Nurseries and childcare in Lancaster
We know of 42 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Lancaster. One is a state nursery school, shown below with its latest Ofsted inspection: 1 of 1 judged good or better. Most nurseries are private, voluntary or part of a school, and Ofsted inspects those too: every one has a report on Ofsted’s website.
State nursery schools across Lancaster
- Appletree Nursery SchoolGood or better Good (2024) · phone and directions
Each name goes to its Ofsted reports. Primary schools, many with a nursery class, are on the schools page.
Nurseries and childcare by area
A few to start with
- Bright Horizons Lancaster Day Nursery and Preschool Home service Hospitots Day Nursery, Ashton Rd, Lancaster, LA1 4RP Call
- Bright Horizons Families UK Day care preschool Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Ashton Road, Lancaster, LA1 4RP 5 Call
- Brookdale Day Nursery Day care preschool Hala Rd, Lancaster, LA1 4QJ 5 Call
- Cheeky Cherubs Day care preschool 162 W End Rd, Morecambe, LA4 4EF 5 Call
- Heysham Community Pre-School Preschool Emmaus Rd, Morecambe, LA3 2RB 5 Call
- Infinity Pre-School Preschool Hanging Green Ln, Lancaster, LA2 6JB 5 Call
- Lancaster Road Nursery Day care preschool Lancaster Rd, Morecambe, LA4 5 Call
- Morecambe Day Nursery Day care preschool Poulton Children's Centre, Clark St, Morecambe, LA4 5HT 5 Call
- Nazareth House Day Nursery Preschool Ashton Rd, Lancaster, LA1 4 Call
- Nippers Childrens Day Nurseries Day care preschool 74 Lancaster Rd, Carnforth, LA5 9LE 5 Call
- Rising Stars Nursery Preschool Firbank Rd, Lancaster, LA1 3HL 5 Call
- Sandcastles Nursery and Beach School Day care preschool Marine Rd E, Morecambe, LA4 5 Call
- Abacus Day Nursery Child care and day care 30 Claremont Rd, Morecambe, LA4 4HL Call
- Appletree Nursery School Preschool Milking Stile Ln, Lancaster, LA1 5QB Call
- Busy Bodies Pre-school Preschool Melling St.Wilfrid Primary School, Lodge Ln, Carnforth, LA6 Call
- Carousel Child Care Morecambe Ltd Day care preschool Norton Place, Morecambe, LA3 Call
- Cawthorne's Endowed Primary & Nursery School Preschool Cawthorne’s Endowed School, , Lancaster, LA2 Call
- Clair's Childminding Service Day care preschool Edenvale Cres, Morecambe, LA1 Call
- Infinity Pre-School Preschool High Road, Lancaster, LA26 Call
- Larksfoot CIC Pre-School Preschool Leighton Hall, Carnforth, LA5 Call
- Little Learners (Galgate) Nursery & Preschool Day care preschool St.Joseph's Church, Main Road, Galgate, Lancaster, LA2 Call
- Lune Park Children's Centre Day care preschool Owen Rd, Lancaster, LA1 2LN Call
- Mossgate Day Nursery Day care preschool Kingsway, Morecambe, LA3 Call
- Over Kellet Playgroup Preschool Over Kellet Village Hall, Carnforth, LA6 Call
Choosing a nursery
- Read the latest Ofsted report. Search by name or postcode on reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Private nurseries and childminders are on it as well as school nurseries.
- Visit, and ask about the day. Ratios of staff to children, how they settle a new child in, food, naps and time outdoors.
- Ask about funded hours and extra charges. Some nurseries charge for meals, nappies or trips on top of funded hours.
- Check waiting lists early. Popular nurseries fill months ahead, especially for babies.
Questions people ask
What do Ofsted grades mean for nurseries?
Until late 2025 Ofsted gave one overall grade: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate. Newer inspections give a report card instead, grading each area on a scale from exceptional to urgent improvement. Older grades stay on a nursery’s record until its next inspection.
Can I get free childcare hours?
In England every three and four year old can get 15 hours a week of funded childcare in term time. Working parents can get up to 30 hours a week from when their child is nine months old, if each parent earns at least 16 hours a week at the minimum wage and under £100,000 a year. Check and apply at childcarechoices.gov.uk.
How do I check a nursery’s Ofsted report?
Search for it by name or postcode on reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Every registered nursery and childminder in England has a page there with its inspection reports.
How many nurseries are there in Lancaster?
We know of 42 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Lancaster, including 1 state nursery school. Childminders working from home don’t always appear on maps, so there may be more.
Other things people look for
Nursery school inspections from Ofsted, Open Government Licence. Listings from Overture Maps, the Food Standards Agency and © OpenStreetMap contributors. Missing one? Tell us.