Nurseries and childcare in York
We know of 55 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across York. 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 York
- St Paul's Nursery SchoolGood or better School remains Good (2023) · 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
- Beehive Pre-School Playgroup Preschool Bray Road, Fulford, York, YO10 4JY 5 Call
- Bishopthorpe PreSchool Playgroup Preschool 6 Ferry Ln, York, YO23 2SB 5 Call
- Clifton Day Nursery Day care preschool 5 Sutton Way, York, YO30 6JF 5 Call
- Daisy Chain Nursery Day care preschool Cinder Ln, York, YO31 7TP 5 Call
- Joseph's Nursery Day care preschool The Pavilion, Rawcliffe Ln, York, YO30 6NP 5 Call
- Little Acorns Day care preschool Hartrigg Oak/Lucombe Way, York, YO32 4DS 4 Call
- Little Bugs Childcare Home service The Web Adventure Park, Wigginton Road, York, YO32 3 Call
- Little Green Rascals Day care preschool Old School House, School Ln, York, YO23 2RE 5 Call
- Little Green Rascals Elvington Preschool York Maze, Elvington Lane, York, YO19 3 Call
- St Paul's Nursery School Preschool 12 St Paul's Square, York, YO24 4BD 5 Call
- Stepping Stones Pre-School Preschool Border Road, York, YO32 5 Call
- Sunshine Day Nursery (York) Ltd Day care preschool 410 Huntington Rd, York, YO31 9HU 4 Call
- The Wonder Years C I O Preschool The Bungalow, Wigginton Primary School, Westfield Ln, York, YO32 2FZ 5 Call
- University of York Campus Nursery Preschool University of York, Heslington, YO10 5DD 5 Call
- West Thorpe Pre school Preschool W Thorpe, York, YO24 2PN 5 Call
- Asenby House Day Care Home service Bursary Ct, York, YO24 Call
- Bright Beginnings Childcare Agency Home service Green Lane Trading Estate, 3 Devonshire Ct, York, YO30 5PQ Call
- Bright Beginnings Nursery York Child care and day care 47 Rawcliffe Drive, Clifton Without, York, YO30 6PD Call
- Copmanthorpe Childcare Centre Home service Barons Cres, York, YO23 3YR Call
- Dunnington Children Child care and day care Church Lane, York, YO1 9QT Call
- Footprints Home Nursery Day care preschool 24 York Road, York, YO24 4LU 3
- FunFishers Day care preschool 21 Escrick St, York, YO10 4AW Call
- Holgate Preschool Preschool Holgate Methodist Church, York, YO24 Call
- Honey Pots Nursery Poppleton Preschool Dodsworth Hall, Millfield Lane, York, YO26 6HR 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 York?
We know of 55 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across York, 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.