Ashton House Nursery
Outstanding★ 4.4 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Chester for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in August 2022. Open since 2008, with 242 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
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
CH3 8ABWhat 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, 31 August 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are exceptionally settled at this awe-inspiring and unique nursery. The incredible environment is an oasis of play, adventure and exploration. Children have adapted remarkably well following the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff fully understand children's individual needs and how to support their emotional wellbeing. Staff and children build wonderful relationships with each other.
All areas of the nursery are buzzing hives of activity. Everywhere you look, children are incredibly engaged and highly motivated in their learning. Babies babble with delight while making their own choices during their play. They develop their senses and become excited while making 'music' with pinecones and sticks. Toddlers enthuse while creating large-scale art outdoors using large brushes. They compare the sizes of the carrots that they harvest and focus intently while opening bean pods to count the beans. Older children develop their imaginations while enacting their favourite stories, roaring that, 'I'm a big monster'. They show pride while successfully climbing planks of wood. Children count their fingers to check that each finger is safely inside protective gloves before using saws and hammers.
Staff expertly promote children's physical development and their resilience. For example, babies build strong core muscles and learn to walk quickly. Toddlers learn how to ride bicycles on the challenging track. Older children show remarkable strength and skill while safely climbing trees. They concentrate deeply while hammering nails into wood and sawing sticks to make models of sunflowers.
- 31 August 2022Outstanding
- 5 May 2016Outstanding
- 17 November 2011Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Ashton House Nursery
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- 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
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? 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.