother of Child) published on 17 November 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little boy started at Northumberland in September 2021, I was nervous to leave him in the care of other people but the girls in the baby room have been amazing keeping daily updates and even being there to call through the day to ensure he is okay and settled. They always have such a wide range of
activities for the children to do such as French, painting and great little movers. I’ve noticed such a big and positive change in his development since starting at the nursery and how much of a strong bond he has built with the girls in the baby room makes me incredibly happy, you can tell he genuinely loves to be at nursery.

Reply from Lauren Heward, Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Thank you so much for a lovely review on the nursery, I will pass your feedback on to the girls in the rooms.


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Review from Manahil A (Mother of Child) published on 17 November 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

It is a home environment. I like the atmosphere of the nursery, my kid really likes it and has been in the nursery since he was 2 months old and now he is a big boy. Also, I liked the idea of having many adults in the room to ensure the kids are safe and never left alone even with a single adult. Always
with a group of girls and what I really like before COVID-19 we can get in the room any time and watch our kids and after the COVID-19 the windows are always clear. I feel happy when I see how much the nursery is open and the children are safe.

Reply from Lauren Heward, Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Thank you so much for the lovely review for Northumberland.


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Review from Erin T (Mother of Child) published on 2 December 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I had a good feeling about the nursery during our initial tour, when a couple of of the children ran over to cuddle the assistant manager as she showed us around one of the older rooms! My daughter joined 'The Nest' in February 2020 - she was 14 months at the time and settled and formed good relationships
with staff even more quickly than I'd hoped. She seems to really enjoy all the activities on offer (creative, dancing, singing, French, physical activities etc) and her speech and development have come along well. My husband and I enjoy seeing the photos and updates on the portal each day. Each member of staff we've got to know has been caring and professional - we feel relaxed that she is in a caring, safe and enjoyable environment while we work. Communications from the nursery during the initial summer covid lockdown were also regular and thorough which we really appreciated during that stressful period. I would certainly recommend this nursery.

Reply from Lauren Heward, Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Many thanks for your lovely comments. Your daughter certainly brings a ray of sunshine in with her. She is a joy.


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Review from Sarah S (Mother of Child) published on 18 November 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter has been at Northumberland Day Nursery for the past month and absolutely loves it. She's settled in so quickly and we couldn't be happier with the level of care that she's receiving from the staff. The range of activities which is offered in The Nest is fantastic and we love seeing the
daily updates on the Portal every day which keeps us in touch with how she's doing. We can see that she's thriving with the learning opportunities given and her confidence has grown even within the last month. We would definitely recommend the nursery to other families as they are providing a superb level of care and some kind of normality for all of us during such difficult times.

Reply from Lauren Heward, Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Thank you very much for your lovely review. Your daughter is such a smiley happy girl. She sprinkles joy every session she is in.


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Review from Melissa E (Mother of Child) published on 17 November 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

A lovely warm nursery that makes my child feel at home. Lots of great various activities done daily with lots of learning outcomes. The staff are happy and friendly and make drops offs so easily. It is great that I get daily feedback from the app.

Reply from Lauren Heward, Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Thank you very much for your review. Your child really enjoys all messy and physical activities within the nursery.


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Review from Gilles E (Father of Child) published on 17 November 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5

Our kid looks happy to be at the nursery. We have found the staff to be very warm and taking good care of our child, managing to create strong ties with her. In terms of development, we do not believe this establishment is the absolute best around (the exceptional situation might also have something
to do with that), but, we feel satisfied with having a safe place with professionals we can confidently trust our kid to.

Reply from Jane Ives, Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Thank you for this review; we discussed the differences between French and English nurseries. The impact of COVID-19 and how feedback was much more reliant on using the parent portal and learning and development was uploaded daily on the child's individual account.


