Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Lady Wolverton Pavillion, Adastral Close, Newmarket CB8 0PX
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9.7 73 Reviews
  • Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket, Newmarket
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9.9
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Care Provided by Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

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

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Simone Nel (Operations Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 30
  • Total Places for Children
  • 96
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 6 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
  • Parking

  • Parking at Newmarket Leisure Centre and Adastral Close car park.


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Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket Reviews (73)

Total of 73, showing 1-20
9.7

Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.677) out of 10, based on 38 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket has 73 reviews.

Overall Experience

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Review from B Z (Father of Child) published on 4 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 2.0 out of 5

Our first child went to Colourbox in 2018 and had a great experience. Unfortunately, a number of changes since then ultimately meant we had to move our second child elsewhere. (1) Staff at handovers often knew no details of her day, and new staff members seemed uninformed on her needs. (2) The app used
by the nursery for update was inconsistently updated, and often lacked details and/or was days late. (3) Items of clothing got lost (virtually every week). (4) The intercom for drop-off/pick-up was broken a lot of the time (great fun in the rain). (5) When our child was injured, staff rang an old number we'd asked to have removed 5 years prior, instead of us. The fight we went through to get any kind of explanation or apology after the last issue led us to move to another nursery. To give credit where it's due, the room leaders are excellent and tried to find workarounds for problems. However, overall I would not recommend Colourbox under its current management structure.

Reply from Susie Norman, Owner at Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear that your experience didn't meet your expectations. However, we want to clarify that the concerns mentioned do not reflect our standards or current practices. We take communication, child care, and safety very seriously, and our team is committed to providing the best possible experience for families. We also want to emphasise that while we have always welcomed constructive discussions, we still do not tolerate verbal abuse towards our staff. We appreciate your kind words about our room leaders and wish you and your family all the best in your new setting.


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Review from A G (Mother of Child) published on 21 August 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My child has enjoyed their journey at Colourbox, starting in the nest and going all the way through. Overall I think it is a fantastic nursery and I would recommend, although sometimes it's a struggle with finances with the invoices.

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Review from S M (Mother of Child) published on 18 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter gladly walks into nursery each session which is always a positive and lets us know that we have made the right choice with our nursery. She loves the business of being around other children and is thriving. She loves each member of staff and will happily give them a hug at drop-off.

Reply from Simone Nel, Operations Manager at Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Thank you for your kind review, I will be sure to share this with staff who will feel valued and appreciated by your feedback.


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Review from T B (Mother of Child) published on 16 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Colourbox Nursery is a wonderful place for young children, there is intentional learning opportunities and experiences with so much thought and care. The staff care for the children with much compassion and love, I feel very reassured and confident in their abilities. They go above and beyond to support
the children and the parents. I would highly recommend this nursery to anyone.

Reply from Simone Nel, Operations Manager at Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Thank you for your lovely review and recommendation to other families. We are so pleased to read about your positive reflections and reassurance in us as a nursery provider for your child's learning and care journey.


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Review from T E (Father of Child) published on 27 March 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very happy with Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School Newmarket. Our eldest, in world room, loves country club and loves telling us all about his days there. He also loved the open evening last year where he could show us around country club and show us all the things and activities he does. Really
helped make sense of it all. Our youngest is in the nest and appears to be loving it.

Reply from Simone Nel, Operations Manager at Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Thank you for you lovely, thoughtful response. We appreciate it greatly.


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Review from A W (Mother of Child) published on 25 March 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son loves going to Colourbox, he learns so much which shows at home. The staff are great and really take time to get to know the child and are very attentive. There are a variety of activities for the children and they have a refreshing level of independence.

Reply from Simone Nel, Operations Manager at Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Thank you for taking the time to leave a thoughtful review.


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Review from A D (Mother of Child) published on 25 March 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My daughter has been going to Colourbox since she was 8 months old, and I am so thankful for everything they are doing there for the kids. She is a super confident and very clever girl, and I am sure this is due to their amazing staff and their knowledge. She loves the Country club very much, but it
is a shame they don't spend much time there and not just one day a week. There have been a few good occasions when they had to cancel the class due to short staff, and they haven't offered us another day to compensate with the one she missed.
The communication and updates on the app sometimes are not great. It would be nice to have a more personalised update at the end of each day rather than a general description of how the day has been for everyone. Another remark: There were times when I couldn't find a parking space in the car park at the bottom of the site, and the Academy gate was closed due to school holidays, so I had to park on a curb causing a massive argument with the residents.

