Yes, we offer a 10% sibling discount for one child. This discount applies throughout the time that you have two children attending MEplace settings, and is applied monthly to your invoice for the child with a lower fee rate.

We understand that family circumstances can change fast. Although we are happy to accommodate any changes, these will be subject to availability and usually require a two-month notice period.

At MEplace we offer full-time or part-time attendance. For our nurseries, we offer a range of attendance patterns, each with a different monthly rate. We want every child to benefit fully from our programme, and so we have a minimum attendance requirement of 3 days per week. For more information, please visit the site pages by clicking on 'Nurseries' above.

A deposit is required to secure your child’s place at MEplace. It is fully refundable. We kindly ask that parents give us two months' notice if they wish to cancel their membership; the deposit will be returned in full within 14 days of cancellation. Otherwise, your deposit will be returned within 14 days after your child’s last day at MEplace.

MEplace nurseries have 3 classes, with smaller groups in each class formed according to the children's age. Our classes are the Caterpillars, our under 2s; the Dinosaurs, our 2-3 year olds; and the Butterflies, our preschool group (for 3-5s). For each group, we adhere strictly to the staff-to-child ratios mandated by Ofsted – 1:3 for under 2s, 1:5 for 2-3s, and 1:8 for over 3s.

At MEplace, we recognise that starting nursery is a big step for our families, and we follow a gradual settling in process (over several weeks) to ensure that you and your little one are supported every step of the way! The main purpose of the settling in period is for the child to get to know the setting, teachers, and other children without becoming overwhelmed, helping them to feel secure in their new environment. Week 1 is our 'Settling In Week', with phased starts, where your child will attend for longer periods each day. We encourage you to attend every day in this first week, at no additional cost to your usual membership fee. Parents are also invited to spend a session in the nursery with their child as part of the first day.

A month before your child is due to start at MEplace, we will begin your onboarding. During this time, we want to learn more about your child's routines and interests, as well as their health and medical history; we ask our families to fill out our Starter Form. We will also invite you to meet with the Nursery Manager, either via phone call or in person at the nursery, giving you the opportunity to get acquainted with our friendly team and ask any questions you may have. Please note, if you have applied for 15/30 hours of free childcare using the government's childcare portal, we will ask you to provide us with your eligibility code during the onboarding process.

Absolutely – we do not expect younger children to be potty trained by the time they get to MEplace. We simply ask that you provide plenty of extra changes of clothes, just in case! We maintain regular communication with parents and support them through the potty training process. We know that every child is different, and some will take longer than others to move on from nappies.

We do our best to accommodate for siblings, and will give them priority on the waiting list. However, we are unable to guarantee them a space. We advise that you let us know as early as possible if you would like another of your little ones to attend MEplace.

At MEplace, we understand the importance of giving children the opportunity to connect with nature. That's why we ensure that every group spends at least 60 minutes a day outdoors. Access to outdoor space at the setting depends on location – please check your site page for further details. Every one of our nurseries prioritises daily outings to local parks and places of interest, with safety as our top priority; we conduct thorough risk assessments for every route and location.

During daily nap times, children usually sleep in their classrooms. We ensure that the space is comfortable, dark and quiet, allowing for a restful nap. Each child has their own sleeping mat and blanket, washed weekly at a laundry facility.

Yes! Please fill out our form (which you can find on each nursery page) to arrange a tour and choose a slot. If you can’t find a slot that works for you, please get in touch at enrolment@meplace.co, and we’ll be happy to help.

In the month before your little one starts at MEplace, we'll have a conversation with you about any allergies or intolerances they have, and we'll ask you for their dietary requirements as part of our Starter Form. This information will then be passed on to our Head Chef and their team, who make every effort to accommodate dietary needs. Please be aware that, while we take careful measures to avoid cross-contamination, we are unable to eliminate the risk entirely. For example, we will be able to provide nut-free food, but it will have been made in a kitchen that uses nuts.

All of our meals and snacks are crafted from scratch each day in our central kitchen, and delivered fresh to each of our sites. We are proud to work with our in-house certified nutritionist, who also serves as one of our talented plant-based chefs.

Unfortunately, this is not possible. We can only vouch for the health and safety of all the children under our care if we are fully in control of the food provided at MEplace. We take note of every child’s dietary requirements and ensure they are provided with food which meets their needs.

We will be happy to adjust our meals and meal times to your child while the little one transitions from formula to solid food.

Meals will be provided in each child's designated room, thoughtfully arranged to ensure they have a spacious and clean area where they can enjoy their food comfortably.

At MEplace, we provide breakfast, lunch, an afternoon snack and a light dinner. There is a 3-3.5 hour break in between meals. Additionally, children will be given filtered water throughout the day.

We recognise that food is more than just fuel: nutrition plays a vital role in our physical and mental health. We provide our children with healthy, nutritious, and delicious fully plant-based food. Our menu is designed by a nutritionist and produced in our certified central kitchen, using the highest quality ingredients which are locally sourced, peak-season and mostly organic. Please consult our Nutrition Guide for further information.

