Fernbank Nursery Ltd
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Blackburn for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 September 2025. Open since 2008, with 50 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
BB1 8LHWhat 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, 17 September 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive in this emotionally warm and welcoming setting. Staff give children lots of praise and encouragement to foster their confidence and self-esteem. They are good role models and have high expectations for all children. In addition, staff encourage older children to be positive role models and to help their younger peers. Children are eager to take on small responsibilities and show high levels of care and empathy for others. For example, when children become upset, friends respond with calm comfort, reflecting the supportive environment. This helps children to settle well and form strong attachments. Consequently, all children demonstrate a sense of belonging and emotional security.
Leaders and staff plan a curriculum that is ambitious and well sequenced, building on what children already know and can do. It is broad, engaging and responsive to children's interests and developmental stages. For example, during a small-group activity, staff use shape monsters to promote early mathematics, skilfully questioning children about shape names, sides and colours. They introduce more complex questions to encourage deeper thinking for the most-able children. As a result, children make good progress and are well prepared for the next stage of their learning.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review the organisation of group sessions, particularly for younger children, to ensure they fully benefit from the intended learning outcomes n strengthen hygiene practices to help younger children understand the importance of good hygiene and to promote consistently good habits.
- 17 September 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 4 December 2019Good
- 11 May 2017Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Fernbank Nursery Ltd
- 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.