Cherry Tree Preschool Playgroup
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in Blackburn for children from birth to 5, open 09:00 to 15:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2025. Open since 2016, with 40 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 Blackburn with Darwen
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Blackburn with Darwen 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
BB2 2TZWhat 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.
- 23 April 2025 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 9 July 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Leaders have worked diligently to make improvements to the pre-school since the previous inspection. This includes ensuring that all members of the pre-school committee have undergone the required checks with Ofsted, as required.
Additionally, arrangements for staff to undertake relevant training and receive regular support are in place and working well. Action plans for the continued monitoring of practice ensure that consistent standards are maintained. As a result, the standards of care and education that children receive are significantly improved.
The dedicated staff provide an exciting and inviting learning environment for children to explore, both indoors and outdoors. This creates lots of opportunities for children to follow their own thinking and ideas as they play. Staff form close and positive bonds with children and their families. Children eagerly arrive at the preschool and are happy to see the staff. Children settle quickly into their self-chosen activities. The revised curriculum is well thought out and takes account of children's current interests and the way they prefer to learn. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: - provide children with enough opportunities to develop their independence and self-help skills so they are fully prepared for their next stage in learning.
- support staff to manage routine times of the day in a more constructive way that supports children to remain focussed and engaged, particularly the younger aged children.
- 9 July 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 13 March 2025Inadequate Safeguarding: No
- 2 May 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Cherry Tree Preschool Playgroup
- 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.