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.

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.

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.

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.

Yes, we accept all children on 30 free hours. Parents are kindly asked to provide their eligibility code during the onboarding process.

Yes! MEplace memberships are all-inclusive, covering food, outings and trips, extracurricular activities, and care supplies.

Our opening hours vary between the different settings, but we are generally open for drop-off between 8:00-10:00am, and we close at 6:00pm. If parents wish to drop off or collect their child at a different time within these hours, we kindly ask that they let the team know with a Famly message.

We have six annual inset days to maintain and refurbish our sites, including in August and between Christmas and New Year. These dates are accounted for in fee calculations. The dates for our inset days are communicated to parents well in advance.

Yes, you can end your contract at any time, by providing at least two months' notice via email. Your deposit will be refunded within 14 working days after your child’s last day at MEplace, minus any fees or costs you may owe us. We’re sorry to see you go!

Most children who join our nursery start at one year old. Every child is different, and some children may be ready to join our Caterpillars (under 2s) group from 9 months; we do not cater for children younger than this.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

The wellbeing and safety of the children under our care is our utmost priority. Before each child joins, we kindly ask that parents inform us of any health conditions, medications, allergies, or additional access needs that we need to be aware of for their child. We work together with parents to create an Individual Health Care Plan (IHCP) will be created for children with medical conditions and shared with the team to ensure the child’s needs are accommodated.

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.

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.

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.

Each nursery site has a full time cleaner, who works with the team to maintain the highest standards of hygiene and cleanliness. We also have overnight cleaning teams who clean the premises each evening, and we ensure that resources are cleaned weekly.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

We will do our best to accommodate all families’ dietary requirements. However, please be advised that we may not be able to cater for dietary preferences without medical confirmation (i.e. non-medical requirements).

We’ve embraced a fully plant-based approach at MEplace for several reasons. Our choice is rooted in nutritional science, along with our commitment to children's health, safety and wellbeing. First and foremost, we acknowledge the increasing difficulty of sourcing safe, high-quality animal products at the scale needed for our nursery. It is a growing challenge to ensure that such products have not been exposed to things such as medications or hormones. Alongside this uncertainty regarding the safety and quality of animal-derived products, there is also extensive scientific research to support plant-based nutrition as a healthy and sustainable alternative which meets a wide range of dietary needs and requirements. What's more, our approach significantly reduces our impact on the planet. By focusing on plant-based options, we ensure a consistent supply of nutritious and healthy ingredients while reducing our reliance on resource-intensive animal-based agriculture. With a fully plant-based approach, we can meet every requirement, balancing macro- and micro-nutrients in a sustainable manner which is easier on the digestive system!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

One of our core values is the promotion and celebration of diversity 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.

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.

At MEplace, we’ve designed a holistic curriculum – which means we don’t purely focus on academic goals, but rather a wide range of skills and values which prepare our children for life in the modern world. As part of this ‘Golden Thread’ curriculum, we cover early literacy and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) under our Life pillar. The Early Years Foundation Stage learning and development requirements are embedded throughout our curriculum.

Our talented team are not only highly qualified and experienced in caring for children, but also align 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.

Our team turnover is well below the industry average of 28% – ours varies between 15-19% throughout the year. We offer a comprehensive team wellbeing package and recognise the importance of a consistent, highly-trained teaching team for children’s learning and care.

Yes, all of our team members are certified first aiders. They undertake Ofsted-approved paediatric first aid training when they join the team, and renew this training as required.

At MEplace, each child is assigned a dedicated and caring Key Teacher. This individual is your main point of contact, who will get to know your child’s personality, needs, interests and preferences in depth. Key Teachers form trusting relationships with their key children and families. They assess the children’s development, monitor their learning and wellbeing, and share information through Famly updates and reports. They also provide sensitive care in response to their key children’s physical needs. If the Key Teacher is on holiday or absent, a secondary teacher from the room who knows your child well will step in to take on the role. This Key Teacher system creates a nurturing environment where children can form secure relationships.

Safeguarding is of the utmost importance at MEplace, and we prioritise children’s safety and wellbeing in everything we do. Our team is proactive in protecting children from maltreatment, preventing the impairment of children’s health or development, and ensuring that all children have the best outcomes through effective care. Our safeguarding procedures include a safer recruitment and official onboarding process for all new team members; yearly safeguarding and child protection training embedded within a culture of continuous learning; and carrying out risk assessments.

We prioritise the good health of all children in our care. If your child becomes ill during the nursery day, we’ll call you so that you can collect them as soon as possible; they’ll be cared for by their Key Person in the meantime. If a child shows signs of a high temperature, we monitor them by taking four readings at 5-minute intervals with a digital thermometer. If the child’s temperature is above 38 degrees or continues to increase, we’ll send them home, in line with NHS recommendations.