Barnack Pre-School
Good★ 4.1 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Stamford for children from birth to 8+, open 08:30 to 15:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in October 2021, though that is 5 years ago now. Open since 1991, with 20 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 Peterborough
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Peterborough 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
PE9 3DZWhat 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 October 2021 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive confidently and are eager to start the day. They greet their friends and staff happily, settling quickly to their chosen activity. Children show that they feel safe and secure. They talk to staff with ease and show great interest in the building works at the school.
Children are keen to play outside, where they enjoy a wide range of activities that support their physical development. Older children ride balance bicycles skilfully across the undulating grass. They notice the pattern the tyres on the bicycles make on the path after they ride through water. Younger children show immense determination to learn how to ride the tricycle. They listen to staff who show them how to push the pedals to propel themselves along. Children have plenty of time to practise and revel in their eventual success.
Children enjoy listening to stories and looking at books. They build a wide vocabulary as staff explain new words and provide meaningful activities that help to develop children's understanding even more. For example, children enjoy a story about Zog. They develop their thinking skills as they re-enact part of the story to help Zog's friend reach the princess. Children think how they can use interlocking bricks to build steps or create a hoverboard to fly to the princess.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- enhance staff knowledge and understanding of adapting practice to support younger children and meet their specific needs.
- 15 October 2021Good
- 8 February 2016Outstanding
- 21 June 2011Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Barnack Pre-School
- 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.