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Nurseries in Westmorland and Furness

There are 57 nurseries and pre-schools on the Ofsted register in Westmorland and Furness council area, and 8 other childcare settings such as out-of-school clubs.

Inspection grades in Westmorland and Furness

  • Ofsted report cards: 12 settings (21 Strong standard, 48 Expected standard, 1 Needs attention)
  • Ofsted grades before November 2025: 37 settings (7 Outstanding, 30 Good)

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

Childminders and home childcarers

  • 51 registered childminders in Westmorland and Furness (Ofsted childcare register, as at 30 June 2026)
  • 1 registered home childcarer in Westmorland and Furness (Ofsted childcare register, as at 30 June 2026)
  • 1 childcare setting in a private home in Westmorland and Furness (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 Montessori Nursery School Ltd - Day nursery, Grange-over-sands LA11 6PR, ages 2 to 3, 24 places
    Ofsted report card, 8 April 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Alston Pre-School - Pre-school, Alston CA9 3QU, ages 2 to 4, 20 places
    Ofsted, 19 October 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Barrow Day Nursery - Day nursery, Barrow In Furness LA14 4LF, ages 0 to 4, 120 places
    Ofsted, 10 June 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Blossom Trees Nursery Ltd - Day nursery, Kendal LA8 9LR, ages 1 to 4, 43 places
    Ofsted, 24 July 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Bolton Nursery - Day nursery, Appleby CA16 6AW, ages 0 to 5, 28 places
    Ofsted, 7 December 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Bram's Little Sailors - Day nursery, Barrow in Furness LA14 2RX, ages 0 to 11, 65 places
    Ofsted, 22 March 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Brough Pre-School Nursery - Day nursery, Kirkby Stephen CA17 4EW, ages 2 to 3, 18 places
    Ofsted, 10 September 2025: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Cheeky Monkeys Childcare - Day nursery, Barrow-In-Furness LA13 9PA, ages 0 to 10, 52 places
    Ofsted, 6 September 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Church Walk Pre-school Nursery Ltd. - Day nursery, Ulverston LA12 7EN, ages 2 to 11, 36 places
    Ofsted, 5 October 2023: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Coniston Childcare Nursery - Day nursery, Coniston LA21 8AL, ages 0 to 8, 15 places
    Ofsted, 20 August 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Country Tots Childcare NW - Day nursery, Askam-in-furness LA16 7HD, ages 0 to 4, 51 places
    Ofsted report card, 3 June 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Daisies Day Nursery - Day nursery, Kendal LA9 6DR, ages 1 to 4, 49 places
    Ofsted, 14 March 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Dane Ghyll Daycare - Pre-school, Barrow-in-furness LA14 4PG, 9 places
  • Dinky Dales Nursery - Day nursery, Kirkby Stephen CA17 4NQ, ages 0 to 4, 52 places
    Ofsted, 24 May 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • First Class Kids - Day nursery, Penrith CA11 9QT, ages 0 to 4, 46 places
    Ofsted, 11 October 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Gilderdale Nursery - Day nursery, Alston CA9 3BE, ages 1 to 4, 32 places
    Ofsted, 12 April 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Grange Pre-School - Pre-school, Grange-Over-Sands LA11 7AA
  • Happy Tots Day Nursery Limited - Day nursery, Barrow-in-Furness LA13 9JY, ages 0 to 4, 137 places
    Ofsted, 7 May 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Hindpool Nursery Daycare - Pre-school, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 5TS, 9 places
  • Ivegill Nursery - Day nursery, Carlisle CA4 0PA, ages 2 to 4, 14 places
    Ofsted, 11 March 2024: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Joeys At Milnthorpe Family Centre - Day nursery, Milnthorpe LA7 7QF, ages 0 to 11, 72 places
    Ofsted, 17 July 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Kids Planet Hollingarth - Day nursery, Barrow-in-Furness LA13 9AA, ages 0 to 4, 58 places
    Ofsted, 7 June 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Kids Planet Old Stables - Day nursery, Penrith CA11 0DT, ages 0 to 4, 78 places
    Ofsted report card, 9 July 2026: Strong standard in 1 area, Expected standard in 4 areas, Needs attention in 1 area; safeguarding standards met
  • Kids Planet Old Vicarage - Day nursery, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 5SS, ages 0 to 5, 105 places
    Ofsted, 26 September 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Kids Planet Penrith - Day nursery, Penrith CA11 9BP, ages 0 to 4, 96 places
    Ofsted report card, 31 March 2026: Strong standard in 1 area, Expected standard in 5 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Kids' Zone - Pre-school, Penrith CA11 0LP, ages 0 to 12, 12 places
    Ofsted, 18 August 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • K&K Childcare - Day nursery, Ambleside LA22 9DH, ages 0 to 4, 75 places
    Ofsted, 19 February 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Lambkins Day Nursery & Pre-School Centre - Day nursery, Penrith CA10 1LW, 90 places
