Apprenticeship Employer 2026 | Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries

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We’re thrilled to share some brilliant news: Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries has been named a Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employer in the UK for 2026, ranking #24, an award recognised by the UK Government and HigherIn.

It’s the kind of news that makes us want to shout it from the rooftops, but if we’re honest, what we’re most proud of isn’t the ranking itself, it’s what it represents.

What our apprenticeship employer 2026 award actually recognises

The Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers list recognises small and medium-sized businesses across the UK who go above and beyond in how they train, support and develop apprentices, the structure of their programmes, the outcomes for the people going through them, and the genuine career pathways that come out the other end.

For us, that’s always been the whole point of taking on apprentices in the first place. Early years childcare isn’t something you can learn overnight. Every apprentice who joins us gets proper training, a real mentor, and the time and support to grow into the role, not just a job title and a hope for the best.

Why this matters more than a certificate on the wall

Here’s the bit we’re proudest of: several of our current nursery managers started their careers with us as apprentices.

That’s not a coincidence. It’s what happens when you take training seriously from day one, when apprentices are treated as future colleagues, and when the people mentoring them are invested in seeing them succeed, not just get through their qualification.

Since founding Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries back in 1999, we’ve believed that the quality of care a nursery provides comes down to one thing above all else: the people delivering it. This award is a reminder that the way we’ve chosen to invest in our team works.

A thank you, really

Awards like this always end up being less about the organisation and more about the people in it. So to every apprentice who has trained with us, and every manager and mentor who has shown them the ropes along the way, this one’s genuinely for you. We couldn’t have done it without you, and we mean that.

Thinking about a career in early years?

If this has got you thinking about where an apprenticeship in childcare might take you, we’d love to hear from you. We’re currently looking for apprentices to join our teams at our Hanwell and West Twyford nurseries. With proper training, a real mentor, and genuine support behind you from day one.

See our current apprenticeship opportunities →

Nursery Open Days | Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries

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Come and Meet Us: Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries Open Day This Summer

Choosing childcare is one of the biggest decisions a parent can make and we know it’s not one to take lightly. That’s why we’d love to invite you to come and see one of our nurseries open days for yourself.

Our Open Days are a relaxed, no-pressure chance to walk through our doors, meet our team, see the rooms your child would spend their days in, and ask us absolutely anything. Just book your place below and come along, have a cuppa, and let us show you around.

Here’s where and when you can find us this week and in July – please book your place via the links below so we can make sure there’s a warm welcome waiting for you.

This Week Nurseries Open Day – Tuesday 24th & Wednesday 25th June

Academy Gardens →

  • Tuesday 24th June, 9.30am–11am
  • Wednesday 25th June, 5pm–7pm

Northolt →

  • Tuesday 24th June, 9.30am–11am
  • Wednesday 25th June, 5pm–7pm

Perivale →

  • Tuesday 24th June, 9.30am–11am
  • Wednesday 25th June, 5pm–7pm

West Twyford →

  • Tuesday 24th June, 9.30am–11am
  • Wednesday 25th June, 5pm–7pm

Hanwell →

  • Wednesday 25th June, 9.30am–11am and 5pm–7pm

Chalfont St Peter →

  • Wednesday 25th June, 9.30am–11am and 5pm–7pm

Please click the nursery name above to book your place – we ask all parents to register in advance so we can make sure there’s someone ready to greet you and give you the time you deserve.

Coming Up in July

High Wycombe

  • Sunday 13th July, 5pm–7pm
  • Thursday 17th July, 9.30am–11.30am

Registration for High Wycombe coming soon – check back or follow us on Instagram and Facebook for the link.

What to Expect

When you visit, you’ll get to:

  • Tour the nursery – see the rooms, outdoor spaces, and facilities your child would actually use
  • Meet the team – chat with the manager and staff who’ll be looking after your little one day to day
  • Ask the questions that matter to you – settling in, routines, meals, fees, availability – nothing is off the table
  • Get a feel for the place – sometimes you just know when somewhere feels right

There’s no obligation once you’re booked in,  just come along during the time you’ve registered for.

If you’d like to explore further before your visit, you can take a look at all eight of our nurseries on our website, each with its own page covering the rooms, routines, and what makes it special.

Can’t Make These Dates?

Don’t worry. We run Open Days regularly throughout the year, and our team is always happy to arrange a private visit if these times don’t work for your schedule. Just give us a call on 01895 678 682 or email marketing@hungrycaterpillars.co.uk and we’ll sort something that suits you.

