Antrobus Pre-School Nursery
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Northwich for babies from 9 months up to school age, open 07:45 to 17:30, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2022. Open since 2014, with 30 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
Universal Funded Childcare for all 3 and 4 year olds: 15 hours of childcare per week over 38 weeks of the year. Extended Funding for Children of Working Parents: 3 and 4 year olds with working parents (who meet eligibility criteria) are able to claim an extra 15 hours of extended funding per week over 38 weeks of the year. Children from 9 months of age who have working parents (who meet eligibilit.
Worth knowing. Funding is allocated on a term by term basis and must be applied for by the parents before the beginning of the term in which they wish to take it.
What childcare usually costs in Cheshire West and Chester
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Cheshire West and Chester from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
CW9 6LDWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 15 March 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children confidently come into this small nursery after being dropped off at the gate by their parents. The cosy domestic-sized building is a home from home.
Children are organised into three groups according to their age and ability, and share two main playrooms. Young babies have a dedicated space, which is divided from the other play areas. Parents like this arrangement as it allows their babies, who were born during periods of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to have a greater range of social interactions. Older babies are able to watch, learn and join in with their toddler friends. Pre-school children show empathy and care towards the babies and toddlers. Staff are very mindful of the risks the mixing of age groups may present. They take additional precautions and provide the correct level of supervision to ensure children's safety.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the managers developed a woodland classroom adjacent to the building. This enables staff to cater for more outdoor learning in the fresh air. Encouraging outdoor play has now become even more of a key part of the nursery's ethos. Children spend a considerable amount of time in the carefully organised, easily accessible all weather outdoor play space and the woodland area. They are encouraged to safely take calculated risks. For example, they skilfully climb on the low tree branches and walk along balancing beams. The outdoor curriculum is effectively designed to introduce children to new concepts and develop their self-confidence. For example, children are encouraged to care for the chickens and guinea pigs, and carefully collect eggs that they later eat.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- continue to support staff in the implementation of the overarching learning intentions throughout the day, to drive maximum development in the children.
- 15 March 2022Good
- 22 March 2016Inadequate
Rated Good or Outstanding at 1 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Antrobus Pre-School Nursery
- What it costs
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.