Nurseries in Central Bedfordshire

There are 86 nurseries and pre-schools on the Ofsted register in Central Bedfordshire council area, and 57 other childcare settings such as out-of-school clubs.

Inspection grades in Central Bedfordshire

Ofsted report cards: 8 settings (36 Strong standard, 8 Expected standard, 4 Needs attention)
Ofsted grades before November 2025: 62 settings (11 Outstanding, 51 Good)

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

Childminders and home childcarers

281 registered childminders in Central Bedfordshire (Ofsted childcare register, as at 30 June 2026)
49 registered home childcarers in Central Bedfordshire (Ofsted childcare register, as at 30 June 2026)
1 childcare setting in a private home in Central Bedfordshire (Ofsted childcare register, as at 30 June 2026)

Childminders look after children in their own homes. We show how many are registered, not who they are.

Nurseries and pre-schools

Acorn Pre-School & The Mighty Oaks - Pre-school, Shefford SG17 5XA, ages 2 to 11, 85 places
Ofsted report card, 2 July 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Acre Wood Day Nursery (Arlesey) Ltd - Day nursery, Arlesey SG15 6RH, ages 1 to 4, 51 places
Ofsted, 5 July 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
AJJ'S Nurseries T/A Bizzie Bees - Day nursery, Dunstable LU6 3QF, ages 0 to 4, 50 places
Ofsted, 19 October 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Aristotots Nursery School (LB) - Day nursery, Leighton Buzzard LU7 1FD, ages 0 to 4, 60 places
Ofsted, 1 December 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Arlesey Pre-School - Pre-school, Arlesey SG15 6SN, ages 2 to 9, 24 places
Ofsted, 16 May 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Ashbourne Day Nurseries at Houghton Regis - Day nursery, Houghton Regis LU5 6TW, ages 0 to 4, 104 places
Ofsted, 8 January 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Ashbourne Day Nurseries at Leighton Buzzard - Day nursery, Leighton Buzzard LU7 3FE, ages 0 to 4, 47 places
Ofsted, 26 March 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Aspley Guise Preschool - Pre-school, Aspley Guise MK17 8JT, ages 3 to 4, 44 places
Ofsted, 15 November 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Banana Moon Day Nursery - Day nursery, Lower Sundon LU3 3NZ, ages 0 to 4, 52 places
Ofsted, 5 December 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Barton-le-Clay Pre-School - Pre-school, Bedford MK45 4NS, ages 2 to 5, 42 places
Ofsted, 17 November 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
BEST Nursery and Extended Services (Langford) - Day nursery, Biggleswade SG18 9QA, ages 2 to 12, 61 places
Ofsted, 27 February 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Best Nursery (Arlesey) - Day nursery, Arlesey SG15 6SL, ages 0 to 12, 65 places
Ofsted, 21 May 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Best Nursery (Shefford) - Day nursery, Shefford SG17 5QS, ages 0 to 4, 64 places
Ofsted, 12 December 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Bluebell Playgroup And After School Club - Pre-school, Linslade LU7 2UA, ages 0 to 4, 28 places
Ofsted, 12 June 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Brambley Tots Day Nursery - Day nursery, Biggleswade SG18 8AZ, ages 0 to 4, 64 places
Ofsted, 24 January 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Bumblebees Pre-School - Pre-school, Leighton Buzzard LU7 3AJ, 42 places
Busy Bees At Biggleswade - Day nursery, Biggleswade SG18 8UQ, ages 0 to 4, 106 places
Ofsted, 19 August 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Busy Bees at Biggleswade Saxon Centre - Day nursery, Biggleswade SG18 8AT, ages 0 to 4, 112 places
Ofsted, 6 February 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Busy Bees at Sandy - Day nursery, Sandy SG19 1TH, ages 0 to 4, 70 places
Ofsted, 7 July 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Busy Bees, Stotfold - Day nursery, Stotfold, Hitchin SG5 4LD, ages 0 to 4, 64 places
Ofsted, 30 January 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Caddington Pre-School - Pre-school, Luton LU1 4JD, ages 2 to 4, 24 places
Ofsted, 11 May 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Cedars Day Nursery - Day nursery, Leighton Buzzard LU7 2PA, ages 0 to 4, 99 places
Ofsted, 30 November 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Cherry Trees Day Nursery - Day nursery, Bedford MK43 0ZU, ages 0 to 4, 95 places
