Best nurseries in Carlisle
31 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools in Cumberland, best Ofsted result first: the latest report card or overall grade, then the most recent inspection. Childminders are not listed (Ofsted does not publish their addresses).
| # | Nursery | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Michael's Pre-School Nursery Sessional day care · 26 places · CA5 7QB | Outstanding (2024) |
| 2 | St. Aidan's Day Nursery Full day care · 60 places · CA1 3SL | Outstanding (2024) |
| 3 | Rosehill Day Nursery Full day care · CA1 2UT | Outstanding (2023) |
| 4 | Parkfield Nursery Full day care · 42 places · CA2 5PG | Outstanding (2022) |
| 5 | Kinder Park Nursery Services Limited Full day care · 50 places · CA1 1LJ | Outstanding (2022) |
| 6 | Yewkids Nursery at Yewdale Community Centre Full day care · 26 places · CA2 7TH | Outstanding (2022) |
| 7 | Abacus Children's Day Nursery Full day care · 60 places · CA5 7NY | Outstanding (2021) |
| 8 | Messyhands Childcare Full day care · 24 places · CA5 6NA | Good (2025) |
| 9 | Newtown Community Learning Center t/a First Steps Day Nursery Full day care · 68 places · CA2 7LW | Good (2025) |
| 10 | The Manor Preschool Nursery Full day care · 26 places · CA2 6JP | Good (2024) |
| 11 | Stone Eden Nursery School Limited Full day care · 75 places · CA4 8AD | Good (2023) |
| 12 | Willow Tree Nursery Full day care · 60 places · CA2 4BA | Good (2023) |
| 13 | Newtown Road Day Nursery Full day care · 49 places · CA2 7JH | Good (2023) |
| 14 | First Friends Nursery and Pre-School Full day care · 26 places · CA2 7PT | Good (2023) |
| 15 | Greystone Nursery Full day care · 35 places · CA1 2HA | Good (2023) |
| 16 | Jack and Jill Nursery Limited Full day care · 28 places · CA3 9NH | Good (2022) |
| 17 | Stanwix Community Pre-School Full day care · 20 places · CA3 9DJ | Good (2022) |
| 18 | Houghton Nursery Group Full day care · 30 places · CA3 0PA | Good (2022) |
| 19 | Home from Home Nursery Full day care · 47 places · CA2 5NB | Good (2022) |
| 20 | Little Owls Nursery (Carlisle) Limited Full day care · 52 places · CA1 1PE | Good (2022) |
| 21 | Scotby Pre-School Sessional day care · 26 places · CA4 8BW | Good (2022) |
| 22 | Ballyhoo Boutique Nursery Full day care · 38 places · CA2 5TU | Good (2022) |
| 23 | Little Jems Nursery Full day care · 49 places · CA1 2EH | Good (2022) |
| 24 | Mother Goose Day Nursery Full day care · 45 places · CA2 7AY | Good (2021) |
| 25 | Discovery Childcare Full day care · 33 places · CA6 4SJ | Good (2021) |
| 26 | Cherry Tree Nursery Full day care · 60 places · CA1 2SQ | Report card: 3 expected, 2 needs attention (Jan 2026) |
| 27 | Wendy House Nursery (Carlisle) Limited Full day care · 101 places · CA2 4AB | Requires improvement (2025) |
| 28 | Munchkins Nursery Full day care · 75 places · CA2 7AN | Safeguarding not met (Nov 2025) |
| 29 | It Takes A Village Nursery And Pre-School Full day care · 77 places · CA2 5XW | Not yet inspected |
| 30 | Kip McGrath Education Centre Carlisle Sessional day care · CA3 8RN | Not yet inspected |
| 31 | Rockcliffe Sessional day care · CA6 4BH | Not yet inspected |
How much does nursery cost in Carlisle?
Typical weekly nursery prices for a child under two in North West, from the Coram Childcare Survey 2026. A guide only: ask each nursery for its own fees.
Working parents in England can get 30 funded hours a week in term time from when their child is 9 months old, so a 25-hour place can cost little or nothing in term time. Every 3 and 4 year old gets at least 15 funded hours. Funded hours cover 38 weeks a year; nurseries can charge for extra hours, meals and activities. Check what you can get at Childcare Choices.
Questions
What are the best nurseries in Carlisle?
Of 31 nurseries and pre-schools in Carlisle, 7 have Ofsted's top results (Outstanding, or mostly strong or exceptional on the new report card). Listed first: St Michael's Pre-School Nursery, St. Aidan's Day Nursery, Rosehill Day Nursery.
How much does nursery cost in Carlisle?
In North West, a part-time place (25 hours a week) for a child under two typically costs £178 a week without funded hours (Coram Childcare Survey 2026). Working parents can get 30 funded hours a week in term time from 9 months.
How many nurseries are there in Carlisle?
31 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools, 28 of them inspected so far.
Nurseries nearby
Whitehaven · Workington · Harraby · Caldewgate · Denton Holme · Houghton
Source: Ofsted early years inspections. Ofsted's report card (from November 2025) grades curriculum, achievement, behaviour, children's welfare and leadership as exceptional, strong, expected, needs attention or urgent improvement; earlier inspections gave one overall grade.