Explore our FAQ section to learn more about N.
You can explore career opportunities at N and discover more about our industry-leading pay, benefits, and team training program by visiting our careers website.
We’re as committed to developing our people as we are to supporting the children in our care. Take a look at our Academy page and ignite your early years career.
Our standard day in all our schools is 7am-6pm. Occasionally, we may be able to offer extended pick-up or drop-off hours on a pay-as-you-go basis to give our families increased flexibility. To check if your school offers extended opening times, please see the relevant location page.
Your school plan will cover the standard school hours, but if you fancy bringing your child in a little later, or would like to start your weekend a little earlier, then that’s absolutely fine! Please do remember to let your child’s Primary Educator know when we might expect you via the N App.
No – our school runs from Monday to Friday. Our families are invited to come along to our in-school seasonal parties throughout the year, as well as our monthly Family Hub virtual events held by invited guest speakers. Please see our What’s On page for more information, or visit the N App once your child has been enrolled at a school.
The Family Club is our program of online family and in-school events. For families, we offer monthly, virtual expert-led talks covering topics related to your child’s development, such as toilet training, healthy sleep habits, nutrition, and much more. We also love running in-person events for our families throughout the year to spend quality time together. Past events have included garden parties, petting zoos, yoga sessions, baking classes, Easter egg hunts, and more! Take a look at our What’s On page for more details, and check out the parents’ board in your school for more details!
Yes! Once your place is confirmed, we’ll add you to our mailing list, and you are welcome to sign up and start coming along to Family Club events.
Although all of our Family Club events are free for our N families, we do ask that you book tickets in advance so we know who’s coming along. For parent events, we’ll sign you up to receive our Family Club newsletter, which will let you know all of the upcoming talks for the coming month. For family events, you’ll be invited to all the events your school is running via the N App.
While we don’t currently have parent committees as such, we offer regular, informal opportunities for our families to chat to the team, with a direct line to the School Director and our Support Office too. We send out regular surveys to our families & operate a parent mystery shopper program, so that we can ensure we’re getting family feedback regularly and in real time.
We don’t provide a babysitting or nannying service outside of our normal operating hours, though we are aware that families sometimes ask Educators to babysit their children. We do advise our Educators not to enter into private babysitting arrangements with families from the school, as they’d be working in an environment without the usual child safety procedures that we have in place in the school.
Tuition includes all chef-prepared meals and snacks, diapers, wipes, outings where offered, and our N Enrichment program. Tuition is due in advance, and we issue invoices mid-month for the following month. Your monthly tuition is a consistent flat rate, set annually for your child’s program level and attendance plan. It remains the same every month, regardless of the number of days in that month. All of our schools are open for 51 weeks per year, with all schools closed for the period between Christmas and New Year.
Public holidays and Professional Development Days (our team training sessions) are payable in full. Any tuition increases are based on the school’s running costs. You will receive at least 2 months' written notice of any changes to our terms and conditions, including any tuition increases. Please speak to our Admissions team or your School Director for more information on your chosen school’s tuition.
To confirm your child’s place, you will be required to pay your first month’s tuition and a non-refundable Application Fee, which will be charged annually thereafter.
If you are joining our waiting list, you will be required to pay a refundable waiting list registration fee - upon being offered and accepting a place, this will become the non-refundable Application Fee. If you decide to leave the waiting list, your waiting list registration fee will be refunded. For more information on the fees for your chosen school, please speak to our Admissions team or your School Director.
We do not offer half-days at our schools at this time, and operate a minimum of 2 days per week, depending on your child’s age.
Our schools offer the following attendance plans, designed to support the consistency and rhythm that help children thrive:
Infants: 5 full days (Monday through Friday)
Toddlers, Twos, Preschool, Pre-K: 5 full days (Monday through Friday), 3 full days (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), or 2 full days (Tuesday, Thursday)
Attendance plans are subject to availability - please speak to our Admissions team or your School Director for more information.
