Best nurseries in Lancaster
14 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools, 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 | Lancaster Day Nursery Full day care · 66 places · LA1 4RP | Outstanding (2022) |
| 2 | Total Tots Ltd Full day care · 62 places · LA1 3PE | Report card: 3 strong, 2 expected (Dec 2025) |
| 3 | Appledore Montessori Full day care · 23 places · LA1 5QU | Good (2024) |
| 4 | Cathedral Playgroup Sessional day care · 32 places · LA1 3BU | Good (2024) |
| 5 | Christ Church School Playgroup Full day care · 18 places · LA1 3ES | Good (2024) |
| 6 | Nippers Children's Day Nursery Ltd Full day care · 36 places · LA1 2LN | Good (2024) |
| 7 | University of Cumbria Pre-School Centre Full day care · 86 places · LA1 3JD | Good (2023) |
| 8 | Mucky Pups Pre School Full day care · 24 places · LA1 1TP | Good (2023) |
| 9 | Rising Stars Nursery Full day care · 88 places · LA1 3HL | Good (2022) |
| 10 | Tiny Treasures Full day care · 30 places · LA1 4HX | Good (2022) |
| 11 | Nazareth House Day Nursery Full day care · 67 places · LA1 5AQ | Good (2022) |
| 12 | Brookdale Day Nursery Ltd Full day care · 49 places · LA1 4QJ | Report card: 3 expected, 2 needs attention (Nov 2025) |
| 13 | Appletree Nursery School Little Pips Sessional day care · 6 places · LA1 5QB | Not yet inspected |
| 14 | Bowerham Primary and Nursery School Baby Unit Sessional day care · 6 places · LA1 4BS | Not yet inspected |
How much does nursery cost in Lancaster?
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 Lancaster?
Of 14 nurseries and pre-schools in Lancaster, 1 have Ofsted's top results (Outstanding, or mostly strong or exceptional on the new report card). Listed first: Lancaster Day Nursery, Total Tots Ltd, Appledore Montessori.
How much does nursery cost in Lancaster?
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 Lancaster?
14 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools, 12 of them inspected so far.
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.