Reply from Simone Nel, Operations Manager at Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Thank you for your positive review. We know how much parents and children love our Country Club forest school, so over the spring and summer months, we make sure the children get more Country Club days, and we invite parents to come along and get involved too. The children also have free-flow gardens/outdoor learning areas outside their classrooms, so when they're not at Country Club they have access to learning outside the classroom always. With regards to the app we use, this is an addition to the communications that occur during a child's day with us, and we train our staff to give thorough handovers rather than relying on the app to speak for them. The diaries are also a 'snapshot story' of the children's day at nursery and all the lovely things they've learned, as we expect our staff to spend time with the children teaching and learning rather than constantly uploading information onto an iPad. We thank you for your feedback and promise to reflect on your points made.


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Review from Leanne R (Mother of Child) published on 29 February 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The Ocean Room at Colourbox, Newmarket, has been a wonderful setting for my daughter to attend. The staff are caring and committed. They make me feel as though my daughter is safe and nurtured and always show the utmost respect for parents' questions or concerns. They are providing her with a comprehensive
start to her education as well as helping her to hone her developing practical skills. Most importantly, my daughter truly enjoys attending, she comes home happy and fulfilled.
I am grateful to the Ocean Room staff for helping us to give our daughter the very best start in life.

Reply from Simone Nel, Operations Manager at Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Thank you for your review. It is lovely to hear how valued staff are in your child's journey with us and that she is so happy and fulfilled. Please kindly let us know how you feel we can improve our practice in areas of management, activities, and value for money, so we can reflect and continuously strive for high-quality experiences and feedback.


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Review from Maria D (Mother of Child) published on 21 February 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff are absolutely fantastic and highly-trained. My child is thriving there every day, getting the support needed, no matter what he struggles with at the moment. In summer 2023 I expressed my concerns regarding rushed-in change of groups, or communication with parents. Very quickly I received
a reply from the management, my concerns were addressed and solutions found. Since then I have seen a huge improvement in the communication and I appreciate I could openly discuss what was bothering me, and then seeing the real change straight away! Lunches are amazing and you can see they really put their heart into preparing this and ensuring a balanced diet. Yet there is always a simpler option for a fussy eater. They support bilingual children, teaching about different cultures, languages, or ways of living. They don't just look after kids when parents are at work. They ensure kids are growing into very independent, smart, curious personalities, with open hearts and minds!

Reply from Simone Nel, Operations Manager at Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Thank you for taking the time to leave this fantastic review. We love that you've felt aligned with our vision that encourages mutually inclusive environments, and for children to be excited about learning and excited about life! I will be sure to share this with the team.


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Review from L D (Grandmother of Child) published on 13 February 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My granddaughter goes to the nursery and absolutely loves going. There are always varied activities, and the teachers are always thinking of new things to do.
When a child is happy somewhere, it shows. She cannot wait to tell us what she has done after nursery.

Reply from Simone Nel, Operations Manager at Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, and you're absolutely right. It always shows when a child is 'excited about learning, excited about life.'


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Review from N D (Uncle of Child) published on 13 February 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

An amazing nursery where my niece always has a story to tell, from the friends she makes to the amazing teachers whom she loves! I feel proud to say my niece attends the nursery, which is well-organised and has an amazing environment.

Reply from Simone Nel, Operations Manager at Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Thank you for your lovely review. We are so pleased to hear about your niece's positive experience with us.


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Review from L M (Mother of Child) published on 12 February 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am extremely happy with the care and learning and overall development of both my children attending the nursery- they currently attend the Nest room and Ocean room.
All the staff are amazing at their job and I cannot thank them enough. My children love going to nursery and I always feel at ease leaving
them as I know they are safe and well cared for.

Reply from Simone Nel, Operations Manager at Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Thank you for taking the time to leave a thoughtful review. We are so delighted to hear that you have chosen Colourbox for both of your children and have had such a positive experience in your journey from the baby room upward.


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Review from Asma S (Mother of Child) published on 12 February 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The Colourbox nursery is a wonderful place for my little one. He has been thriving since he started there. The staff are lovely and knowledgeable. Communication with the nursery is easy and they reply promptly to queries. Warmly recommend it!

Reply from Simone Nel, Operations Manager at Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Thank you for taking the time to leave a thoughtful review. We are so delighted to hear that you warmly recommend us, and will continue to strive to provide this level of care that you have become accustomed to.


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Review from Z S (Mother of Child) published on 12 February 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both my children have had the pleasure of attending Colourbox Newmarket and are excelling in confidence and independence completely encouraged and guided by the wonderful staff.
I definitely believe that the staff are what makes this setting. The resources available are great for both general play
but also very educational and the forest school is something both my children loved.
I find the staff to be very personable but also professional and always do their utmost to help with any concerns/queries. My family for one have had a great experience attending this nursery.

