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Nurseries in Carnforth

There are 9 nurseries and pre-schools on the Ofsted register in Carnforth, and 2 other childcare settings such as out-of-school clubs.

Inspection grades in Carnforth

  • Ofsted grades before November 2025: 8 settings (1 Outstanding, 7 Good)

Grades are shown only where the inspectorate has published the report.

Nurseries and pre-schools

  • Bolton Le Sands Pre-School - Day nursery, Carnforth LA5 8DW, ages 2 to 8, 26 places
    Ofsted, 26 May 2023: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Kidz Day Nursery Ltd - Day nursery, Carnforth LA6 3BT, ages 0 to 8, 55 places
    Ofsted, 15 July 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Larksfoot - Pre-school, Carnforth LA5 9ST, ages 3 to 9, 19 places
    Ofsted, 14 June 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Nippers Day Nursery Ltd - Day nursery, Carnforth LA5 9LE, ages 0 to 4, 35 places
    Ofsted, 29 September 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Over Kellet Playgroup - Pre-school, Carnforth LA6 1DT, ages 2 to 4, 240 places
    Ofsted, 27 June 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Smile Day Nursery & Out of School Club - Day nursery, Carnforth LA6 2NP, ages 0 to 10, 68 places
    Ofsted, 28 October 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Sparkles - Day nursery, Carnforth LA6 3DJ, ages 0 to 10, 14 places
    Ofsted, 18 August 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • The Mulberry Bush at Casterton - Day nursery, Carnforth LA6 2SG, 30 places
  • Warton Preschool - Pre-school, Carnforth LA5 9QU, ages 2 to 4, 30 places
    Ofsted, 29 November 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective

Out-of-school clubs and other childcare

  • Happy Minds at Carnforth Primary - Out-of-school club, Carnforth LA5 9LQ, 15 places
  • School's Out Club - Out-of-school club, Carnforth LA6 1ND, 20 places

Nursery groups with settings here

Ofsted report cards (England, from November 2025)

Since 10 November 2025 Ofsted has graded nurseries and pre-schools on a report card. There is no single overall grade. Instead, each of six areas gets one of five grades: Exceptional, Strong standard, Expected standard, Needs attention, Urgent improvement.

The six areas are inclusion; curriculum and teaching; achievement; behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines; children's welfare and wellbeing; leadership and governance. Safeguarding is judged on its own, as met or not met.

Expected standard means the setting does what Ofsted expects of every setting. Strong standard and Exceptional are above that; Needs attention and Urgent improvement mean Ofsted found things the setting has to put right.

Source: Ofsted reports

Ofsted grades before November 2025 (England)

Inspections before November 2025 gave one overall grade on a four-point scale: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement, Inadequate. Ofsted also graded the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management, and said whether safeguarding was effective.

Settings keep their last grade until Ofsted visits again, so many nurseries still show a grade from this older scale.

Source: Ofsted reports

Funded childcare hours in England

All 3 and 4 year olds in England can get 15 hours of free childcare a week, for 38 weeks of the year.

Working parents of children aged 9 months to 4 years old can get 30 hours of free childcare a week for 38 weeks of the year (Free Childcare for Working Parents), if they meet the earnings rules. You confirm your details every 3 months.

Some 2 year olds can get 15 hours a week when the family gets certain kinds of extra support.

The hours are used at a registered provider that offers them, so ask each nursery how it offers the funded hours.

Source: GOV.UK: Free Childcare for Working Parents, check if you're eligible · GOV.UK: Free childcare and education for 2 to 4 year olds (checked 31 October 2026)

Council area

Schools in Carnforth

Sources: Ofsted, registers as at 30 June 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.