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Nurseries in Chester

There are 55 nurseries and pre-schools on the Ofsted and Care Inspectorate Wales registers in Chester, and 21 other childcare settings such as out-of-school clubs.

Inspection grades in Chester

  • Ofsted report cards: 6 settings (13 Strong standard, 16 Expected standard, 7 Needs attention)
  • Ofsted grades before November 2025: 31 settings (4 Outstanding, 26 Good, 1 Requires improvement)
  • Care Inspectorate Wales ratings: 3 settings (4 Excellent, 4 Good, 4 Adequate)

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

Childminders and home childcarers

  • 8 registered childminders in Chester (Care Inspectorate Wales, as at 31 October 2026)

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

Nurseries and pre-schools

  • Amasing - Day nursery, Chester CH3 5LB
  • Ashton Eagles - Day nursery, Chester CH3 8AB
  • Ashton House Nursery - Day nursery, Chester CH3 8AB, ages 0 to 11, 242 places
    Ofsted, 31 August 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Ash Tree Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chester CH1 5NF, ages 0 to 10, 97 places
    Ofsted, 9 May 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Belgrave Pre-School Playgroup - Pre-school, Chester CH4 7QS, ages 2 to 4, 30 places
    Ofsted, 25 September 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Best Friends Day Nursery Chester Limited - Day nursery, Chester CH2 3AD, ages 1 to 4, 51 places
    Ofsted, 5 February 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Bright Horizons Countess of Chester Day Nursery and Preschool - Day nursery, Chester CH2 1UL, ages 0 to 4, 72 places
    Ofsted report card, 10 August 2026: Needs attention in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Broughton Primaries Play Buddies - Day nursery, Chester CH4 0QQ, 100 places
    Care Inspectorate Wales: Good in 3 themes, Adequate in 1 theme
  • CEPD at Boughton Heath - Pre-school, Chester CH3 5RW
  • CEPD at St Clare's - Pre-school, Chester CH4 8HX
  • CEPD at St Werburghs - Pre-school, Chester CH2 3AD
  • CEPD at Waverton - Pre-school, Chester CH3 7QT
  • Cheshire County Sports - A-Star - Day nursery, Chester CH2 1PR
  • Chester Day Nursery and Nursery School - Day nursery, Chester CH1 3ND, ages 0 to 4, 90 places
    Ofsted, 27 April 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Chester Dorin Park - Pre-school, Chester CH2 1HD
  • Chester Hopscotch - Day nursery, Chester CH1 4BE, ages 0 to 4, 76 places
    Ofsted, 22 March 2023: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Chestnut House Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chester CH1 6EN, 82 places
  • CZ Activity Clubs - Pre-school, Chester CH2 1LH
  • Dandelions Day Nursery And Family Centre - Day nursery, Chester CH3 6QP, ages 0 to 10, 86 places
    Ofsted, 8 June 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Dodleston Pre-School - Pre-school, Chester CH4 9NN, ages 2 to 4, 24 places
    Ofsted, 9 May 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • D.R Sports Clubs - Ashton Hayes - Day nursery, Chester CH3 8AB
  • Early Years at Natures Nook - Pre-school, Chester CH4 8HX, ages 2 to 4, 57 places
    Ofsted report card, 9 July 2026: Expected standard in 5 areas, Needs attention in 1 area; safeguarding standards met
  • Fir Cones Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chester CH2 2HJ, ages 0 to 4, 35 places
    Ofsted, 9 October 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Guilden Sutton Pre-school - Day nursery, Chester CH3 7SW, ages 2 to 4, 26 places
    Ofsted, 15 June 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Headstart Nursery and Pre-School - Day nursery, Chester CH2 1HX, ages 0 to 10, 102 places
    Ofsted, 26 January 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Headstart-On-The-Hill Nursery & Pre-School - Day nursery, Chester CH1 2DW, ages 0 to 5, 102 places
    Ofsted, 6 June 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Hetty (Hoole Enterprise Trust - Time for You) - Day nursery, Chester CH2 3HB, ages 2 to 11, 56 places
    Ofsted, 5 May 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Hoole Bank Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chester CH2 4ES, ages 1 to 4, 42 places
    Ofsted, 30 July 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Hope Green Nursery - Day nursery, Chester CH4 0HT, 36 places
    Care Inspectorate Wales: Good in 1 theme, Adequate in 3 themes
  • Jigsaw Ash Tree Farm Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chester CH4 7QR, ages 0 to 4, 76 places
    Ofsted, 28 March 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Jigsaw Curzon House Nursery - Day nursery, Chester CH4 9DQ, ages 0 to 4, 158 places
    Ofsted, 21 June 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Kids Planet Chester - Day nursery, Chester CH3 7DB, ages 0 to 4, 137 places
    Ofsted, 27 April 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Kids Planet Great Boughton - Day nursery, Chester CH3 5XF, ages 0 to 4, 170 places
    Ofsted, 8 November 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Little Disciples Nursery Plus - Pre-school, Chester CH4 0EN, 15 places
  • Little Learners Nursery School - Day nursery, Chester CH2 1AQ, ages 0 to 4, 76 places
    Ofsted, 6 June 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Majestic Academy - Day nursery, Chester CH1 4QL
  • Newton Park Pre School - Pre-school, Chester CH2 2LA, ages 2 to 4, 24 places
    Ofsted, 18 September 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Oldfield Pre-school - Pre-school, Chester CH3 5LB, ages 2 to 4, 24 places
    Ofsted, 27 March 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Olive tree preschool - Day nursery, Chester CH4 8EY, ages 0 to 4, 40 places
    Ofsted report card, 13 March 2026: Strong standard in 3 areas, Expected standard in 3 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Partou Buttercups Day Nursery & Pre-School - Day nursery, Chester CH2 4HT, ages 1 to 4, 63 places
    Ofsted, 10 June 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • S4YC @ Blacon Cc - Day nursery, Chester CH1 5DB, ages 0 to 4, 79 places
    Ofsted, 31 July 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • S4YC @ Mickle Trafford Preschool - Day nursery, Chester CH2 4EF, ages 1 to 4
    Ofsted, 21 January 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • S4YC @ Rocking Horse Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chester CH4 0NP, 70 places
    Care Inspectorate Wales: Excellent in 4 themes
  • Saltney Small Steps - Day nursery, Chester CH4 0BN, 19 places
  • Sandy Bears Saughall Forest Pre school - Pre-school, Chester CH1 6EN, ages 2 to 4, 53 places
    Ofsted report card, 12 February 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Stepping Stones - Pre-school, Chester CH1 5JG, ages 2 to 4, 41 places
    Ofsted, 17 July 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Stepping Stones Montessori Childcare Limited - Day nursery, Chester CH3 7QN, ages 0 to 4, 58 places
    Ofsted, 14 December 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Tarvin Pre-School & Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chester CH3 8LS, ages 2 to 4, 45 places
    Ofsted report card, 25 February 2026: Strong standard in 3 areas, Expected standard in 3 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • The Nursery in Belong - Day nursery, Chester CH1 3AD, ages 0 to 4, 32 places
    Ofsted, 10 December 2024: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • The Spinney Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chester CH2 3PA, ages 0 to 5, 41 places
    Ofsted, 19 September 2025: Requires improvement overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Thrive Cotton Lane - Day nursery, Chester CH3 7PZ, ages 0 to 4, 89 places
    Ofsted, 19 March 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Thrive Grosvenor House - Day nursery, Chester CH4 9JN, ages 0 to 4, 97 places
    Ofsted report card, 11 August 2026: Strong standard in 1 area, Expected standard in 5 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • University Of Chester - Kingsway Buildings Nursery - Day nursery, Chester CH2 2LB, ages 0 to 4, 40 places
    Ofsted, 16 January 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Waverton Pre School - Pre-school, Chester CH3 7QT, ages 2 to 4, 24 places
    Ofsted, 8 June 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Woody Wrap Around - Day nursery, Chester CH4 8BT, 19 places

