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Thornhill

Day Nursery
Derby

Welcome to

Thornhill Day Nursery

Finding the right nursery or pre-school for your child is one of the most important decisions for any parent, and at Thornhill Day Nursery in Derby, we understand this deeply. We are committed to providing your child with the best possible start in their early years, helping them become confident and enthusiastic young learners. Thornhill is a nursery thoughtfully designed with your child’s needs and development at its heart.

Our nursery offers learning environments unlike any other in Derby, tailored specifically to each age group. Every child receives a unique experience that sparks their curiosity and imagination, inspiring them to explore and discover in a nurturing and stimulating setting. This approach ensures that your little one’s early learning journey is engaging and full of wonder.

Conveniently located near Royal Derby Hospital, Thornhill is an ideal choice for hospital staff seeking reliable childcare. We follow a distinctive learning framework called ‘In the Moment Learning,’ which gives children the freedom to explore and learn about their interests naturally. Our carefully selected and passionate team is dedicated to supporting every child to reach their full potential. We warmly invite you to meet our enthusiastic team and see how Thornhill can be the perfect nursery for your child.

OPENING

HOURS

From 7:30 am to 6:00 pm
Monday to Friday.

NURSERY

SIZES

A total of 72 places are available, with both full- and part-time booking options.

AGE

RANGES

Thornhill Day Nursery is registered to care for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years.

OFSTED

RATING

Read our latest Ofsted report here.

Why Choose

Thornhill Day Nursery?

Thornhill Day Nursery offers spacious and thoughtfully designed learning areas, tailored specifically to suit the needs of each age group.

More than just a nursery, Thornhill Day Nursery is a warm and inviting place where children feel at home. We provide enriching activities and a supportive environment that nurture each child's growth and development with care and attention.

Our dedicated team carefully plans diverse and imaginative activities that align with your child's interests, fostering language skills, early numeracy, and building confidence for their transition to school.

Rooms

& Age Groups

Baby Room

(up to 12 months)

Our Baby Room, welcoming little ones from 6 weeks to 12 months, is thoughtfully designed to offer a calm and nurturing space where your baby can feel safe, comfortable, and supported as they begin to explore their world. This gentle environment encourages curiosity and discovery through a variety of engaging, age-appropriate activities that stimulate the senses and promote early development.

Alongside plenty of opportunities for play and exploration, babies enjoy access to a tranquil sleep area, providing a peaceful retreat where they can rest and recharge amidst their exciting early experiences at Thornhill.

FIRST STEPS ROOM

(1 - 2 Years)

Our First Steps Room is thoughtfully designed for children who are rapidly growing from infants to young toddlers. This nurturing environment offers the perfect balance of space and freedom for your little one to explore, develop their motor skills, and engage in imaginative play.

Every aspect of the room is created to inspire curiosity, support early learning, and encourage confident first steps in a warm and safe setting.

Toddler Room

(2 - 3 Years)

Our Toddler Room is a vibrant and welcoming space designed especially for the energetic 2-to-3-year-olds who are eager to explore and embark on new adventures every day. Here, toddlers are encouraged to unleash their imagination through creative play while beginning to develop important social skills like sharing and cooperating with their peers.

To support their curious and busy young minds, the room is thoughtfully equipped with a diverse range of engaging toys, resources, and activities that inspire discovery and learning. This nurturing environment ensures every toddler feels happy, confident, and ready to take the next steps in their early years journey.

Pre-School Room

(3 - 5 Years)

Our Pre-school Room is a vibrant hub of creativity and discovery, where every day brings unique and exciting opportunities for your child to explore their wide-ranging interests. As the final stage in their early years education, this room is dedicated to preparing children for the transition to primary school with confidence and enthusiasm.

Our experienced staff provide tailored support to nurture their development and readiness for the next big step in their learning journey. Children in the Pre-school Room enjoy ‘free-flow’ access to the outdoors, allowing them to seamlessly extend their adventures into our stimulating garden space. Inside, a beautifully designed reading corner featuring a cozy swinging chair invites little ones to immerse themselves in their favourite stories, fostering a lifelong love of reading in a warm and welcoming environment.

The Garden

Garden & Outdoor Spaces

Our beautifully designed garden at Thornhill Day Nursery is a vibrant outdoor haven where children can stretch their little legs and let their imaginations run wild. We believe that the great outdoors offers unique learning experiences that simply can’t be matched indoors, which is why we are dedicated to giving every child the chance to explore and play in our garden every single day – rain or shine.

Whether your child wants to burn off energy by running freely or riding a trikes, embark on exciting insect hunts, or simply follow their curiosity wherever it leads, our garden is a safe and stimulating space full of endless adventures waiting to be discovered.

Keeping You Informed

and Reassured

The FAMLY APP

We love swapping stories, celebrating milestones, and telling you all about what your child gets up to each day when they’re away from home. That’s why we use Famly – the #1 parent partnership app that keeps you connected when your child is at nursery. 

ONSITE

CCTV

Your child’s safety is of paramount importance to us.

