Best nurseries in Scarborough
23 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools in North Yorkshire, 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 | Happy Jays Full day care · 30 places · YO11 3LR | Outstanding (2025) |
| 2 | Buttercup Pre School Full day care · 27 places · YO11 3NN | Outstanding (2025) |
| 3 | Hayleys Little Munchkins Full day care · 45 places · YO12 7JH | Outstanding (2024) |
| 4 | Newby Early Years Full day care · 30 places · YO12 5JA | Outstanding (2023) |
| 5 | Seamer Pre-School Full day care · 30 places · YO12 4RF | Outstanding (2022) |
| 6 | Harlequin Day Nursery Full day care · 48 places · YO12 6LA | Good (2025) |
| 7 | Jitterbugs Day Nursery Full day care · 72 places · YO11 2TD | Good (2025) |
| 8 | Wise Owls Educational Play Full day care · 22 places · YO11 3LJ | Good (2025) |
| 9 | MadHatters Pre School Nursery Full day care · 34 places · YO12 7SZ | Good (2025) |
| 10 | Northstead Community Pre-School Sessional day care · 30 places · YO12 6LG | Good (2025) |
| 11 | Wheatcroft Preschool Playgroup Sessional day care · 24 places · YO11 3AA | Good (2025) |
| 12 | Buckets & Spades Nursery Full day care · 98 places · YO11 1SQ | Good (2025) |
| 13 | Kiddiwinks Nursery Full day care · 36 places · YO12 5PB | Good (2024) |
| 14 | Seedlings Nursery and Pre-school Full day care · 48 places · YO12 7BE | Good (2024) |
| 15 | Little Footsteps Nursery Full day care · 60 places · YO12 7JT | Good (2023) |
| 16 | Dovecote Playgroup Sessional day care · 30 places · YO12 5EA | Good (2022) |
| 17 | Skylark Day Nursery Full day care · 44 places · YO12 5AB | Good (2022) |
| 18 | Amazing Owls Educational Play Full day care · 20 places · YO11 3LJ | Good (2022) |
| 19 | Kinder Place Full day care · 40 places · YO12 6QN | Good (2021) |
| 20 | Green Hedges Day Nursery Full day care · 51 places · YO11 2BJ | Report card: 1 expected, 4 needs attention (Jan 2026) |
| 21 | Childhaven Under Two's Full day care · 12 places · YO11 1UB | Not yet inspected |
| 22 | Little Learners Nursery and Preschool Full day care · 38 places · YO12 7RX | Not yet inspected |
| 23 | Mencap Full day care · YO11 2JE | Not yet inspected |
How much does nursery cost in Scarborough?
Typical weekly nursery prices for a child under two in Yorkshire and The Humber, 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 Scarborough?
Of 23 nurseries and pre-schools in Scarborough, 5 have Ofsted's top results (Outstanding, or mostly strong or exceptional on the new report card). Listed first: Happy Jays, Buttercup Pre School, Hayleys Little Munchkins.
How much does nursery cost in Scarborough?
In Yorkshire and The Humber, a part-time place (25 hours a week) for a child under two typically costs £156 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 Scarborough?
23 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools, 20 of them inspected so far.
Nurseries nearby
Cross Hills and Steeton · Harrogate · Knaresborough · Ripon · Barlby · Bedale · Carlton (North Yorkshire) · Catterick Garrison · Church Fenton · Darley · Easingwold · Hambleton (North Yorkshire) · Sheriff Hutton · Staithes · Thorpe Willoughby · Appleton · Sherburn · Thornton · Follifoot · Stray
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.