Ofsted, 23 April 2024: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Cleverkidz - Day nursery, Dunstable LU5 5JB, ages 0 to 4, 122 places
Ofsted report card, 15 April 2026: Expected standard in 2 areas, Needs attention in 4 areas; safeguarding standards met
Clophill Pre School - Pre-school, Clophill MK45 4DA, ages 2 to 5, 46 places
Ofsted, 24 April 2023: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Diamond Days Nursery - Day nursery, Dunstable LU6 1LN, ages 0 to 4, 24 places
Ofsted report card, 9 July 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Downside Pre-School - Pre-school, Dunstable LU5 4AS, ages 2 to 4, 44 places
Ofsted, 19 January 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Duckies' Learning Centre - Day nursery, Leighton Buzzard LU7 1EA, 39 places
Early Childhood Playbus - Day nursery, Leighton Buzzard LU7 9NY, 16 places
Flitwick Day Nursery - Day nursery, Bedford MK45 1AJ, ages 1 to 3, 84 places
Ofsted, 9 September 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Footsteps Nursery & Pre-School - Day nursery, Leighton Buzzard LU7 1NS, ages 1 to 4, 45 places
Ofsted, 17 February 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Fordfield House Nursery & After School Club - Day nursery, Bedford MK45 2HZ, ages 0 to 4, 80 places
Ofsted, 20 June 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Fordfield Nursery Ltd Ruxox House - Day nursery, Bedford MK45 5BN, ages 0 to 5, 75 places
Ofsted, 28 June 2024: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Gravenhurst and Villages Pre-School - Day nursery, Bedford MK45 4JF, ages 2 to 9, 27 places
Ofsted, 3 March 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Growing Stars Preschool - Cranfield - Pre-school, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, 40 places
Growing Stars Pre-School Ltd - Pre-school, Bedford MK43 0LD, ages 2 to 4, 30 places
Ofsted, 18 November 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Harlington Village Pre-School - Pre-school, Dunstable LU5 6PD, ages 2 to 9, 31 places
Ofsted report card, 15 September 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Harper's Nursery School Ltd - Day nursery, Bedford MK44 3NX, ages 0 to 4, 98 places
Ofsted, 11 November 2021: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Heath Barn Preschool - Pre-school, Leighton Buzzard LU7 0AX, ages 2 to 4, 24 places
Ofsted, 8 July 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
HopeWorks Creche (Shefford) - Pre-school, Shefford SG17 5DJ, 28 places
Ickwell Pre-School - Pre-school, Biggleswade SG18 9EE, ages 2 to 4, 33 places
Ofsted, 6 June 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Kiddi Caru Day Nursery and Preschool - Day nursery, Leighton Buzzard LU7 9NX, ages 0 to 4, 95 places
Ofsted, 21 June 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Kik-Back Ltd - Day nursery, Leighton Buzzard LU7 3PF
Kip McGrath Biggleswade - Day nursery, Biggleswade SG18 0AT
Kumon Leighton Buzzard Central - Pre-school, Leighton Buzzard LU7 4AY
Ladybird Forest Pre-School Ampthill - Pre-school, Bedford MK45 2TD, ages 2 to 7, 43 places
Ofsted, 7 February 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Linden House Nursery - Day nursery, Dunstable LU6 1SE, ages 1 to 3, 36 places
Ofsted, 5 September 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Little Bluebells Playgroup & After School Club - Pre-school, Leighton Buzzard LU7 9LL, ages 2 to 9, 12 places
Ofsted, 17 October 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Little Footsteps Explorers Nursery and Pre School - Pre-school, Leighton Buzzard LU7 9HR, 32 places
Little Squirts Pre School - Day nursery, Bedford MK45 1HN, ages 1 to 4, 50 places
Ofsted, 6 January 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Little Steps at St Georges School - Day nursery, Dunstable LU5 4HR, ages 0 to 4, 60 places
Ofsted, 27 January 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Little Wrens Forest School - Pre-school, Ickwell SG18 9EF
Manor Farm Day Nursery - Day nursery, Sandy SG19 1DZ, ages 0 to 5, 61 places
Ofsted, 7 August 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Marston Vale Forest School - Pre-school, Bedford MK43 0DX
Mead Open Farm Day Nursery and Activity Day Camp - Day nursery, Leighton Buzzard LU7 9JH, ages 0 to 11, 114 places
