Darwen Children's Centre
Good★ 4.5 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Darwen for children from birth to 8+, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in June 2025. Open since 2003, with 56 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
BB3 0HDWhat 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, 3 June 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The setting provides a welcoming environment for children. Children and families are greeted at the classroom door by staff, who then invite them into a wellresourced provision. Children engage confidently and happily with the staff and their peers as they access planned activities. Children are asked challenging and thought-provoking questions in their play. For instance, as children build Darwen
Tower in the construction area, staff ask children, 'What could we use for a light at the top?' This helps children to develop their knowledge further and strengthens their communication skills.
Children's needs are met swiftly by caring and attentive staff. Staff are quick to respond when children require adult support, such as resolving minor conflicts with their peers. This helps to develop children's confidence with making relationships and ensures they feel settled, secure and ready to learn.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen routines and transitions to help children remain focused and engaged n develop parent partnerships further in regards to information-sharing of key person and next steps to continue children's learning at home.
- 3 June 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 11 October 2019Good
- 9 September 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Darwen Children's Centre
- 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.