Business Details
27 Years
experience
Award-Winning Childcare & Early Education Experts
Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries was founded in 1999 by Olivia Foley to address a personal need for high-quality childcare and to fill a gap in local services. As a family-run business, we prioritise nurturing environments where children are cared for as if they were our own. Our approach combines structured learning with spontaneous exploration, supported by passionate educators from diverse backgrounds. We invest heavily in staff development, offering five paid training days annually and pathways for career progression. Our nurseries feature purpose-built spaces, outdoor learning areas, and a forest school program designed to inspire curiosity.We maintain rigorous safety standards through thorough staff vetting and continuous quality improvements. With locations across West London and Buckinghamshire, we serve families seeking consistent, flexible childcare solutions. Our commitment to excellence has been recognised through multiple awards and affiliations. We work closely with parents to create individualised care plans while maintaining transparency through daily digital updates via the Famly app. This collaborative approach ensures children receive tailored support for optimal development.
Services
Early Years Education
Funded Childcare
Forest School Program
Apprenticeship Training
On-site Catering
Details
- Year established: 1999
Highlights and features
- Family-run business with 25+ years of childcare expertise
- Daily forest school activities for outdoor learning
- Comprehensive staff training with 5 paid development days annually
- Government-funded childcare options available
- Real-time parental updates via Famly app integration
What people say
Incredible staff
Daily learning opportunities
Amazing food
Excellent communication
Happy environment
Services
Early Years Education
Our structured learning programs follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum while incorporating spontaneous play-based activities. Qualified educators create individualised development plans focusing on key areas like communication, physical development, and personal growth. Daily forest school sessions enhance learning through nature exploration, supporting both cognitive and social skill development in children aged 9 months to 4 years.
Funded Childcare
We facilitate 15 and 30-hour government-funded childcare entitlements, spreading hours across 51 weeks for consistent care. Our team assists with eligibility checks and code submissions, offering flexible packages that combine funded hours with additional paid sessions when required by working families.
Forest School Program
Daily outdoor sessions in purpose-designed natural spaces encourage physical development and environmental awareness. Children engage in supervised activities like nature crafts, gardening, and structured exploration that build confidence and teamwork skills while meeting curriculum requirements for physical development.
Apprenticeship Training
Our Level 3 Diploma apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with five annual paid study days. Mentored placements in busy nursery environments develop practical childcare skills, supported by online learning resources and career progression pathways within our nursery group.
On-site Catering
Daily freshly-prepared meals follow seasonal four-week menus developed by our head chef. Special dietary requirements are accommodated with alternative options, while nutritional education is incorporated into children's learning through food-related activities and tasting sessions.
People
Olivia Foley
Founder & Director
With over 25 years in childcare, Olivia established Hungry Caterpillars after identifying local service gaps. She oversees operations across all nurseries, maintaining quality standards while developing innovative programs that reflect current educational research and family needs.
Tim Foley
Co-Founder
As co-founder, Tim contributes strategic leadership based on 25+ years of childcare sector experience. He focuses on operational efficiency and facility development, ensuring all nurseries maintain the family values that underpin the business's approach to childcare.
Patrycja Kozak
Head Chef
With 15 years culinary experience, Patrycja develops seasonal menus meeting children's nutritional needs. She trains kitchen staff across all locations and creates allergy-friendly alternatives, ensuring mealtimes support children's growth and development through balanced, appealing food choices.
Questions
What age groups do you cater for?
We provide childcare for children aged 9 months to 4 years, with dedicated spaces for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.
Do you offer government-funded childcare?
Yes, we accept 15 and 30-hour funded childcare entitlements for eligible families, with flexible options across 51 weeks annually.
How do you support child development?
Our curriculum combines play-based learning with forest school activities, tailored to individual needs using the Early Years Foundation Stage framework.
Are meals included in fees?
Yes, all meals, snacks, and drinks are included in our standard fees, with seasonal menus developed by our head chef.
How do you communicate with parents?
We use the Famly app for daily updates and maintain open-door policies at all our nurseries for face-to-face communication.
Reviews (5)
Bendix Brian Dris
Nov 10, 2021
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Bitcoin is now a marketing tool for businesses. Giveaway $1m Bitcoin and get 10-20x in exposure. We’re seeing that from start-ups to global fast-food chains. Even local businesses are using “accept Bitcoin” as a social media marketing tactic. The world is changing, so contact Mr Mikhail Sergei Kudryashova for more information.
Ahmed Fraz
Aug 30, 2021
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Critical:Quality,Reliability,Value
Untrustworthy management, would not recommend this nursery. Had a very bad experience with them, as had to find an alternative nursery for my son in mid sept last year.
Untrustworthy management, would not recommend this nursery. Had a very bad experience with them, as had to find an alternative nursery for my son in mid sept last year.
Hamdi Aden Hassan
Jul 13, 2020
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Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Reliability,Responsiveness,Value
Clean environment and child friendly. caring and professional staff .
Clean environment and child friendly. caring and professional staff .
Kirsty Mitchell
Mar 27, 2020
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I worked for hungry caterpillars Northolt branch for 5 years, had a great time worked with amazing people and had great Job satisfaction watching the children develop. I hope one day they open one in Hastings.
Lea Oljaca
Mar 04, 2019
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The Acton Park nursery staff are knowledgeable, caring and energetic and the nursery is homely yet structured; my twin boys love it there and since starting a couple of months ago, their language skills have really exceeded my expectations. Thank you!
