Bailgate Pre-School Playgroup
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Lincoln for from 2 years up to 5 year olds, open 8am to 6pm. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in November 2023. Open since 1992, with 24 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
3 & 4-Year-Old: All children are entitled to 15 hours funded childcare from the term after their 3rd birthday. Some children are eligible for up to 30 hours of funded childcare, funded through the Early Years Entitlement, starting the term after their third birthday. This additional funding depends on parents meeting certain criteria. 2-Year-Olds: Some 2-year-olds may qualify for up to 30 hours of.
What childcare usually costs in Lincolnshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Lincolnshire 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
LN1 3ARWhat 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, 1 November 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff build on children's lived experiences by taking them on exciting outings into their local community. Children hurry to put on their high-visibility jackets while discussing what magical characters they might meet during their trip to the castle.
Unicorns, dragons, monsters, princesses and dinosaurs are named during children's chatter. Staff support children's growing imaginations by asking questions, and children respond with their ideas and thoughts. Along the way, children notice changes in the environment. Staff give children lots of time to pause and take in their observations. Children spot new Christmas decorations hanging in the trees.
They show curiosity and interest as they look at Harvest Festival displays and identify the cathedral bells that they hear. Children are developing a wealth of knowledge to support their understanding of the world around them.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- reorganise the arrangements for staff deployment when children arrive to make sure children consistently receive the support they need in their learning and development n clearly define staff's roles and responsibilities during transitions to reduce waiting times for children and to maintain their focus on learning.
- 1 November 2023Good
- 15 June 2023Inadequate
- 28 June 2017Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Bailgate Pre-School Playgroup
- 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.