Higher Croft Children's Centre
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 January 2022. Open since 2004, with 60 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
BB2 3UYWhat 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, 27 January 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy, safe and secure in the nursery. They develop strong relationships with their key persons and the other staff who care for them. Children behave well. They develop a good understanding of routines and know when it is time to sit down for a story or snacks. Some children have missed important learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They benefit from the additional support that leaders provide, for example in developing children's routines and social interactions during play. Children become more aware of how to regulate their behaviour because of the support that staff give them.
Children focus well during activities and develop a positive attitude towards learning. They enjoy the range of books and stories that staff share with them. In preparation for school, children listen to a familiar story from a skilled teacher.
Children remember well what they have been taught. For example, they remember the word 'walrus' from the story and they waddle like a penguin when they go to line up. Furthermore, all children join in and have a go at using sign language to express the feelings of the penguin in the story. This contributes to very strong outcomes for all children in their communication and language development.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- focus more precisely on the implementation of planned activities to challenge and extend children's learning, particularly in the toddler room n strengthen support, coaching and training opportunities for staff in the toddler room to raise the quality of teaching to the highest level.
- 27 January 2022Good
- 20 August 2013Outstanding
- 16 May 2011Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Higher Croft 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.