Daisy Chain Pre-School (Rectory Farm)
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Northampton for children from birth to 8+, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 November 2024. Open since 2000, with 24 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 5DDWhat 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, 19 November 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thoroughly enjoy their time at this nurturing pre-school. The experienced staff team know the children well and develop strong bonds with them and their families. This supports children to feel happy, safe and settled. Staff provide a welllaid-out environment, where children freely access resources and make choices in their learning. Staff follow children's interests and promote their curiosity. For example, they encourage children to think by asking them to guess what is buried beneath the snow. Staff plan a curriculum to meet the needs of children who currently attend. They focus on children's social and emotional well-being and support them to become confident communicators. For example, children are encouraged to talk about their home routines while bathing the dolls.
Children build physical strength, both indoors and outdoors. Staff model how to use tools, such as rolling pins, scissors and cutters, as children explore play dough.
Outdoors, children learn to negotiate space and balance as they travel along the assault course. Staff use everyday opportunities to support children to share and take turns. For instance, they help children to work together to be 'builders' and build a tower. Staff support children to resolve minor conflicts and help them understand the impact they have on the feelings of others. As a result, children are forming friendships and being prepared well for their future.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen support for older children to help them develop concentration and listening skills n strengthen the planning of activities to ensure older children are consistently challenged.
- 19 November 2024Good
- 10 December 2018Outstanding
- 11 March 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Daisy Chain Pre-School (Rectory Farm)
- 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.