Head Start Day Nursery

The Old School House, Willen Road, Milton Keynes Village, Milton Keynes MK10 9AF
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9.9 45 Reviews
  • Head Start Day Nursery, Milton Keynes
Part of Grandir UK, Head Start Day Nursery and Preschool offers flexible childcare for families in the Milton Keynes area. Located in the Milton Keynes Village Hall, children from 18 months to five years are provided with a safe and secure environment where they can enjoy playing and learning.

The nurturing and friendly staff go above and beyond to ensure children feel confident and respected and to enable them to grow and develop in all areas.

The nursery provides childcare for 42 weeks a year with breaks over the summer, Easter and Christmas.

Care Provided by Head Start Day Nursery

  • Type of Service
  • Nursery School – Privately Owned
  • Open term time
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Carol Thorniley (Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 9
  • Total Places for Children
  • 39
  • Age Range
    • from 1 years 6 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 08:30-14:45
    Tuesday 08:30-14:45
    Wednesday 08:30-14:45
    Thursday 08:30-14:45
    Friday 08:30-14:45
  • When Closed
  • 2 weeks Easter, 2 weeks Christmas & Summer Holidays only
Total of 45, showing 1-20
9.9

Head Start Day Nursery has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.921) out of 10, based on 18 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Head Start Day Nursery has 45 reviews.

Overall Experience

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I highly recommend Head Start Day Nursery Milton Keynes. We absolutely love the personal attention and exceptional care our child has received from every staff member. The staff take the time to get to know each child individually, understanding their unique personalities, interest and development needs.
They fill days with fun, creative learning activities that our daughter absolutely loves. Communication from the nursery is very good and we always feel informed and involved. We couldn't ask for a better nursery experience and wholeheartedly recommend HeadStart Nursery Milton Keynes to any family seeking high-quality early years care and education.

Reply from Robyn Hattingh, Marketing Team Lead at Head Start Day Nursery

Thank you for your review of Head Start Day Nursery. We are so pleased to hear that you and your child are having such a wonderful experience with our nursery! Our team is dedicated to our mission of providing a healthy, safe, fun and high-quality educational environment to each child. Our team truly does care about each child!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Headstart have created such a happy nurturing environment for the children. I have full confidence that when I leave my child with them he will be safe, happy, cared for and given a wide variety of activities to do and spark his interests. The building is an idyllic village hall and the children absolutely
love running about under the protection of the trees outside. The staff are all extremely approachable and friendly and very supportive. I honestly feel they have given my boy an excellent start and he leaves there happy and confident to start school.

Reply from Charlotte Whyatt, Marketing and Communications Executive at Head Start Day Nursery

Hi, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. Our dedicated team work hard to create a warm, welcoming and inclusive environment where children can thrive. They provide a great variety of stimulating activities, which are informed by our bespoke education programmes, and offer plenty of engaging opportunities for learning. Ensuring children have the opportunity to enjoy playing and learning outside in the fresh air is so important for their wellbeing.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been going to Headstart Day Nursery for a year and today 24/07/24 is her last day.
The staff in the nursery are amazing in what they do and they are all positive in their outlook. They value the children and their families and take time to know them. My daughter has enjoyed every day
of going to nursery and she has learnt so much and especially given space to express herself.
We recommend this nursery more than 100%. The location is brilliant with a play park in the compound which brings parents and children together and in the end, you become all friends.
I will miss you guys. Keep up the good work.

Reply from Charlotte Whyatt, Marketing and Communications Executive at Head Start Day Nursery

Hi, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. Our kind, passionate team strive to build strong relationships with both children and their families. They provide great support to each individual child and devise fun, stimulating activities based on our bespoke education programmes. If any concerns or issues may arise, our team work in close partnership with our families to share their expert knowledge and form age-appropriate solutions which help with development.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I can not recommend highly enough! This school has been amazing. My son has attended for the last 2 years and is now off to start school. The staff have been so supportive and caring throughout. They have helped me with potty training, food, even helped with bedtime and many more things! Communication
is fantastic and never had a problem with speaking with anyone, either by phone or messaging system. They keep me posted with pictures of his activities and week.
They have given him the skills he needs to start school. My son didn't speak to anyone outside the house and the school helped build his confidence, it took a while but he now can speak to his teacher and friends with confidence. My son is excited to go to school every day and he absolutely adores his main teacher, to the point he tells me how much he loves her and she is his best friend! I can not thank the staff enough for their support and love. Thank you!