Young children experience a wide range of emotions, and are still learning to regulate them; our teachers are prepared to respond effectively to a range of common childhood behaviours. In cases of biting or hitting, we follow our specific policies to ensure that the children's safety is prioritised. We talk to the children calmy and firmly, consistently reinforcing boundaries such as "gentle hands". Each child's wellbeing is paramount. We also use preventative measures, such as promoting children's self-regulation, and providing alternative outlets for sensory-seeking behaviours.

One of our core values is the promotion and celebration of representation and inclusion. We are so lucky to be located in London, a city rich in diversity and populated with people from different backgrounds and cultures. Our thriving nurseries reflect and celebrate our vibrant communities, from our toddlers to our teachers! It's important to us that we understand each family's cultural background, and we work with our parent community to ensure that all cultural traditions are respected. Our plant-based menu easily fits with all cultural dietary requirements. Appreciation of diversity is embedded in our resources and toys, and woven throughout our curriculum, so that it's reflected in everything we do.

Towards the end of our children's time at MEplace, we turn our attention to the next stage of their educational journey, with a special project focused on school readiness. We support our preschoolers with their independence and social skills, while giving them the opportunity to express their emotions and explore their feelings about starting school. We plan a range of activities which develop their number sense and literacy skills. We visit a local school, encourage the children to try on their new uniforms, and provide school-inspired role-play resources – gradually introducing them to the exciting times ahead!

Our settings are language-rich environments, carefully designed to promote a love of reading! Each room has a dedicated literacy area, and we provide plenty of thoughtfully-selected books and high-quality texts throughout the 'Golden Space' classroom zones. Children are encouraged to spend time exploring the books. Additionally, our teachers plan book-based focused learning activities or play experiences, and the children enjoy a daily story time with interactive elements.

Each of our settings uses our MEplace 'special rules', which are introduced and reinforced consistently, using child-friendly language and positive reinforcement. Examples include "kind sharing" and "gentle hands". We explain that these expectations are important to keep everyone safe and happy. We treat all children as individuals and respect their needs and feelings at all times, helping them to recognise their internal cues and emotions.

At MEplace, we understand the importance of physical health, and its connection to mental wellbeing. We focus on physical activity as an impact topic in the 'Body pillar' of our curriculum; joyful movement is also encouraged by our enriching environments, and embedded throughout our approach. For instance, we offer extracurricular sessions throughout the week, including sports, creative dance, Forest School and yoga. And, all of our children spend time outdoors each day, including on their daily outings to local green spaces.

We plan regular educational visits to enhance the children's learning experiences. These trips are linked to the topic of the month and thoroughly risk-assessed, ensuring that they are safe, meaningful and fun. We always ask for parents' permission in advance, and often invite parent volunteers to join us too! Past trips have included museums (such as the Tate Modern and the Young V&A); the 'dinosaur trail' around King's Cross; and Hackney City Farm.

Yes: all of our over 2s enjoy weekly Spanish sessions!

We understand that each child is unique, and we provide tailored support. Some children just need someone next to them; others require a soothing back rub or special toy. Our teachers work with parents to understand each child's habits anhd needs. The children are constantly supervised throughout nap times in a quiet, dark, comfortable space, with teachers performing regular head counts and sleep checks. Any children who are not napping go to play in a separate, supervised space.

We understand that every child is unique. We always tailor our approach to children's individual needs and interests, with learning activities scaffolded to ensure appropriate levels of support and challenge. Our talented teaching team ensures that there is plenty of flexibility in our educational opportunities. They get to know every child, and adjust their teaching accordingly.

Our scaffolded 'Golden Thread' curriculum is designed to instil core values throughout the children's time with us. We hope that by the time children leave us they will have learnt to love their 'ME'! Value statements for our oldest children include "I can talk about my feelings and others’, and begin to self-regulate my emotions"; "I listen to the parts of my body and respond to what it needs"; and "I begin to respond with kindness towards others". The Golden Thread was created to equip children with the values, skills and knowledge they need as they take the next step in their educational journey; we want to prepare our little ones for life in the modern world.

Our parents are at the heart of MEplace, and we work in partnership with them, prioritising collaboration and communication. We do this through a range of channels, including the Famly app, where parents can access ongoing status updates, daily posts and weekly reports outlining their child's experience and progress. Each day, teachers share brief face-to-face feedback when parents come to collect their child. Once a term, teachers prepare a detailed Learning Journey Report, and attend progress meetings with parents. And, parents are always welcome to arrange a call or meeting with our team to discuss specific questions or topics.

Are talented team are not only highly qualified and experienced in caring for children, but also fit with our ethos and values. We provide thorough in-house training for a consistent approach; all team members must also complete a range of compulsory training certificates from the National College to ensure that they are confident and fully equipped to provide the highest quality of education and care. The team holds a range of Ofsted-recognised teaching qualifications, including Level 3, Level 6, Level 7 and QTS (Qualified Teacher Status). We adhere to Ofsted requirements for the number of qualified teachers in our staffing ratios. Many of our teachers also have pursued studies in Education, Psychology or the Early Years. We carry out rigorous pre-employment checks to ensure our team's suitability to work with children. They must take part in certified paediatric first aid, safeguarding and food safety training.