We use CCTV to support safeguarding and the security of our nursery. It’s an extra layer alongside careful recruitment, DBS checks, and regular training.

OFSTED

RATING

Children settle really well due to the individual attention and support they receive from staff. Staff quickly get to know the children very well and are very attentive to their needs, such as their individual sleep routines.Ofsted

Read our latest Ofsted report here.

A warm welcome from the nursery Manager

Becky Renolds

Nursery Manager at Thornhill Day Nursery

Thank you for taking the time to discover Thornhill Day Nursery. My name is Becky Renolds, and I am delighted to be the Nursery Manager here.

With over 16 years of experience in childcare, I bring a broad knowledge of the sector to my role. I hold a BA (Honours) degree in Childhood and Youth Studies, along with several other qualifications, including Level 3 certifications in Speech & Language Support and Special Educational Needs (SEN).

I understand how crucial the beginning of a child’s educational journey is, and I strive to make this experience the very best by ensuring we meet each child’s individual needs. I have completed extensive work on enabling environments and creating communication-friendly spaces, always believing that any initiatives we implement should positively impact the children.

My passion for Early Years education drives me, and I find this role incredibly rewarding. I love watching the unique personalities of each child develop and seeing them proudly achieve their goals.

I am thrilled to be part of the Tommies Childcare family because our vision and values align, allowing me to lead my team effectively and ensure the children build a strong foundation to grow and flourish.

I warmly invite you to book a visit so I can show you all that Thornhill Nursery has to offer and introduce you to my wonderful team.

Fees, Funding &

Booking Patterns

Minimum Sessions for Children Aged 0-3 Years

Children aged 0-3 can only attend full-day sessions and must attend a minimum of two full days per week. If your booking pattern is for less than three full days, one of those days must be either a Monday or a Friday.

Minimum Sessions for Children Aged 3+ Years

Children aged 3+ must attend a minimum of three half-day sessions per week or one full-day session + one half-day session per week. If your booking pattern is for less than three full days, one of those days must be either a Monday or a Friday.

PAYMENT METHODS

Fees are paid monthly in advance on the 1st of each month via Direct Debit or the Tax-Free Childcare Scheme.

You can combine the two, paying some of your bill via Tax-Free Childcare, and the rest will be collected via Direct Debit.

We do not accept card payments, cash, or any other payment methods for childcare fees.

Registration & Acceptance Fees

You must pay an initial £100 Registration Fee when officially requesting a place at Thornhill Day Nursery. If a place can be offered to you, you are then required to pay a £250.00 Acceptance Fee, which will be deducted from your first month’s bill. If we cannot offer the exact booking pattern you require, you can choose to accept an alternative booking pattern or withdraw your registration, and your Registration Fee will be refunded. Once you accept a place at the nursery, the Registration Fee will become non-refundable. Additional terms apply; please ask for details.  

Discounts

0 % discount for twins
0 % discount for siblings
0 % discount for NHS staff

Discounts are limited to one per child and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount we may offer.

Additional terms apply; please ask for details.

Standard Fees

all sessions include food & snacks

0-3 Years 3+ Years
Morning (7.30 am – 1.00 pm)
£40.00
Afternoon (1.00 pm – 6.00 pm)
£38.00
Full-Day (7.30 am – 6.00 pm)
£71.00
£69.00
Full Week (7.30 am – 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday)
£340.00
£330.00

Fees are calculated on an annual basis, whereby the value of the fees over 51 weeks is split into 12 identical monthly bills. Childcare bills will include bank holidays and a staff development day (‘inset’ day). Additional fees for the late collection of your child and late payment apply. Please ask for further details.

Funding

If you haven’t used a nursery before, you might not be aware of the various funding options available to help reduce the cost of childcare.

Parents Love Us

We take your thoughts and feedback seriously. This is why we’re proud to be part of the Tommies Childcare group, which has repeatedly won a Top 20 Most Recommended Mid-Size Nursery Group award, as reviewed by families on daynurseries.co.uk. Take a look at what families are saying about their experience of Thornhill Day Nursery.

Elizabeth N

Mother of Child

“Thornhill Day Nursery has been absolutely wonderful for our daughter, who is in the toddler room. Kiah and Misbah do an outstanding job caring for her and have created such a warm, nurturing environment. She is always extremely happy to attend nursery and even asks for them when she's at home, which says everything! I always receive detailed, thoughtful feedback every day, which is so reassuring as a parent. Kiah and Misbah always greet us with genuine smiles and handle any issues quickly and professionally. We couldn't be happier with the care, attention, and love our daughter receives!

N A

Mother of Child

My family has been with the nursery for more than a year now and the staff have been amazing. My little one is well looked after, which is why he is always looking forward to going back each day. The activities are wonderful and the daily updates through the app have made it really reassuring for working parents.

C T

Mother of Child

A great nursery with so much professionalism, kindness, warmth, and support from all the team. In my son’s new room, Kiah and Misbah are truly fantastic and my son is always happy to see them. This was truly reassuring as a first-time mum. Thank you so much to both ladies and the whole team.