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Review from Claire R (Mother of Child) published on 17 November 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My baby has been at the nursery since 9-months. August 2020 was just after lockdown 1.0, and the staff were very kind to allow us what access they could to support settling in. We met the key person in the garden and spent a little time with them before starting settling in sessions. The baby took a
week to be 100% comfortable but has been very happy to go ever since. The activities are wide and varied. The staff are lovely and great at letting us know what is enjoyed the most... and we enjoy the reports of how things are going during the day.

Reply from Jane Ives, Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Thank you very much for your lovely review. Your son is so very interested in all aspects of the nursery and the activities.


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Review from Philippa O (Mother of Child) published on 17 November 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son started at nursery a few months ago, and I have been very pleased that the nursery has really focused their energies on ensuring he is settling and happy. He joined after lockdown which was a strange time for everyone but for my one-year-old, it was a time where he was with me 24/7 so to then
be taken away from me for a day a week must have seemed a little traumatic for him, especially with social bubbles, masks etc. Now he is very happy, walking in by himself, playing well by himself and with others, and giggling lots. The nursery also does lots of other activities such as French, Talking Toddlers, complete artists etc. The best thing you can ask for is that your child is happy at nursery, involved in lots of different activities and not crying on drop off and pick up and that's where we are, thanks to the nursery and its great staff.

Reply from Jane Ives, Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Thank you for your lovely review. I have passed your comments onto the rest of the team.
Your son has a great personality often giving us one of his famous looks.


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Review from Vickyanne A (Mother of Child) published on 17 November 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little boy has been coming to the nursery for just over a year now, he does 3-full days a week, and at first, he cried, but now he runs in and loves going, and that is made better by the amazing staff at the nursery.

Reply from Jane Ives, Manager at Northumberland Day Nursery

Thank you, Vickyanne, for your lovely review. Your son brightens up our day with his cheeky smiles and his love of dinosaurs and the sounds they make.


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Current Review Score: 9.3 (9.295)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.3 (9.295) out of 10 for Northumberland Day Nursery is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.6 out of 5 from 9 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.7 out of 5 from 9 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.645 for Northumberland Day Nursery is calculated as follows: ( (74 Excellents x 5) + (29 Goods x 4) + (3 Satisfactorys x 3) + (1 Poors x 2) ) ÷ 107 Ratings = 4.645

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 4.65 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Northumberland Day Nursery is based on 9 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 3.9

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 60 number of registered child places is 12. 9 Positive Reviews ÷ 12 = 0.75

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please Contact Us for Latest Vacancies

Awards / Recognitions (3)

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Meet the Team (2)

Erin

Erin Harris

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 2016

Erin has worked for the Complete Childcare group since 2016, starting as a nursery assistant, gaining her qualifications and working her way up to a management position. She joined Northumberland Day Nursery as manager in 2024, not long after winning the World's Strongest Adaptive Woman award! You can read more about Erin, her journey into childcare, and her recent achievement in this link: https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/24724538.northumberland-day-nursery-taken-disabled-athlete/


Melissa

Melissa Edwards

Job Title: Deputy Manager

Joined: 1998

Melissa has been part of the Northumberland family for more than 22 years; she was previously room leader for the Nest (under 2s) and currently works in the preschool room. She loves getting the children ready to join school and helping them grow their confidence. Melissa is key to supporting the unqualified staff with their training and enjoys helping them progress within the nursery.


Frequently Asked Questions about Northumberland Day Nursery

What is the Age Range of Children that Northumberland Day Nursery accepts?

Northumberland Day Nursery accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Northumberland Day Nursery Open?

Northumberland Day Nursery is open: Monday 07:30-18:00, Tuesday 07:30-18:00, Wednesday 07:30-18:00, Thursday 07:30-18:00, Friday 07:30-18:00.

How many Children does Northumberland Day Nursery have capacity for?

Northumberland Day Nursery has capacity for a total of 60 Children.

How far is Northumberland Day Nursery to the centre of Reading?

1.0 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Northumberland Day Nursery to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Northumberland Day Nursery has an Enhanced Service – more info.