Clarecroft Day Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Northampton for children from birth to 8+, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 July 2022. Open since 2015, with 73 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
NN6 7RDWhat 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.
- 17 April 2025 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 28 July 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children show high levels of engagement in activities. They shout 'look at me!' as they confidently jump off a wooden platform, developing their physical skills. Staff provide numerous opportunities for children to use their imagination and develop their communication and language skills. For example, older children sit on a climbing frame and pretend it is a bus. They say 'let's go to the farm' when staff ask them where they might want to go. Staff encourage children to recall the animals they saw during their recent trip to the farm. They help to develop children's understanding of safety as they remind children to wear their imaginary seat belts as they play. Younger children develop their early understanding and speaking skills as they take part in singing sessions. They smile as they enthusiastically clap their hands and babble along as staff sing with them.
Children behave well and are kind to their friends. For example, older children help younger children to put their shoes on and help them to serve their own food at lunchtime. Children demonstrate they feel safe and secure at nursery. Younger children hold their arms up to staff as they scoop them up for cuddles when they become tired. Children learn the importance of good hygiene routines. They develop small-muscle skills as they brush their teeth, discussing how it helps to
'keep them clean'. Children discuss why they wash their hands before mealtimes.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to improve their delivery of activities in order to achieve planned learning intentions n help staff to gain a better understanding of how to extend children's learning, building on what they already know and can do n consistently support younger children to be independent.
- 28 July 2022Good
- 2 August 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Clarecroft Day 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.