    Ofsted, 19 October 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Lilyhowe Private Day Nursery & Pre-School Centre - Day nursery, Penrith CA11 9FB, 72 places
  • Lindale Muddy Boots Nursery - Pre-school, Grange-over-Sands LA11 6LE, ages 2 to 3, 16 places
    Ofsted, 30 September 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Little Oaks At Muddy Boots - Day nursery, Penrith CA11 8TS, ages 0 to 3, 48 places
    Ofsted report card, 29 September 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Little Saplings Day Nursery - Day nursery, Kendal LA9 6NZ, ages 0 to 4, 63 places
    Ofsted report card, 22 June 2026: Strong standard in 1 area, Expected standard in 5 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Little VIPs Daycare - Day nursery, Penrith CA10 2HT, ages 0 to 4, 45 places
    Ofsted report card, 17 June 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Little Wagtails - Day nursery, Ulverston LA12 9JU, ages 0 to 2, 15 places
    Ofsted, 21 April 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Lynwood Ashtree Day Nursery - Day nursery, Barrow-In-Furness LA13 9NG, ages 0 to 4, 74 places
    Ofsted, 17 August 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Meadow View - Day nursery, Kendal LA9 6PP, ages 0 to 4, 40 places
    Ofsted, 19 January 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Parkside Academy Baby Room - Day nursery, Barrow-in-furness LA13 9BY, ages 0 to 2, 12 places
    Ofsted report card, 10 December 2025: Strong standard in 1 area, Expected standard in 5 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Pennington Nursery - Day nursery, Ulverston LA12 0RT, ages 0 to 11, 111 places
    Ofsted, 19 June 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Penny Bridge Nursery - Day nursery, Ulverston LA12 7RQ, ages 2 to 11, 24 places
    Ofsted, 19 June 2025: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Penrith Pre-School Nursery - Day nursery, Penrith CA11 7TR, ages 2 to 4, 48 places
    Ofsted, 24 November 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Quarrybrow Nursery - Day nursery, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 4AR, ages 0 to 3, 48 places
    Ofsted report card, 29 September 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Queen Street Nursery and Pre-school - Day nursery, Penrith CA11 7XF, ages 2 to 4, 20 places
    Ofsted, 5 October 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Ramsden Robins Pre Nursery - Day nursery, Barrow-In-Furness LA14 1AN, ages 0 to 4, 32 places
    Ofsted, 9 December 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Rascals - Pre-school, Windermere LA23 2JX, ages 4 to 10, 44 places
    Ofsted report card, 9 July 2026: Strong standard in 4 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Red Squirrels Nursery - Pre-school, Appleby-In-Westmorland CA16 6NX, ages 2 to 4, 19 places
    Ofsted, 25 November 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Roose Nursery - Day nursery, Barrow-in-Furness LA13 0HF, ages 0 to 4, 61 places
    Ofsted, 10 March 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Sedbergh Playgroup - Pre-school, Sedbergh LA10 5AL, ages 2 to 3, 16 places
    Ofsted, 8 February 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Shining Stars Nursery (Appleby) Ltd - Day nursery, Appleby CA16 6LH, ages 0 to 4, 60 places
    Ofsted report card, 3 February 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • 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
  • Speckled Hen Day Nursery - Day nursery, Sedbergh LA10 5DL, ages 1 to 3, 18 places
    Ofsted, 7 July 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Stagecoach Kendal - Pre-school, Kendal LA9 4DL
  • Stripy Horse Day Nursery - Day nursery, Milnthorpe LA7 7PF, ages 0 to 4, 48 places
    Ofsted report card, 30 January 2026: Strong standard in 1 area, Expected standard in 5 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Sunnybrow - Day nursery, Kendal LA9 5DR, ages 0 to 3, 92 places
    Ofsted, 24 November 2023: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • The Mulberry Bush at Casterton - Day nursery, Carnforth LA6 2SG, 30 places
  • The Outward Bound Trust - Ullswater Centre - Day nursery, Penrith CA11 0JL
  • Walney Central Pre-School - Day nursery, Barrow-In-Furness LA14 3HY, ages 0 to 4, 45 places
    Ofsted, 6 February 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Windermere Outdoor Adventure Club - Pre-school, Windermere LA23 1BP

Out-of-school clubs and other childcare

  • Appleby Wraparound Care - The Buzz Club - Out-of-school club, Appleby In Westmorland CA16 6TX, 15 places
  • Carole Quill's Kids Club - Out-of-school club, Windermere LA23 2DD
  • Ghyllside Out Of School Club - Out-of-school club, Kendal LA9 4JB, 52 places
  • Grange Kids Club - Out-of-school club, Grange-over-Sands LA11 7JF, 16 places
  • Kendal Leisure Centre Holiday Playscheme - Out-of-school club, Kendal LA9 7HX
  • Lakeside Ymca Daycamps - Out-of-school club, Ulverston LA12 8BD
  • School's Out Club - Out-of-school club, Carnforth LA6 1ND, 20 places
  • Ulverston Leisure Centre Holiday Playscheme - Out-of-school club, Ulverston LA12 9HT

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)

Towns in Westmorland and Furness

Schools in Westmorland and Furness

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