ACE Nursery School

A parent co-operative overlooking Parker's Piece gives ACE Nursery School a clear character: family participation is part of the arrangement, and children use a house with learning spaces spread over three floors. The garden adds a mud kitchen, sound wall and tyre swing. This is a setting where the building, outdoor play and parents' practical involvement all shape the experience.

At its March 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated ACE Outstanding and found that skilful teaching supported children's progress, with conversation used effectively to develop their language. That is a dated judgement, but a substantial one: the findings addressed what practitioners did with children, rather than simply the resources around them.

At 37 Parkside in Cambridge, ACE has capacity for 40 children and accepts children from 2.5 years of age. Term-time attendance centres on standard days, with early morning care and two after-school options extending the day.

Rooms and Ages

Puffins and Penguins are mixed-age groups, rather than separate age-banded rooms. Both move between four classrooms during each session, so children encounter different activities instead of spending the day in one room. That distinction matters for parents comparing ACE with nurseries organised around a fixed toddler or preschool base.

The art room combines craft resources with water and sand, while the puzzle room provides games and activities that exercise small hand movements. A separate space serves imaginative play; the large playroom adds another setting for activities. Eating takes place in a basement area. The arrangement gives different parts of the day their own spaces, with movement between levels an integral part of using the building.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for children's learning and care: play and activities develop communication, physical skills and understanding of the world. At ACE, themes such as transportation or China sit alongside projects prompted by children's interests. Families can contribute objects for sharing and discussion, bringing home experiences into the group.

The timetable can change for outings to a museum, library, local gym or market stall. Buying ingredients at the market connects an outing with later snack preparation or cooking. These are additional experiences rather than a promise of a fixed weekly excursion programme.

In March 2022, children followed the life cycle of pumpkins through growing, collecting seeds and planting again. They also used collected water for seedlings and took part in composting and washing dishes. These examples made responsibility tangible: children could see the consequences of caring for plants and managing the materials they used.

Outdoor and Community Life

The garden supports several kinds of play. Climbing equipment and swings provide movement, play-houses invite imaginative activity, and the mud kitchen offers another place to experiment. The sound wall adds a different sensory element. Together, these give children more to do outside than simply run around.

In March 2022, outdoor activity included planting and digging in the allotment, using the green space opposite ACE and visiting a local gym. Practitioners also helped children manage their own outdoor clothing. Physical activity and everyday independence were closely connected in that account of the day.

Family events extend the co-operative beyond practical jobs. The annual pattern normally includes a Pumpkin Party and an International Breakfast, alongside seasonal fundraising gatherings. These occasions give parents and children opportunities to meet beyond their usual attendance days.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a designated key person with responsibility for their development and welfare. Meetings during the year provide opportunities to exchange information about progress. This gives families a named role to work with, rather than leaving communication entirely to whichever practitioner happens to be present.

A new parents' evening takes place in the summer term before children join. Families meet their child's key person and receive a welcome pack. It introduces the people and arrangements around the child before attendance begins, as well as giving parents an early opportunity to meet one another.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the March 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and described successful work with other professionals to provide tailored support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Both findings belong to that inspection date; the support finding concerned individual help and children's progress, rather than a general statement of welcome.

In March 2022, kindness was made visible through displays recognising children's helpful actions. Children assisted one another with gardening gloves and clothing fastenings, and practitioners reinforced considerate behaviour. That gives a concrete picture of how everyday care and social learning worked together.

Sessions and Attendance

The Standard day runs from 8.45am to 4pm, with a minimum commitment of two standard days each week. Families can combine days, including full-time attendance. Early morning session care runs from 8.30am to 8.45am; Short after school club runs from 4pm to 4.30pm, while Long after school club continues from 4pm to 5.30pm.

The after-school period is designed as a quieter end to the day rather than more of the daytime learning programme. This makes the distinction between the standard day and its extensions useful when considering a child's stamina as well as a parent's working hours.

ACE operates during term time. Its holidays broadly track local state schools, with slightly shorter terms; a holiday playscheme covers half-term breaks, approximately one week at Easter and four weeks during summer. Families should distinguish the regular term-time arrangement from this separate holiday provision.

Getting There

The address is 37 Parkside, Cambridge, CB1 1JE, in a house facing Parker's Piece. Enquiries can be made through the contact form or by telephone, and there is a Nursery School application form.

Funding and Paid Extras

Children bring their own packed lunch for the standard day. This makes lunch preparation part of the family's daily routine.

In March 2022, ACE provided funded early education for three- and four-year-olds. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation, with the Nursery School fees page providing access to its fee policy.

The co-operative asks Nursery School parents for five hours of practical work each term. Tasks can include equipment repairs, shopping or fundraising; parents unable to give the time can pay a co-operative contribution instead. This is a real family commitment and deserves consideration alongside childcare hours.

• Participation is part of the arrangement. Five hours of parental work each term, or the alternative co-operative payment, makes ACE a choice for families comfortable with contributing beyond ordinary parent meetings.
• The building has several levels. Children move between spaces across three floors. During a visit, discuss how that movement would work for your child's mobility and confidence.
• Standard days require a regular commitment. The minimum is two standard days per week, and holiday provision follows a separate playscheme pattern. Compare both arrangements with your working calendar.
• Funding and everyday supplies. Alongside the packed lunch you provide, what would your proposed funded attendance cover, and which consumables would you need to supply or pay for?

ACE suits families seeking standard-day attendance or days extended by early morning and after-school care, with a willingness to participate in a parent co-operative. Its mixed-age groups, varied spaces and family events give the choice substance. The March 2022 Outstanding judgement adds weight, while the term-time calendar, multi-level building and parental contribution are the practical considerations that should decide the fit.