There are several leading theorists in early childhood education, whose work has shaped many modern approaches - including ours. Our two core influences are the Reggio Emilia approach, developed in Northern Italy, and the educational theories of Jerome Bruner, an American child psychologist. Both schools of thought have inspired our practice in a different way, and you can find out more about what we’ve taken from each on The N Approach page.
We developed our N Curriculum using our hugely experienced in-house Education team, alongside guidance from external early childhood experts. The late Dr. David Whitebread, an early childhood specialist at the University of Cambridge, was one of our key advisors when we founded N, and his guidance on the benefits of learning through play is still at the core of everything we deliver.
When you pick up your child from school, you’ll be met by either their Primary Educator or one of your child’s classroom team. They will run you through all the activities and exciting developments of your child’s day.
In addition to the daily in-person updates, each enrolled family at N is invited to download the N App – our handy digital tool for allowing you to receive care updates in real-time throughout the day, as well as check out your child’s learning journey. We’ll also post a picture or video to your newsfeed daily so that your family can see what they’ve been up to!
Certain N schools offer scheduled educational outings depending on their location. We will always seek your permission before taking your child off the school premises, and every outing is thoroughly risk-assessed and thoughtfully planned in advance.
All of our schools operate with state-of-the-art security camera technology in every classroom and common space, to keep our children and team safe. This footage is strictly utilized for the internal review of accidents, incidents, or security concerns.
To remain in full compliance with federal and state data privacy standards and to protect the digital footprint of every child, we do not permit families or third parties to view or access these recordings unless specifically required by legal proceedings or law enforcement agencies.
The safety and security of every child and team member is our top priority at N. That’s why every school of ours has an advanced entry control system and a dedicated Front of House team. Nobody is able to enter the premises unless granted access by our team, and any visitors must have pre-booked appointments.
Alongside this, all classroom doors are access-controlled, designed to auto-release in the event of fire or emergency evacuation. We work with specialist contractors to provide all the health and safety requirements that the school environment needs.
Each school organizes its own parties and workshops, and will invite their families via the N App. On some occasions, schools may be able to accommodate more families at their event, but on a first-come, first-served basis. Check out the N App for details, and alternatively, don’t hesitate to give the school a call to inquire about a space at their event.
Our Family Club is for N members only, but we do allow family and friends of our members to come along too – space permitting!
Any fee increases will be communicated 2 months before affecting your invoice, and are based on the school’s running costs.
Yes. Tuition is charged based on your confirmed attendance plan, not actual attendance. We are unable to offer refunds for attendance days missed due to sickness or vacation, as the team and resource costs associated with your child’s place remain the same regardless of attendance. Our tuition is calculated based on the weeks of the year that your N school is open, averaged into 12 monthly payments.
There is a discount if you have two or more siblings in our school at the same time. This discount is applied to your oldest child’s tuition, and applies for as long as you have two or more children with us.
Our sibling discount differs depending on school location. Please speak to our Admissions team or your School Director for more information.
We want every family to feel completely confident joining our community. If you change your mind after accepting a place, you have the right to cancel within 3 business days of signing our Enrollment Agreement, and you will receive a full refund of all fees paid.
After this period, our standard cancellation terms will apply.
Cancelling prior to starting: we are unable to refund your Application Fee and your first month’s tuition if more than 3 business days have passed since your offer acceptance date. If your cancellation notice is received within one month of your agreed start date, you will also be liable for any tuition fees falling due during that one-month period from the date the written notice is received.
Serving notice once your child has started at N: if you sadly decide to leave the N family, we require 2 months' written notice submitted through the N App or in writing to your School Director. Please clearly state your child's intended last day in this notification. Tuition for the full 2-month period remains due regardless of attendance.
For children in their final year with us before leaving for a kindergarten class, we assume that your child’s last day of attendance will be August 31st, or the last scheduled session prior to that date, unless you inform us otherwise. We ask that you let us know one year in advance, ideally at the end of your child’s second-to-last year, so we can plan together.