Reply from Simone Nel, Operations Manager at Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Thank you for taking the time to leave a thoughtful review. We are so delighted to hear that you chose Colourbox for both of your children, and we agree that staff are our greatest resource.


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Review from Roberta L (Mother of Child) published on 12 February 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

An amazing nursery! If your child loves being outdoors then Colourbox Newmarket is perfect. Our little boy loves country club and is always a happy little boy on drop off and pick up. We've noticed an incredible change in him since starting at Colourbox. Everyone is so kind and friendly. He is a very
happy and confident little boy and we couldn't be happier. Thank you! We really appreciate you all.

Reply from Simone Nel, Operations Manager at Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Thank you for taking the time to leave a thoughtful review. We are so delighted to hear that your experience is so positive, and feel very appreciated by your kind words and sentiment.


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Review from Lisa H (Mother of Child) published on 12 February 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter has been at Newmarket Colourbox for two and a half years - she has been through all the rooms and is now in World Room. We are extremely happy with how she has progressed and the care she receives. She comes home happy after each day and speaks very fondly of all the staff. We have noticed
her confidence has grown massively since starting in World Room and she loves her nursery days; we are very glad we chose Colourbox.

Reply from Simone Nel, Operations Manager at Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Thank you for taking the time to leave a thoughtful review. We are so delighted to hear that you are happy for choosing Colourbox as your nursery, and even more so that your child has enjoyed a journey through the setting with many happy and fond memories made along the way.


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Review from Jonathan D (Grandfather of Child) published on 9 February 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My granddaughter is really happy. Staff are superb. She cannot wait for the next school day. Very approachable staff, can't do enough. They go above and beyond. Also, staff seem to be happy and enjoying their job, which is good to see. The whole place is a credit, and the owners should be very proud.
I cannot praise you enough.

Reply from Simone Nel, Operations Manager at Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Thank you for taking the time to leave a thoughtful review. We are so delighted to hear your praise. We will be sure to share this with staff, who no doubt, will feel very appreciated by your words.


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Review from Ryan D (Uncle of Child) published on 9 February 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Every time I visit my niece, all she talks about are her wonderful days at nursery. Shows me all the pictures she draws and tells me all these incredible stories of what she gets up to. I wish when I was at school it was as fun-packed as she tells me.

Reply from Simone Nel, Operations Manager at Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Thank you for taking the time to leave a thoughtful review. We are so delighted to hear how much your niece loves her nursery.


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Review from Rudy D (Mother of Child) published on 1 February 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

How can I thank this place enough!
They took my 4-year-old in when no other nursery would take the time to unpick and understand his needs. One lady got my boy ready for school.
She gave him a safe space. She spent so much time trying to understand his needs so we could take the information we had
to his school. She gave him the most perfect foundation for him to succeed.
And let me tell you, he’s doing so well at school (now year 1), and I honestly put that down to this lady. They have such an amazing bond. We still check in with her to let her know how he is doing.
Forever grateful!

Reply from Simone Nel, Operations Manager at Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Thank you for taking the time to leave this heartfelt response. A true testament to the endearing and dedicated nature of our staff and the successful and bright futures Colourbox children go into school with - 'excited about learning, excited about life.'


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Review from Tara P (Mother of Child) published on 26 January 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

An amazing nursery! For us, as nervous parents to a child with SEN we were immediately relaxed after meeting the staff members, in particular their SEN teacher. Our little boy was very fond of all of the staff members. I truly believe that the SEN support he received whilst at nursery had a huge impact
on his development. From speaking very few words to full sentences in the 1.5yrs he was there says it all. I would highly recommend this nursery, especially for those with SEN. Our son was able to learn at his own pace comfortably, whilst also building confidence and independence. Forever grateful.

Reply from Simone Nel, Operations Manager at Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

Thank you for your wonderful review. We will be sure to share this with our SEN leads who work passionately and proactively within our inclusive environments to ensure that each child is 'excited about learning; excited about life.' Thank you for your recommendation and kind words.


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Current Review Score: 9.7 (9.677)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.7 (9.677) out of 10 for Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.7 out of 5 from 38 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 34 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 4.677 for Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket is calculated as follows: ( (367 Excellents x 5) + (50 Goods x 4) + (16 Satisfactorys x 3) + (12 Poors x 2) + (7 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 452 Ratings = 4.677

  • 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 Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket is based on 34 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 96 number of registered child places is 19.2, which has been reached with 34 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket

What is the Age Range of Children that Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket accepts?

Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket accepts Children aged from 0 years 6 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket Open?

Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket 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 Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket have capacity for?

Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket has capacity for a total of 96 Children.

How far is Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket to the centre of Newmarket?

0.4 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 Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Colourbox Montessori School & Forest School - Newmarket has a Basic Service – more info.