Nurseries and childcare in Water
We know of 13 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers within 3 miles of the middle of Water, 1 of them in Water itself. 2 are state nursery schools, shown below with their latest Ofsted inspection: 2 of 2 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 within 3 miles of the middle of Water
- Staghills Nursery SchoolGood or better Standards maintained (2025) · 2.2 mi · phone and directions
- Bacup Nursery SchoolGood or better Report card Jul 2026: Strong standard in every area · 2.2 mi · 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 near Water, nearest first
- Whitewell Bottom Pre School Preschool · 0.2 miles Whitewell Bottom Community Centre, Rossendale, BB4 9LB Call
- Whitewell Bottom Pre School Day care preschool · 1.2 miles Burnley Rd East, Rossendale, BB4 Call
- Staghills Nursery School Elementary school · 2.1 miles Top Barn Ln, Rossendale, BB4 Call
- Bacup Nursery School Elementary school · 2.2 miles Cowtoot Ln, Bacup, OL13 Call
- Bright Futures Nursery School Preschool · 2.2 miles Bright Futures Nursery School, Calder Rd, Rossendale, BB4 Call
- Good As Gold Childcare Centre Day care preschool · 2.3 miles Gaghills Road Gaghills House, Rossendale, BB4 9BB 5 Call
- Bambinos Boutique Daycare Day care preschool · 2.3 miles Burnley Rd, Rossendale, BB4 8HY Call
- Cherry tree pre school Day care preschool · 2.4 miles Cherry Crescent , Rossendale, BB4 6DL Call
- The Maden Centre Day care preschool · 2.5 miles Rochdale Road, Bacup, OL13 9NZ Call
- Greenfields Nursery Preschool · 2.5 miles Greenfield St, Rawtenstall, BB4 Call
- Jay Jay's Childcare Home service · 2.5 miles 36 Bank St, Rossendale, BB4 8DY Call
- Little Minds Education Forest School Nursery Preschool · 2.7 miles Land North of, Brunswick Terrace, Bacup, OL13 Call
- Oakenhead Resource Centre Child care and day care · 2.8 miles Haslingden Old Rd, Rossendale, BB4 8RR 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.
Nurseries and childcare nearby
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 Water?
We know of 13 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers within 3 miles of the middle of Water, including 2 state nursery schools. Childminders working from home don’t always appear on maps, so there may be more.
More in Water
Nursery school inspections from Ofsted, Open Government Licence. Listings from Overture Maps, the Food Standards Agency and © OpenStreetMap contributors. Missing one? Tell us.