You can also find all our latest updates via our link page.

We can’t wait to meet you and your little one.

We’re in The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2026

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We’re in The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2026

We have some exciting news. Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries is named in The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2026. Specifically, we’re ranked #58 in the UK.

For a family-founded nursery group, this recognition means everything to us.

 

What is the Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list?

Each year, The Sunday Times independently ranks the UK’s best employers for apprenticeships. In particular, they assess organisations on how well they recruit, develop, and support their apprentices. It’s one of the most respected employer rankings in the country. As a result, being included in the Top 100 is a genuine mark of quality.

We’re proud to stand alongside some of the UK’s most well-known organisations. Even so, we’re proudest that we got here as a small, independent, family-run business.

 

Why apprenticeships matter to us

Apprenticeships have always been central to how we build our team. Above all, we look for people who genuinely care about working with children and then we invest in them properly.

Our apprentices don’t just shadow other staff. From day one, they’re part of the team. They build real relationships with children and families. In addition, they develop the skills to grow a long-term career in early years. Many of the people who lead our nurseries today started out as apprentices. We’re very proud of that.

 

What this means for our nurseries

For parents, this recognition offers real reassurance. The people who care for your children are well-trained, well-supported, and part of a team that takes professional development seriously.

Furthermore, when we invest in our people, families feel the difference. A happy, confident, well-supported team creates a nurturing, settled nursery. That’s what we work towards every day, across all eight of our settings.

 

The Caterpillar Academy – putting it into practice

Recognitions like this mean more when they’re backed up by action. Last month, we opened the Caterpillar Academy at our Northolt nursery — a dedicated space for staff training, professional development, and wellbeing. It’s the clearest sign yet of our commitment to investing in our team. Because when our people feel supported and valued, your children feel the difference every single day. Read more about the Caterpillar Academy here → 

 

Thank you

This award belongs to every apprentice who has ever been part of the Hungry Caterpillar family, past and present. It also belongs to the managers and mentors who believed in them and helped them grow.

Thank you for everything you bring to our nurseries, every single day.

 

Interested in an apprenticeship with us?

We’re always looking for warm, passionate people to join our team. So if you’re thinking about a career in early years, or you know someone who is, we’d love to hear from you.

→ Visit our Careers page to find out more

 

The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2026

Nursery Staff Training Day | Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries

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Recently, our teams came together at Alec Reed Academy for a nursery staff training day and it was a really productive one. Four topics were covered across the day, led by specialists who know early years inside out.

What we covered at our nursery staff training day

Our team explored best practice for caring for children under twos which is one of the most important and specialised areas of early years care. They also focused on behaviour to understand how young children communicate through their actions, and how our educators can respond with patience, consistency and care. Both sessions were delivered by EYC.

The day also included first aid training, ensuring our staff are always confident and prepared to respond in any situation. And finally, the team worked through curriculum development to improve processes on how we plan, adapt and enrich the learning experiences we offer every child, every day.

Our chefs joined in too

It wasn’t just the nursery floor team. Our chefs came together to review menus, share what’s working well across the settings, and talk through the challenges that come with running busy nursery kitchens. Good food is a big part of what we do and making sure our menus are nutritious, varied and loved by the children takes real collaboration.

Why this matters to you as a parent

Training days like this don’t just benefit our staff,  they also benefit your child directly.

Every session our team attends, every skill they refresh, every conversation they have about how to do things better. They all feed back into the care and education your child receives across all of our nurseries. 

We’re proud to be a nursery group that takes professional development seriously. Because standing still was never really an option.

Training days like this happen regularly across our group. We’ll be sharing more here on the blog  because we think it’s important that parents can see exactly how we invest in our people.

Nursery staff training day at Alec Reed AcademyNursery staff training day at Alec Reed Academy

 

Caterpillar Academy Northolt | Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries

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Last week, we officially opened the Caterpillar Academy at our Northolt nursery – and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you. The Caterpillar Academy is a brand new, dedicated training and wellbeing space, built entirely for our staff.

We threw a little get together to mark the occasion – food, drinks, familiar faces and a whole lot of excitement, and it felt like exactly the kind of moment worth celebrating. Because the truth is, this space has been a long time coming.

So, what is the Caterpillar Academy?

