Run by Bright Horizons Family Solutions, the nursery saw its first families arrive in Autumn 2018 and celebrated its first year of operation with a reception.
The event saw the nursery opened by Professor Graham Virgo, University of Cambridge Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education, and James Tugendhat, the European Managing Director of Bright Horizons (pictured).
About 40 guests enjoyed a tour of the nursery, followed by singing from the children to mark the official opening of Eddington Nursery.
There are already over 100 children attending the nursery, which has more than 30 dedicated staff. The nursery building, designed by MUMA, has won architectural awards from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and was shortlisted for the Stirling Prize in 2018.
Sue Davis, Manager of Childcare Services at the University of Cambridge, said: “The Eddington Nursery gives children the best possible learning environment from their earliest days in education. It is fantastic to be able to provide this facility not just for University members, but also for the wider community.”
Professor Virgo said: “We are so delighted to have this nursery on this site. Eddington is really important for the University and for our staff and I am delighted that we have a nursery here that will really benefit our staff and others in the community. This is an exciting place to live and for children to get the benefit of education.”
Mr Tugendhat added: “One of the great privileges of working with the University of Cambridge is to have a partner that is so willing to recognise the importance of early years education, to make this extraordinary investment in the environment that we have, and to keep demanding the very best.”
As a purpose-built facility for babies and toddlers, the Eddington Nursery combines colour, shapes and natural light from the architecture and the surrounding play spaces to create the perfect place to learn and play.
The brand new nursery offers a range of activities to support children’s development in a home-from-home environment. Nutritionally balanced meals are prepared fresh each day by the onsite chef.
The Eddington Nursery is open to children aged from three months to five years of University staff and students as well as the wider community. For application information please refer to the following:
- Staff and students of the University of Cambridge visit: https://www.childcare.admin.cam.ac.uk/nurseries
- Community members: call Bright Horizons on 03702 185 167