The first step in joining the N family is to register your interest with us. This can be done by arranging an introductory call with one of our Admissions team members.
We will need to know certain information about your child, including date of birth, any medical issues, the month and year that you’d like them to start with us, and your desired attendance plan.
We’re pleased to support our families through five emergency swap days per year, which can be used in the event of healthcare or childcare emergencies.
An agreed emergency day swap is to be used in the same calendar month as the absence. Public holidays and school closure dates are exempt.
In addition to this and subject to availability, you can purchase additional, off-plan days at the standard daily rate. Additional days can be booked a maximum of two weeks before the requested date.
Children can join N from 6 weeks old, all the way up until they’re ready to start kindergarten.
Interested families can book tours at any of our open schools. For more information, reach out to our Admissions team. If your chosen school is not yet open, you’ll be invited to attend a virtual tour.
We’ll invite you to visit as soon as the school is ready to safely welcome families, usually just ahead of opening, once construction is nearing completion. You’ll be invited to attend our Open House event - we can’t wait to show you around!
If a place is not immediately available for your child, you can join our waiting list. You will be required to pay a registration fee to join the waiting list – fees vary depending on location, so please speak with our Admissions team or your School Director for more information.
Once your payment has been received, you will be sent an email confirming that you are on the waiting list.
Availability is assessed on an ongoing basis, taking into account any children leaving or age-related room moves. We will inform you if a place becomes available.
If your child does not receive a place to start at the requested time, they will remain on the waiting list until a place becomes available or until you request that they be removed. In this instance, your waiting list registration fee will be refunded.
Places are offered in the following order of priority:
A child who is currently enrolled with us, wishing to increase their attendance plan
A child with a sibling already at the school
Existing children transferring to another N school
The date of registration on the waiting list. You will be contacted based on whether there is a match between the days available and your stated preferences. If you don’t take the offered days, please note that your child will remain on the waiting list until your preferred days are available.
Please note for siblings: even though we offer a sibling priority on the waiting list, we still require families to register their younger siblings as early as possible. We cannot always guarantee a place, though we try our best to accommodate everyone.
You will receive an offer letter from us by email, and you will have two days to accept the place. We ask that you agree to the offer letter and terms and conditions by e-signing the N Family Enrollment Agreement. You will also be asked to pay the Application Fee and the first month’s tuition by using our online portal.
Upon receipt of your Application Fee, first month’s tuition, and signed Enrollment Agreement, we will confirm if your attendance plan is secure. A contract will then be formed between N and you, committing both parties to the terms of the offer letter, the Enrollment Agreement, the terms and conditions, and the policy documents within our N Family Handbook.
Someone from the school’s management team will be in touch eight weeks ahead of your child’s start date to set up a convenient time for a Meet the Family call with your child’s Primary Educator, and to schedule settling-in days, which usually take place over three sessions in the week prior to the agreed start date.
Starting school can be an exciting but nerve-wracking time, and we want to make sure that you and your child feel as comfortable as possible! Our settling-in process begins with a virtual ‘Meet the Family’ session, where you’ll meet your child’s Primary Educator, and they can learn everything about you and your child – particularly the things that might enable them to settle quickly into school life! It’s also a chance for you to get to know them ahead of starting with us.
Beyond that, you will have three short settling sessions at the school. The first session is 1 hour, and you’ll attend with your child to settle them into the school environment. The second is 1.5 hours, and you’ll be able to leave your child in their classroom with their Primary Educator while relaxing in our N Cafe. The final settle is 2 hours and over a mealtime, without you there.
Don’t worry – we know settling a child into a new school can bring a wealth of emotions for the family, and our teams are on hand to support you through the process.
We try to stagger our settles so that each Primary Educator is only ever settling one child at a time.