The Caterpillar Academy is a dedicated space at our Northolt setting where our team can learn, grow, take a breath, and come together. It’s a room with real purpose – somewhere staff can complete training, work through professional development, or simply have a proper break away from the busy nursery floor.

It sounds simple. But for a team that works as hard as ours does, having a space that’s just for them matters more than you might think.

Why does this matter to you as a parent?

We know that when you drop your child off in the morning, what you really want to know is: are the people looking after my child good at what they do? Do they feel supported? Are they happy?

The answer, we hope, has always been yes. But the Caterpillar Academy means we can back that up even more.

When our staff have a dedicated space to train, to reflect, and to recharge, it has a direct impact on the quality of care your child receives. A team that feels valued and well-supported brings their very best to the nursery floor every single day.

Every activity, every story, every reassuring cuddle – it all starts with a team that’s been given the tools and the time to be brilliant at what they do.

A community moment

The opening celebration was a small but meaningful one. Staff from Northolt came together, we raised a glass (or a cup of tea!), and we took a moment to appreciate how far we’ve come since Olivia first opened the doors back in 1999.

From a single nursery built on the belief that every child deserves exceptional care, to a group of eight settings – and now, our very own Caterpillar Academy. It feels like the right next step.

What’s next for the Caterpillar Academy?

Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing more about the training taking place in the Academy. From first aid and safeguarding to leadership development for our senior team.

We’re proud of what’s happening behind the scenes. Because everything we do behind the scenes shows up in the care your child receives.

Want to find out more about our Northolt nursery? Click here https://hungrycaterpillars.co.uk/nurseries-in-northolt/

Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries was recently named a Top 20 Mid-size Nursery Group in the UK for 2026 – voted for by our parents.

 

Caterpillar Academy training room Northolt nursery

Top 20 Nursery Group in the UK for 2026 – Voted For By Our Parents🐛

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We have some wonderful news to share. We couldn’t be prouder.

Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries has once again been named a Top 20 Nursery Group in the UK for 2026 by daynurseries.co.uk. Our group began in 1999, because our founder, Olivia couldn’t find the quality of childcare she wanted for her own daughter. So she built it herself and 25 years later, here we are!

About the award – Top 20 Nursery Group in the UK for 2026

Daynurseries.co.uk is the UK’s leading independent nursery review platform. The Top 20 award isn’t decided by a panel; it’s decided entirely by parents based on real reviews. If families are happy, the award follows. That’s what makes it so meaningful.

Find out more about the Awards for Top 20 Nursery Group in the UK for 2026 works at daynurseries.co.uk/awards → 

What does this mean for you as a parent?

It means that hundreds of families have taken the time to say: “My child is happy here. I trust this team.” This feedback comes from across all eight of our nurseries in West London and Buckinghamshire. As a result, we have achieved a group review score of 9.8 out of 10 from 584 reviews. Here’s what parents are saying right now:

“It never feels like a business focused on numbers. The children’s comfort, happiness, and emotional well-being are always their top priority.” — Parent, West Twyford

“I cannot recommend Hungry Caterpillars enough. The most important thing is knowing your child is safe and happy. I feel incredibly comfortable leaving my daughter here every day.” — Parent, High Wycombe

“The staff are like family to her. She’s always very excited to go there.” — Parent, Acton Park

“Sending your child to nursery is a big step. At Hanwell, we truly feel our child is getting the best care.” — Parent, Hanwell

A family-run group with family values at its heart

Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries has always been built on one simple idea: we care for every child as though they were our own. Founded by Olivia and run by her and Tim, the group has grown from a single small nursery to eight thriving settings. But the values that started it all haven’t changed. Every decision still comes back to one question: would we want this for our own children?

This award, therefore, is a reflection of that commitment. It also belongs to our incredible teams, who show up every day with warmth, energy, and genuine love for the children in their care.

A huge thank you

To every family who has written a review or recommended us to a friend – thank you. This award belongs to you as much as it does to us.

And to our amazing teams across Academy Gardens, Acton Park, Chalfont St Peter, Hanwell, High Wycombe, Northolt, Perivale, and West Twyford – we are so proud of everything you do. 💚🐛

Thinking about a nursery place for your little one? We’d love to welcome your family. Get in touch here →  

 

Top 20 Nursery Group UK 2026 — Hungry Caterpillar Day NurseriesHungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries Children celebrating the Top 20 Nursery Awards 2026

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