Reply from Charlotte Whyatt, Marketing and Communications Executive at Head Start Day Nursery

Hi, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. It's fantastic to read that our team have been so brilliant in helping your little one develop his confidence! They take the time to support each child's individual needs and encourage them to go at their own pace helping them to feel valued. Our team strive to work in close partnership with our families, helping to support them through all stages of development with expert advice and solutions tailored to the child.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

After a difficult time settling into a previous nursery, my little boy absolutely loves Head Start. We could not be happier. The staff are absolutely fantastic and you can tell that they really care about the children, their happiness and their development. My son is thriving and we have already signed
up our daughter to start at Head Start as soon as she is old enough - we would not consider any other nursery after our fantastic experience with Head Start!

Reply from Charlotte Whyatt, Marketing and Communications Executive at Head Start Day Nursery

Hi, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. It's great to hear that your little one thriving with us! Our warm, nurturing team are so passionate about helping children learn and grow.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We love all the staff! Both children were very happy here! The nursery has such a family feel and is so warm and welcoming. Headstart is absolutely brilliant.
I fully recommend it with no reservations!

Reply from Charlotte Whyatt, Marketing and Communications Executive at Head Start Day Nursery

Hi, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. Children thrive in our warm and welcoming nursery environment where their individual needs are nurtured and supported by our dedicated team.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Couldn’t be happier that my child attends such an excellent nursery. We fell in love with Head Start Nursery from our first visit and haven’t been disappointed. All staff are very friendly and extremely caring. They are incredibly attentive to every child’s needs and the communication between the nursery
and parents is brilliant. We regularly receive personal updates regarding our child's progression, learning, new skills and next steps. The day is child-led and the benefits of this approach are evident. The rooms are set up with different activities, focusing on the children’s interests. The garden is always made good use of daily. My child has enjoyed multiple experiences of trying new things and new foods, including joining in on a healthy breakfast provided by the nursery. As a first-time parent, I have been made to feel welcome and confident that my child is well looked after and we have both benefitted from the good advice, wealth of knowledge and experience of the staff.

Reply from Charlotte Whyatt, Marketing and Communications Executive at Head Start Day Nursery

Hi, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. Our warm, nurturing team really take the time to get to know each child and their individual needs so they can provide the support they need to thrive. Maintaining reliable and informative communication with our families is so important in building a strong partnership between nursery and home. Throughout the nursery day, children enjoy fresh, nutritious meals and a variety of stimulating activities packed with engaging opportunities for learning.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Sending our fourth child here was the easiest decision to make as our others have all absolutely loved their time here over the years. The nursery has such a family feel and is so warm and welcoming. You know your child is valued and well looked after whilst they are there. The staff are incredible
and go above and beyond. I couldn’t wish for a better, loving, safer environment for my little one to learn and thrive in.

Reply from Charlotte Whyatt, Marketing and Communications Executive at Head Start Day Nursery

Hi, thank you for taking the time the time to leave a review. It’s fantastic to hear that you and your family have had such a lovely experience with us! We take great pride in our friendly, hardworking team who work so hard to provide a supportive and nurturing environment to help children to learn, grow and thrive.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Headstart is absolutely brilliant.
I fully recommend it with no reservations!
My son went from just after his 3rd birthday, and is now ready for school!
The staff are wonderful, caring, professional and utterly invested in every child.
They always take time at pick up and drop off to answer questions,
and make sure they communicated any ways our son was struggling or succeeding, and what we could all do to support him.
My son thrived here. He went from having very few social skills with other kids to someone with his own group of friends! They supported his interests and helped him develop passions in things like maths and reading.
Our favourite things about Headstart:
- they follow the child's lead
- it has a great setting, with a lovely garden and outside area
- they spend as much time outside as they can
- the staff care genuinely about each child
- the staff are patient and work brilliantly as a team.
He's ready for school and we're so grateful for the role Headstart played.