A typical day is 7-6 pm, though you’re free to drop off a little later, or pick up earlier if you wish. Breakfast is from 7.30-8 am, lunch from 11.30 am, and a light dinner is served at 4 pm, with morning and afternoon snacks in between.
Our younger children sleep a few times a day, depending on their home sleep routine, while older children usually sleep after lunch, or enjoy a period of rest to recharge.
In the mornings and afternoons, children will be engaged in a balance of purposeful play and Educator-led learning experiences, while spending lots of time outdoors. We also have our N Enrichment Program, the special group sessions that we run every week covering Spanish, yoga, cooking, and doodle dance. Check out The N Day and The N Approach pages for more information.
All children will spend time outdoors every day, as we really encourage outdoor learning, but it will depend on what the children are learning that week, and how extreme the weather is. While we love the great outdoors, we will always put safety first!
We do plenty of different activities outside, including physical play, games, planting, Forest School, and learning about the local community. You can find out more about our Outdoor Learning programme on the Outdoor Learning page.
Yes! Spanish is part of our N Enrichment program, and it involves weekly Spanish sessions focusing on building an early appreciation of a different language and cultures through simple songs and play.
In addition to our core N Curriculum, we offer the N Enrichment program: weekly sessions for every child and covering Spanish, Yoga, Doodle Dance (which leads to Phonics), and Cooking. We also have the N Passport - a cultural experience program. You can find more information about these on our N Approach page.
Our N App is where we upload observations regularly, along with a daily picture and/or video of your child, and what they’ve been up to at school. We also use the N App to share key dates, news, and announcements. Three times a year, a child’s progress is assessed against key developmental milestones for their age group and updated on the N App. We also add ‘next steps’ for each child in line with the N Curriculum, so you can see what your child’s learning goals are.
They are held twice a year, in Fall and Spring. These are a more formal way for families to receive updates about their children’s progress and time at N!
These results will be shared three times a year via the N App, where they can be viewed at any time.
The number of children in each classroom varies according to the age of the children, and the school location. We always follow state and licensing guidelines when it comes to classroom sizes. For more information about your chosen school, please feel free to give us a call!
We always follow state and licensing requirements regarding Educator-to-child ratios. Our ratios, therefore, vary from location to location, so please get in touch for further information about your chosen school.
We never count our School Director or School Education Manager in our day to day ratios - that means there’s always an extra pair of hands if needed!
We keep our key groups as small as possible and always plan them in line with children's attendance, to ensure that every child has the best experience with their Primary Educator. Nearer your start date, we’ll be able to update you as we’ll have a clearer view on attendance.
We only hire the best and most passionate Educators in our schools. We’ve built extremely robust recruitment procedures to make sure that every team member lives by our core values and has the relevant qualifications and experience.
All team members go through a rigorous pre-employment background checks process and induction, with pediatric first aid and child protection training as standard.
While our team’s exact qualifications vary from state to state, we only recruit teams that have the relevant experience and study to be able to deliver our ambitious N Curriculum.
We invest in our team’s ongoing education through our N Academy, so that they can develop their knowledge and grow with us.
Team happiness and retention are a huge focus for us at N, as historically, team turnover in the early childcare industry has unfortunately been high. In order to combat this, our People team has developed an industry-leading pay and benefits package for our Educators, which includes free lunches, a bonus structure, and a round-the-world trip for long service. You can see our full benefits package on our Benefits page.
We frequently measure our team’s happiness to see how we’re doing and welcome honest and open feedback as to how we can build the best possible culture. We were recently recognized as the 14th best workplace in the whole of the UK via the Great Place to Work program!
All children wear hi-vis jackets when on outings, and all team members are prepped fully on risk assessments to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
Our on-site chefs create fresh, balanced meals daily, aligning with pediatric nutrition guidelines and best practices informed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
We serve breakfast and a two-course lunch and light dinner. We also offer the children a morning and afternoon snack.
We work alongside families to support them with alternatives for allergies, intolerances, and cultural preferences.
