Caring Kindergartens
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Northampton for children from birth to 5, open 07:30 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in June 2023. Open since 1998, with 72 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 West Northamptonshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in West Northamptonshire 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
NN3 6HZWhat 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, 8 June 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are very friendly and have good bonds with staff. Staff give cuddles to children who are upset or tired, calming them quickly. Children learn about how they are different and unique. For example, staff encourage pre-school children to discuss how they look to see if they have similarities or not. Children comment that some of them wear glasses and that their hair is different colours. Staff use children's home languages such as saying 'ola' to them as they interact with them.
This allows children to hear their home language, celebrating where they are from.
Staff teach children how to safely climb down stairs as they access a playroom, encouraging them to hold the banister to keep safe.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to ensure that daily routines do not disrupt children's play and learning n ensure that all staff consistently provide opportunities for children to develop their independence.
- 8 June 2023Good
- 26 October 2017Good
- 17 March 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Caring Kindergartens
- 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.