Ofsted, 13 January 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Mentmore Under Fives - Pre-school, Leighton Buzzard LU7 2NZ, ages 2 to 4, 24 places
Ofsted, 4 October 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Merry Poppets Nursery - Day nursery, Henlow SG16 6DN, ages 0 to 4, 106 places
Ofsted, 12 January 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Merry Poppets Nursery Ltd - Day nursery, Bedford MK45 5AA, ages 0 to 4, 83 places
Ofsted, 27 October 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Merry Poppets Nursery Ltd - Day nursery, Bedford MK45 1BP, ages 0 to 4, 65 places
Ofsted, 7 March 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Merry Poppets Nursery Ltd - Day nursery, Beds MK45 2TD, ages 0 to 4, 60 places
Ofsted, 2 September 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick - Day nursery, Hitchin SG5 4BH, ages 0 to 4, 105 places
Ofsted, 5 July 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Orchard School & Nursery - Day nursery, Bedford MK45 4LT, 100 places
Oscar Club - Pre-school, Leighton Buzzard LU7 3PG, ages 2 to 4, 30 places
Ofsted, 28 February 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Owlets Preschool - Pre-school, Langford SG18 9RU, ages 2 to 4, 32 places
Ofsted, 24 February 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Pippin Pre-School - Pre-school, Hitchin SG5 4PF, ages 2 to 9, 60 places
Ofsted, 20 June 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Poppies Nursery - Pre-school, Stotfold SG5 4DL, ages 2 to 4
Ofsted, 9 May 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Poppyfields Nursery - Pre-school, Hitchin SG5 4FD, ages 2 to 7, 108 places
Ofsted, 5 October 2021: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Potton Pre-School - Pre-school, Sandy SG19 2PB, ages 2 to 4, 36 places
Ofsted, 20 June 2023: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Potton Woodentops - Pre-school, Potton SG19 2LU, ages 2 to 4, 32 places
Ofsted, 26 February 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Priory Parkside Pre-school - Pre-school, Dunstable LU5 5PY, ages 2 to 4, 40 places
Ofsted, 16 January 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Puddleducks Nursery - Day nursery, Bedford MK45 4HS, ages 0 to 4, 42 places
Ofsted, 29 November 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Rainbow Pre-School & Extended Services - Day nursery, Biggleswade SG18 0LY, ages 2 to 9, 50 places
Ofsted, 7 November 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Rainbow Pre-School & Extended Services - Pre-school, Biggleswade SG18 8UQ, ages 2 to 4, 53 places
Ofsted, 27 January 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Red Bird Tutoring - Pre-school, Dunstable LU6 1EW
Silsoe Pre-School - Pre-school, Bedford MK45 4GP, ages 2 to 4, 36 places
Ofsted, 26 September 2024: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Slip End Preschool - Pre-school, Luton LU1 4BX, ages 1 to 4, 24 places
Ofsted, 7 September 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Smilers Nursery Ltd - Day nursery, Sandy SG19 1AJ, ages 0 to 4, 66 places
Ofsted report card, 28 April 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Splat Day Nursery & Forest School - Day nursery, Henlow SG16 6DD, ages 1 to 4, 35 places
Ofsted report card, 21 November 2025: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Stagecoach Biggleswade Performing Arts School - Pre-school, Biggleswade SG18 0EJ
Stondon Stompers Pre-school - Day nursery, Lower Stondon SG16 6LQ, ages 2 to 3, 50 places
Ofsted, 6 September 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
The Family Tree Day Nursery - Day nursery, Shefford SG17 5BH, ages 0 to 4, 51 places
Ofsted, 24 April 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
The Fledglings - Pre-school, Bedford MK45 4BT, ages 4 to 11, 40 places
Ofsted report card, 19 March 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
The Future Games - Pre-school, Leighton Buzzard LU7 2AE
The Marston Day Nursery - Day nursery, Marston Moretaine MK43 0XT, ages 0 to 5, 101 places
Ofsted, 20 September 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Tilsworth Montessori School - Pre-school, Leighton Buzzard LU7 9PU, ages 2 to 4, 20 places
Ofsted report card, 11 June 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Toddington Childcare and Forest School - Day nursery, Dunstable LU5 6AJ, 63 places