Our menu features a blend of plant-based options and sustainably sourced white meat and fish dishes, ensuring every child receives wholesome, nourishing meals that support their growth and development. Discover more on our Food page.
Food deliveries occur regularly throughout the week as we only cook with fresh and natural ingredients. Meals are prepared from scratch by our on-site chef every day. Have a look at our menu to see an example of what the children are eating this season!
If a child refuses to eat what is being served, we will always offer an alternative, but we will first gently try to encourage them to taste new foods.
Expert guidance suggests that children often need to try new foods up to ten times before they become accustomed to the change in taste and texture, and so don’t be disheartened if it takes a little time.
We repeat and rotate dishes on the seasonal menu in order to speed this process up and establish familiarity.
Yes, we can provide vegetarian and vegan-friendly options at N.
We’ll work with you to support what feels right for your family. You can provide breast milk for our Educators to feed your baby, or you’re always welcome to come in during the day to breastfeed in our N Café.
In accordance with state guidelines, we are sadly unable to provide formula milk for your child, and therefore ask you to bring in pre-prepared bottles. These must be clearly labelled with your child’s name.
Absolutely – if you’d prefer to provide breast milk, we’ll be able to give this to your child instead of formula.
Yes, we will follow either baby-led weaning, spoon-fed weaning or a combination approach. We will follow your lead from home and we will work together on this exciting food milestone!
As soon as you enroll at N, your child’s allergy information is given to our chefs and flagged on your child’s N App profile. We also use color-coded allergy bowls and plates, and every classroom has allergy information on the walls for the team to see. If your child has a severe allergy, it is crucial that you let us know as soon as possible so that we can arrange a meeting with the senior management, kitchen, and your child’s Primary Educator to make an action plan.
Our menus do contain allergens because the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that all allergens should be introduced regularly from 4-6 months, and that delaying the introduction of allergens can increase the risk of developing an allergy.
We do, however, have strict processes in place to ensure that a child with a diagnosed allergy is not exposed to their allergen.
We cannot guarantee that our schools are completely free of all known allergens. However, we have specific processes in place to ensure that a child with a diagnosed allergy is not exposed to their allergen.
We don’t use nuts in our menus, and we do ask families and team members not to bring nuts into the school.
We also ask that you don’t bring in any creams containing nut oils.
However, many foods are labelled as having ‘traces of nut’ and ingredients with these warnings can be used in the school unless a risk assessment specific to a particular child indicates otherwise.
Yes! Speak to your School Director or the Admissions team to find out more.
We’ve made the decision at N not to serve red meat to support both children’s health and environmental sustainability. Red meat is often high in saturated fats, which can impact heart health, and its production has a significant environmental footprint.
Instead, our menu focuses on white meats like chicken and turkey, fish, and plant-based proteins – all nutrient-rich options that provide essential protein while being lower in saturated fats. We ensure children receive balanced meals by pairing iron-rich plant-based foods with vitamin C sources to enhance absorption.
Additionally, we do not serve processed meats such as bacon or sausages due to their high salt content. Our chefs use natural herbs and spices to create flavorful, nutritious meals without added salt, supporting healthy eating habits from an early age.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that allergens should be introduced from 4 to 6 months old, and that delaying the introduction of allergens can increase the risk of developing an allergy.
Once introduced and if tolerated, allergens should continue to be offered as part of a baby’s usual diet (to minimize the risk of developing an allergy).
During your ‘Meet the Family’ virtual call, if your child is over 6 months old and in the weaning process, we will work together with you to review which of the 9 main allergens have not yet been introduced to the child. We will document, review, and keep this information up to date throughout your child’s journey at N.
We encourage families to offer foods containing the 9 allergens to their child before they start at N, to help with a smoother transition.
At N, every meal is crafted with your child’s health, well-being, and enjoyment in mind.
We use carefully selected ingredients that meet the highest standards of quality, sustainability, and safety:
All our suppliers adhere to rigorous standards for food safety, animal welfare, and environmental responsibility, with many holding GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) or Rainforest Alliance certifications.
