Furnace Barn Day Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Lancaster 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 October 2022. Open since 2012, with 39 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 Lancashire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Lancashire 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
LA2 6LUWhat 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, 4 October 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children settle well, feel safe and are happy in this nursery. Staff take time to talk to each parent when children arrive. This means that the transition between home and nursery is easy for children. Leaders and staff focus on children's attachments and well-being, recognising the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's emotional development. As a result, children form strong attachments with their key persons. They confidently approach staff for comfort and reassurance when needed, which supports their emotional well-being extremely well. Children can visit the 'zen garden', which is a calming space that offers books and resources to encourage children to talk about their feelings.
Children's behaviour is good, and they understand what is expected of them in the nursery. Children understand the routines of the day, which means that useful learning time is not lost. For example, they gather quickly and enthusiastically for yoga sessions and singing times. They are supported to play cooperatively together, share and take turns. Children display positive attitudes towards learning.
They move around freely and join in with their preferred activities. During a water activity, children count how many scoops they need to fill their containers and eagerly compare this number with their friends. Staff have high expectations of each child. As a result, all children make good progress from their starting points.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- extend children's independence skills, particularly when they are capable of carrying out tasks themselves.
- 4 October 2022Good
- 10 November 2016Good
- 3 April 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Furnace Barn 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.