Out-of-school clubs and other childcare

Ampthill Kids Holiday Camps - Out-of-school club, Bedford MK45 2QR
APF Activity Camps - Out-of-school club, Bedford MK45 4JZ
Barton Kids Club - Out-of-school club, Barton Le Clay MK45 4NS, 38 places
Creative Sports Coaching at Beecroft Academy - Out-of-school club, Dunstable LU6 1DW, 20 places
Creative Sports Coaching at Flitwick Lower School - Out-of-school club, Bedford MK45 1LU, 30 places
Dunstable Kumon Centre - Out-of-school club, Dunstable LU6 1LA
Dunstable Learning Centre - Out-of-school club, Dunstable LU6 1SU
Dunstable Training & Tuition - Out-of-school club, Dunstable LU6 3SN
Fingertips Luton Hoo Estate Forest Nursery - Out-of-school club, Luton LU1 4LF, 40 places
Fun Fest Dunstable - Out-of-school club, Dunstable LU5 4QP, 86 places
Fun Fest Harlington - Out-of-school club, Dunstable LU5 6PD, 96 places
Henlow Holiday Camps Derwent - Out-of-school club, Henlow SG16 6BA, 60 places
Henlow Premier Holiday Camp - Out-of-school club, Henlow SG16 6AN, 30 places
John Donne Play Active Club - Out-of-school club, Bedford MK44 3NL, 18 places
Junior Adventures Group @ Biggleswade Academy - Out-of-school club, Biggleswade SG18 8JU, 136 places
Junior Adventures Group @ Campton Academy - Out-of-school club, Shefford SG17 5PF, 24 places
Junior Adventures Group @ Clifton - Out-of-school club, Shefford SG17 5ES, 38 places
Junior Adventures Group @ Fairfield Park Lower School - Out-of-school club, Hitchin SG5 4SG, 24 places
Junior Adventures Group @ Haynes Lower School - Out-of-school club, Bedford MK45 3PR, 38 places
Junior Adventures Group @ Kingsmoor - Out-of-school club, Bedford MK45 1EY, 35 places
Junior Adventures Group @ Shefford - Out-of-school club, Shefford SG17 5XA, 44 places
Junior Adventures Group @ Templefield MK45 - Out-of-school club, Bedford MK45 1AJ, 34 places
Junior Adventures Group @ Thomas Johnson - Out-of-school club, Bedford MK43 0SB, 20 places
Kidz Zone Club - Beaudesert - Out-of-school club, Leighton Buzzard LU7 3DX, 30 places
Kidz Zone Club - Clipstone Brook School - Out-of-school club, Leighton Buzzard LU7 3PG, 35 places
Kidz Zone Club - Dunstable Icknield - Out-of-school club, Dunstable LU6 3AG, 15 places
Kidz Zone Club - Houghton Conquest - Out-of-school club, Bedford MK45 3LL, 13 places
Kidz Zone Club - Houghton Regis Primary - Out-of-school club, Dunstable LU5 5DH, 15 places
Kidz Zone Club - Leighton Middle School - Out-of-school club, Leighton Buzzard LU7 1EX
Kidz Zone Club - Lime Tree Academy - Out-of-school club, Dunstable LU5 5QN, 6 places
Kidz Zone Club - Linslade Lower School - Out-of-school club, Leighton Buzzard LU7 2QU, 30 places
Kidz Zone Club - Roecroft Lower School - Out-of-school club, Hitchin SG5 4PF, 18 places
Kidz Zone Club - Southcott Lower School - Out-of-school club, Leighton Buzzard LU7 2UA, 30 places
