Who is eligible to apply for a place at one of the four University nurseries?
- Staff listed on the University's monthly payroll
- Staff with a University contract of employment
- Staff of the University Farm
- Staff of the ADC Theatre
- Staff of Cambridge Enterprise Ltd.
- Staff of the Judge Business School Executive Education Ltd
- College staff
- Legal Deposit Agency staff located in Cambridge
- Active students of the University of Cambridge
- Staff of Cambridge University Press and Assessment are eligible but have their own application process; please check the Family Friendly page on Insight or contact your local HR representative
If you wish to apply for a community place, please contact the nurseries directly.
Application process
PLEASE NOTE - THE OFFER OF A PLACE CANNOT BE GUARANTEED.
- You are only able to submit an application form once your child has been born.
- Applications will be accepted up to 6 months prior to the start of your employment (staff) or course start date (student).
- Complete and sign the relevant application form (either staff or student). If you are a member of staff not on the University's payroll, please provide a copy of your contract. College staff should submit their application to their HR Contact. (Students will also need to have their tutor sign the form before returning.
- You can request 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 full days a week. If applying for 3 days a week or more, you must include a Monday or Friday. The University Nurseries are open from 8am to 6pm. Changes can be made to your application at a later date.
- Please pay the £10 application fee : Payment
- Once we have processed your application we will send you a confirmation email.
- Your position on the waiting list is determined by a points system, based on the access criteria shown below.
- The Nursery Managers are responsible for the allocation of nursery places.
- You are entitled to remain on the waiting list for a University nursery while your child attends one of the other University nurseries. You need to let us know by email if you wish to be added back onto the waiting list for a different University nursery.
| Staff Access Criteria | Points Score |
| Applicant holds a University/CUPA contract of employment | 5 |
| Applicant’s partner working at the University/CUPA with a contract of employment | 5 |
| Applicant and/or applicant’s partner works at a college or applicant’s partner is a registered student at University of Cambridge | 3 |
| Applicant is returning to work in the University, CUPA or a college after maternity/shared parental/adoption leave * (removed 2 months after return to work) | 7 |
| If one or more siblings currently hold a place | 8 |
| If places are required for twins or triplets | 8 |
| If child has a disability | 7 |
| If places are required for more than one child (of different ages) | 3 |
| If applying for only one of the 4 nurseries and you live in the catchment area | 2 |
| Edwinstowe Close – Chaucer Road, Edwinstowe Close, Chaucer Close, South Acre Drive; West Cambridge – Charles Babbage Road, JJ Thomson Avenue; Eddington – Any accommodation on the Eddington site; Chris Abell Nursery - Harrison Drive | |
| Student Access Criteria | Points Score |
| Applicant is a registered student at the University of Cambridge | 40** |
| Applicant’s partner is a student at the University of Cambridge | 5 |
| Applicant’s partner is an employee of the University, CUPA or a college | 3 |
| Student is resuming study after having a baby or adopting a child | 7 |
| If one or more siblings currently hold a place | 8 |
| If places are required for twins or triplets | 8 |
| If child has a disability | 7 |
| If places are required for more than one child (of different ages) | 3 |
| If applying for only one of the 4 nurseries and you live in the catchment area | 2 |
|
Edwinstowe Close - Chaucer Road, Edwinstowe Close, South Acre Drive; West Cambridge – Charles Babbage Road, JJ Thomson Avenue; Eddington – Any accommodation on the Eddington site; Chris Abell Nursery - Harrison Drive |
Special personal circumstances will be considered on an individual basis.
In the event of a tie between applications, length of service will be the deciding factor for staff and date of application for students.
The length of time on the waiting list is subject to lots of variables, such as choice of nursery, age of child, booking pattern requested and date when a place is required.
It is recommended that parents look into alternative childcare and do not rely solely on getting a place at the University nurseries. See Childcare provision outside of the University for more information.