Reply from Charlotte Whyatt, Marketing and Communications Executive at Head Start Day Nursery

Hi, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. It’s so lovely to hear that your little one thrived with us! Our hardworking team is passionate about supporting and nurturing children to develop their interests and important skills for the future. We take great pride in our facilities and the fantastic experiences they provide for children.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Head Start Day Nursery is such a wonderful nursery. Finding somewhere to send your child isn't easy as you have all the worries about whether they are going to be ok but Head Start made the starting transition so easy with such supporting staff alongside the allocation of our child's key person. If
I was ever worried or wanted to ask something, they were always very prompt to answer the phone/email and reassure me of anything I may have been concerned about. Knowing our child's journey has come to an end ready for big school, we can do nothing less than say a massive thank you for the love and learning you have gave for her starting journey in education.

Reply from Charlotte Whyatt, Marketing and Communications Executive at Head Start Day Nursery

Hi, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. Our kind, caring team strive to ensure that each child’s transition to nursery is a smooth and seamless experience. That partnership between nursery and home is so important in helping to ensure children continue to learn and grow.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I could not recommend Head Start Day Nursery enough! My son started here last year and from the first visit, I instantly loved how welcoming they make you/your child feel. My son absolutely loves all the staff and his time there. His development has come on so much in such a short space of time and
we all couldn’t be happier with the care. This is the best nursery I have come across! They are professional, caring and always there to help. It feels like I am dropping my son with family, They don’t make you feel like your child is just a number. We are so grateful for all the staff here and couldn’t thank them enough!

Reply from Charlotte Whyatt, Marketing and Communications Executive at Head Start Day Nursery

Hi, we are delighted to hear that you and your family have had such a lovely experience with us! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, it is very much appreciated.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My granddaughter has been coming to this nursery since September 2021 and all the staff have been very supportive of our circumstances. My granddaughter looks forward to coming every day and nothing is too much trouble. She loves playing outside, the forest school and all the activities they plan each
day. She loves the snack provided every day and recently breakfast has been included which is a great success. They have recently replaced all the plastic toys to wooden and she loves the eco-warrior work they do with her. She loves story time and singing.

Reply from Charlotte Whyatt, Marketing and Communications Executive at Head Start Day Nursery

Hi, it's lovely to hear that your granddaughter enjoys all of the fun and engaging activities our team provides! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, it is very much appreciated.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Thanks to all the kind hearted staff at Head Start Day Nursery. Our daughter absolutely loves going to preschool and really enjoys the activities and playing out in the garden. She’s always really happy (and tired!) when we pick her up. The observation feedback we get is very detailed and shows a lot
of care. Would highly recommend.

Reply from Jessica Lawrence, Marketing Executive at Head Start Day Nursery

Hello, we are so pleased to hear that your daughter loves attending preschool and benefits from our activities. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, it is truly appreciated and we will pass this on to the nursery team.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We moved to Head Start Day Nursery after our son previously attended another nursery. We are so glad we moved him! Our son gets to take part in Forest School sessions, bake, enjoy the local outdoors and be cared for by lovely teachers. The teachers go above and beyond to ensure our son is well looked
after and we are kept informed as parents. They seem to genuinely care about the children. We can’t wait to send our daughter there!

Reply from Jessica Lawrence, Marketing Executive at Head Start Day Nursery

Hello, we are so delighted to hear that your son is thriving and enjoying his time at nursery and that you can't wait for your daughter to join. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, it is truly appreciated and we will pass this on to the nursery team.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Thanks a lot to the Head Start Day Nursery team for looking after my little girl so well with love, care, support, a fun environment, excellent child development, very professional, genuinely passionate and most importantly like mother care. My little girl enjoyed every day with them and wants to stay
longer as they always engage her in many activities. When she has any problems, they solve them immediately. My little girl joined this nursery in September 2021. She is improving communication, is confident, learned her English with complete sentences and is an independent girl. The location of this nursery is fantastic as they have a public play area with a calm place and no traffic roads. These keep my mind peaceful after dropping her nursery in the morning and returning to my regular work. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a nursery in Milton Keynes, and I feel very lucky to have been part of something so special.