Kidz Zone Club - St Augustines Academy - Out-of-school club, Dunstable LU5 4AS, 6 places
Kidz Zone Club - St Leonards Lower School - Out-of-school club, Leighton Buzzard LU7 0AX, 15 places
Kidz Zone Club - Studham - Out-of-school club, Dunstable LU6 2QD, 20 places
Kidz Zone Club - Thornill Primary School - Out-of-school club, Dunstable LU5 5PE, 20 places
Kidz Zone Club - Totternoe - Out-of-school club, Dunstable LU6 1RE, 15 places
Kidz Zone Club (Woburn Lower School) - Out-of-school club, Milton Keynes MK17 9QL
Kik-Back Ltd - Out-of-school club, Leighton Buzzard LU7 1EW
Laburnum Play Active Club - Out-of-school club, Sandy SG19 1HQ, 15 places
Lawnside Premier Holiday Camp - Out-of-school club, Biggleswade SG18 0LX, 20 places
MBF Sports - Out-of-school club, Arlesey SG15 6XS
Mencap Holiday Club - Childcare setting, Leighton Buzzard LU7 1EX
Premier Care TSG - Out-of-school club, Dunstable LU5 6AJ, 20 places
Premier - Greenfield - Out-of-school club, Bedford MK45 5ES, 24 places
Premier - Russell Lower - Out-of-school club, Bedford MK45 2TD, 48 places
Premier - Westoning - Out-of-school club, Bedford MK45 5JH, 16 places
Rising Stars Wrap Around Clubs Ltd - Out-of-school club, Biggleswade SG18 0LX, 20 places
SS Ltd @ Flitwick - Out-of-school club, Flitwick MK45 1EY, 61 places
Stagecoach Milton Keynes East - Out-of-school club, Milton Keynes MK17 8NP
St Swithun's Play Active Club - Out-of-school club, Sandy SG19 1AX, 15 places
Swallowbrook ASC - Out-of-school club, Milton Keynes MK17 8SH, 24 places
Swallowfield After School Club - Out-of-school club, Milton Keynes MK17 8SL, 64 places
Theatretrain Biggleswade - Out-of-school club, Biggleswade SG18 8JU
Topkidz@Kensworth - Out-of-school club, Dunstable LU6 3RH, 10 places
TreeHouse Bellows - Out-of-school club, Dunstable LU6 1QZ, 15 places

Nursery groups with settings here

Busy Bees Nurseries Limited (4 here)
Merry Poppets Nursery Limited (4 here)
Bedfordshire East Schools Trust Nurseries Ltd (3 here)
Ashbourne Day Nurseries Limited (2 here)
Childbase Partnership Limited (2 here)
Davidson-Roberts Ltd (2 here)
Rosedale Nursery Ltd (1 here)
Smilers Nursery Limited (1 here)
The Childcare Corporation Limited (1 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)

Towns in Central Bedfordshire

Schools in Central Bedfordshire

Schools in Central Bedfordshire council area
Westfield Nursery School - Nursery
Willow Nursery School - Nursery
Ardley Hill Academy - Primary
Ashton St Peter's VA C of E School - Primary
Aspley Guise Village School - Primary
Beaudesert Lower School - Primary
Beecroft Academy - Primary
Biggleswade Academy - Primary
Caddington Village School - Primary
Caldecote Church of England Academy - Primary
Campton Academy - Primary
Chalton Lower School - Primary

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