Out-of-school clubs and other childcare

  • Amasing - Out-of-school club, Chester CH3 7AY
  • Buddies Out of School Care Ltd - Out-of-school club, Chester CH1 5JG, 20 places
  • Buddies Out of School Club - Out-of-school club, Chester CH1 6LG, 25 places
  • Buddies Out of School Club - Out-of-school club, Chester CH1 4HG, 40 places
  • Conkers After School Club - Out-of-school club, Chester CH1 6EP, 30 places
  • Earlyworld Kids Club - Out-of-school club, Chester CH2 2LA, 74 places
  • Explore Learning Chester - Out-of-school club, Chester CH3 5QJ
  • GS2 Club Ltd - Out-of-school club, Chester CH3 7ES, 35 places
  • Kids Planet Cherry Grove - Out-of-school club, Chester CH3 5EN, 45 places
  • Kings Camps - Out-of-school club, Chester CH4 7QL
  • LBC Kids @Elton Primary School - Out-of-school club, Chester CH2 4LT, 19 places
  • Little Disciples Out of School & Holiday Club - Out-of-school club, Chester CH4 0EN, 38 places
    Care Inspectorate Wales: Excellent in 4 themes
  • Mad Science At The King's School, Chester - Out-of-school club, Chester CH4 7QL
  • Mickle Trafford Village School Holiday Camps - Out-of-school club, Chester CH2 4EF
  • Play Smart Wrap Around Care Ltd - Out-of-school club, Chester CH4 9HD, 20 places
  • S4YC @ Christleton Out of School Club - Out-of-school club, Chester CH3 7AY, 30 places
  • S4YC Holiday Club - The Firs School - Out-of-school club, Chester CH2 2HJ, 30 places
  • S4YC Out of School Club Huntington Primary School - Out-of-school club, Chester CH3 6EA, 58 places
  • Smartcare Holiday Club - Out-of-school club, Chester CH3 7QT, 32 places
  • Stagecoach Chester - Out-of-school club, Chester CH3 5XF
  • Theatretrain Chester - Out-of-school club, Chester CH4 7AE

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

Care Inspectorate Wales ratings

Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) rates childcare settings on four themes: well-being, care and development, environment, and leadership and management. Each theme is rated Excellent, Good, Adequate, Poor.

There is no overall rating: read the four themes together.

Source: Care Inspectorate Wales

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)

Funded childcare hours in Wales

Parents of 3 and 4 year olds can apply for up to 30 hours a week of government funded nursery education and childcare (the Childcare Offer for Wales): at least 10 hours of nursery education and up to 20 hours of childcare, for up to 48 weeks of the year. Nursery education hours are applied for separately, through your council.

Flying Start funds 12.5 hours a week of childcare for 2 year olds. It is being made available across Wales starting with the most disadvantaged areas.

Source: GOV.WALES: Get up to 30 hours of childcare for 3 and 4 year olds · GOV.WALES: Get help from Flying Start (checked 31 October 2026)

Council area

Schools in Chester

Sources: Ofsted, Care Inspectorate Wales, registers as at 31 October 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.