Reply from Jessica Lawrence, Marketing Executive at Head Start Day Nursery

Hello, thank you for leaving such a wonderful review. We are absolutely thrilled to hear that your daughter has had a great time at our nursery and that you have enjoyed your experience. We will pass your comments on to the nursery team.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Head Start Day Nursery Milton Keynes Village is exceptional. As soon as we approach the front door, the staff couldn't be happier to see us or more welcoming. They make every child feel special. My son always wants to go in and see his teachers and loves telling us about the fun things he has been learning
or taking part in throughout the day. I couldn't be happier with his development or his general behaviour, he adores Head Start, and his happiness is apparent from the start of the day until the end. Thank you to the amazing staff; we are lucky to have you all.

Reply from Charlotte Whyatt, Marketing and Communications Executive at Head Start Day Nursery

Hi, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. Our enthusiastic team really takes the time to get to know each individual child and build kind, caring relationships. They provide a great variety of fun, engaging activities alongside our specially designed education programmes.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We have no complaints about the nursery. My son loves going to nursery. We receive his regular updates and pictures from the nursery, which helps us to understand what my son is doing in school. The staff are very good.

Reply from Charlotte Whyatt, Marketing and Communications Executive at Head Start Day Nursery

Hi, we are so glad to read that your little one loves attending our nursery! Our team strives to maintain strong parent partnerships, and sharing regular updates and photos of your little one is an important part of that. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, it is very much appreciated.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter absolutely loves being at nursery and has developed immeasurably since she started in Sept 2022.
The staff are professional and diligent but above all they really care about the little ones in their charge.
I’d definitely recommend Head Start Day Nursery and will be signing our new born
son up as soon as he is able.

Reply from Charlotte Whyatt, Marketing and Communications Executive at Head Start Day Nursery

Hi, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are delighted to hear that your little one loves attending nursery! Our team are so passionate about helping children to learn and grow. They provide a great range of stimulating activities alongside our fantastic education programmes, both of which help children to develop a variety of important life skills.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This is a truly excellent nursery. My daughter attended from September 2020 to July 2022 and she absolutely loved her time at Head Start Day Nursery. The staff care so much about the children's development and well-being and they care for the kids like family. The leadership team are absolutely outstanding,
professional and truly passionate about early years learning. This is a very caring, nurturing and fun environment and I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Reply from Charlotte Whyatt, Marketing and Communications Executive at Head Start Day Nursery

Hi, thank you for taking the time to leave a review and for the lovely words about our team. They are all truly passionate about providing exceptional childcare and education to all our families. Early years learning is an incredibly important part of our enviroment with our specially designed education programmes helping to prepare children for school and the future.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

A very recommended nursery all the staff are lovely, kind and helpful, my daughter was so happy with them she developed a lot with them, I would like to thank everyone working in Head Start Day Nursery and my little girl will miss all of you.

Reply from Charlotte Whyatt, Marketing and Communications Executive at Head Start Day Nursery

Hi, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. It's great to read such lovely words about our team! They work incredibly hard to ensure each child is happy, engaged and supported within the nursery setting. Ensuring our children are equipped with the confidence and social skills needed to succeed in the next chapter of their lives is incredibly important to us. We wish your daughter all the best for the future!


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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.921)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.921) out of 10 for Head Start Day Nursery is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 18 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 18 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 4.921 for Head Start Day Nursery is calculated as follows: ( (201 Excellents x 5) + (13 Goods x 4) + (2 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 216 Ratings = 4.921

  • 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 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Head Start Day Nursery is based on 18 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 + 0.1 = 4

    • 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 39 number of registered child places is 7.8, which has been reached with 18 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • 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 (8)

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Meet the Team (1)

Carol

Carol Thorniley

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Carol has spent her entire career in childcare and still loves the experiences, challenges and rewards it brings each day.


Frequently Asked Questions about Head Start Day Nursery

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

Head Start Day Nursery accepts Children aged from 1 year 6 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Head Start Day Nursery Open?

Head Start Day Nursery is open: Monday 08:30-14:45, Tuesday 08:30-14:45, Wednesday 08:30-14:45, Thursday 08:30-14:45, Friday 08:30-14:45.

How many Children does Head Start Day Nursery have capacity for?

Head Start Day Nursery has capacity for a total of 39 Children.

How far is Head Start Day Nursery to the centre of Milton Keynes?

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