College support for student parents

Your college is here to provide assistance to you while you are studying at the University.  As a student parent you have a unique set of needs which your college will aim to support.  We have highlighted some of those areas: college nurseries, family accommodation, financial support and designated college childcare contacts.

College Nurseries

Queens' College Nursery

Queens’ has its own small nursery which is based at 26 Barton Road in Newnham for children from 3 months to school age. This newly refurbished building (2025) enables the Nursery to accommodate up to a maximum of 40 children.

There are three rooms for the children; the baby room, which includes children under the age of two years; the toddler room for two year olds and the pre-school room for three to four year olds. Each room has free-flow between indoors and outdoors. The children come together for outside play, walks celebrations and other fun activities. In addition, the facilities include a kitchen, laundry, office, staffroom, shower room and dedicated reception area to welcome the children. All areas have been designed specifically to each age group and to cater for all abilities, including those with special educational needs and / or disabilities.

The Nursery serves the Fellows, staff and students of Queens’ and Pembroke College, as well as the outside community – all are welcome subject to availability – please note we are often full and even Queens’ members cannot always be guaranteed a place.

The Nursery is open daily from 8.30am – 5pm, with children attending a variety of sessions, depending on each family’s individual needs. The Nursery is open all-year round, with the exception of bank holidays.

For further information please contact the Nursery Manager: on 01223 335623, email: qcdn@wigwamnurseries.co.uk

The Mrs Cameron Day Nursery (Gonville and Caius College)

Gonville and Caius has a nursery based near Harvey Court, Sidgwick Avenue site, with up to 25 places for children from 3 months to school age. Known as the Mrs Cameron Day Nursery, the facility is open 8.30am–5pm, Mon–Fri. Gonville and Caius staff, students and Fellows are given priority for places but any remaining vacancies are open to others. For more information, contact nursery owner Mrs Elizabeth Wiggam or the Nursery Manager on 01223 740688 or email Gonville and Caius College Nursery.

The Wolfson Court Nursery

Girton, Churchill, St John's and Trinity Colleges are connected to the Wolfson Court nursery, which opened in January 2005 on Clarkson Road, off Grange Road. Wolfson Court has up to 76 places for children from 3 months to school age and is open from 7.30am–6pm throughout the year. The nursery is run by Bright Horizons, who operate a number of other private nurseries in the region. Priority places are available to staff, students and Fellows of Girton, Churchill, St John's and Trinity Colleges but the nursery is also open to others, including the general public. For more information and an application form, contact the nursery on 01223 656318 or email parentenquiry@brighthorizons.com. Alternatively, contact the individual Colleges or Bright Horizons on 0845 365 2929.

Accommodation

Some colleges provide family accommodation for students with families. To research your options please go to www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/colleges/key-facts-and-figures and click on individual college links.

If your college cannot provide appropriate accommodation, the University's Accommodation Service could help you find somewhere to live.

General Information

The University's Accommodation Service can help you find a suitable place to live. Register to enable a full search of their online property database. They have a large selection of University properties and they also have a large database of private properties. The service advises against taking a private property sight-unseen. It is suggested that where possible you visit ahead of your stay or ask a local contact to view properties on your behalf.

Other information on accommodation can be obtained from property agencies in Cambridge, from noticeboards in the University Centre and the Students' Union and the Cambridge Evening News property section. 

Financial support

The Childcare Support Fund offers limited financial assistance to eligible student parents towards OFSTED-registered childcare costs.

Each College has a designated Childcare Contact who is a point of contact and a voice for student parents within their College.

The College Childcare Contacts are required to signpost students to the Childcare Services, provide information on their College's family accommodation, and have knowledge of the financial support available to student parents. They are also encouraged to work with the College in order to ensure that arrival, orientation and social, pastoral and academic events are accessible to all student parents. Along with the MCR, Childcare Contacts are also encouraged to play a role in organising child-friendly events to enable student parents to meet, as well as facilitate communications between them.

If you have an issue relating to your status as a student parent at your College then please contact your designated College Childcare Contact directly.