Our fruit and vegetable growers also employ natural, biological methods to protect crops and minimize chemical use, supporting a healthy, balanced environment.
We also avoid processed meats due to their high salt content.
This approach also ensures reliability and consistency. By focusing on responsibly sourced, premium ingredients and sustainable practices, we provide meals that are fresh, nutritious, safe, and consistently excellent.
Your child will sleep in a safe, quiet area of their classroom. Each infant will be assigned their own crib, while older children will have either a cot or mat, depending on their age. All children will have their own bedding, provided and laundered by N - your welcome pack will contain a little something special from us, to help your child sleep soundly.
The room won’t be completely dark to aid safety, however lighting will be adjusted to create a quiet and calm environment, with soothing sounds that encourage the children to fall asleep.
Absolutely! During your ‘Meet the Family’ virtual call, your child’s Primary Educator will take down all the details about your child’s current sleep and/or rest routine. When they start at N, we will follow this routine.
No, we provide diapers and wipes as part of your child’s tuition. Even better, we use an eco-friendly brand & disposal method to ensure that zero of our dirty diapers end up in a landfill!
If you would prefer to use an alternative brand or reusable diapers, just let us know.
We ask that families bring in at least two changes of clothes. We also ask that you always dress your child for the weather, as we will be spending time outdoors! That means a sunhat for sunnier days, and warm clothing for the winter - including a hat, mittens and boots. If your child is due to attend a Forest School-inspired session, they will also need waterproof clothing and rain boots.
Your handy N backpack from your welcome pack is the perfect bag for bringing changes of clothes to school!
Consistency is key when it comes to toilet training, and so we will mirror what you do at home and work together. We will, of course, offer advice and guidance along the way - we’re in this together!
Absolutely – if you’d prefer us to use reusable diapers, you’ll just need to bring these in and then take them home to be washed once used.
We ask that all children be picked up by your school's closing time. However, we understand that life is beautifully unpredictable, and we ask only that you notify us as early as possible if you anticipate being late. Late pick-up fees may apply - check your school’s fee information for more details, or speak with our Admissions team for more information.
We employ N housekeepers as part of our permanent team, and the school is cleaned and sanitized daily. This ensures that it is always a fresh and welcoming environment for our families, children, and team! Additionally, every school has a Zono disinfecting and sanitizing cabinet to keep our toys and equipment squeaky clean.
Our senior management team is able to administer both prescription and non-prescription medications to children if prior parental consent has been obtained and documented. Prescription medications must be provided in the original container, with the child’s full name, dosage, and administration instructions from a licensed medical provider.
Non-prescription medications include diaper creams, teething gels, and antihistamines, and will only be administered if appropriate for the child’s age and symptoms, and prior parental consent has been obtained.
This depends on the child and their symptoms - unwell children will be evaluated by the School Director using CDC and state guidelines, and, if needed, will be sent home to recover. Pick up must be arranged within one hour of notification, and your child will await pick up in a calm, supervised area of the school with a member of school management.
We never send children home or exclude them unnecessarily - all decisions about exclusion and return are based on the child’s well-being, and CDC and state health department guidance in effect at the time of illness.
In the event of your child experiencing a seizure, unconsciousness, anaphylactic shock, or other medical emergency while at school, 911 will be telephoned immediately and emergency medical help sought.
We follow state and federal guidelines regarding immunizations. Unless mandated by the state, we do not exclude children without immunizations from school.
If your child is unwell and needs to rest at home, we are unable to provide containers of the food cooked at the school – we cannot guarantee that the food is suitable to eat once it has left the school. However, if you would like to take some fresh fruit home when you pick up your child, you’d be very welcome to!
We only administer medication (prescription or over-the-counter) that is provided by you in its original container, labeled with your child’s full name, and accompanied by parental consent, obtained via the N App.