NurseryWise Childcare in England
Day nursery in Warrington

Little Bears

GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades

A day nursery in Warrington for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2023. Open since 2011, with 35 places.

Call 07986 741 915

Cost

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 Warrington

£6.00an hour, typical for a 2 years old
£6.00an hour, typical for a 3 and 4 years old

This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Warrington from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.

The basics

Places, hours and the day

Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.

Who they can take
Birth to 8+Registered from birth. Whether there is a baby room is a question for the call.
When it's open
Open all day, usually 8am to 6pm
Funded hours
Not published, so ask them
How many children
35 placesMedium for England
How long open
15 yearsOpen for decades
Address
The Smile Centre, Sandy Lane, Warrington, WA2 9BX

Where it is

WA2 9BX
Ofsted URN EY428545On the register since 17 June 2011
Ofsted

What 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, 21 March 2023 · read the full report

What it is like to attend

Children are warmly welcomed into this cosy but exciting playgroup. The homefrom-home atmosphere helps all children to feel secure. Children develop strong and caring bonds with their key person, but all staff know the children well. Staff ensure that children are nurtured and cared for, which helps them to feel safe. The environment is stimulating and well resourced, which helps to facilitate children's play and exploration. Babies' care is personalised, and their individual routines are adhered to. For example, in the quiet and cosy sleep room, they are soothed to sleep when they are tired. Babies explore their dedicated play spaces, indoors and outdoors, and enjoy many sensory experiences. These include experimenting in crisped rice, delighting in the feel of the crunchy texture between their fingers.

Babies sweep their fingers along the surface of a sequin board to watch the colour changing. Older children eagerly investigate with confidence and self-assurance.

They learn about growth, for example, while using gardening tools, such as trowels and spades, to plant seeds for Mother's Day.

What Ofsted told them to improve

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:

- focus more precisely on individual children's next steps in learning n develop the curriculum intent further so all staff have a clear understanding of what it is they intend children to learn n help to improve staff understanding of the need to promote oral hygiene.

  • 21 March 2023Good
  • 18 November 2022Inadequate
  • 4 May 2017Good

Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.

Still missing for Little Bears

  • 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.

Before you ring

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.
Compare

Day nurseries within a couple of miles

This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.

Little Bears

Day nursery · The Smile Centre, Sandy Lane, Warrington, WA2 9BX

GoodBirth to 8+Open all day, usually 8am to 6pm35 placesOpen for decades

ABC 123 Day Nursery Ltd

Day nursery · Unit 3 Warrington Business Park, Long Lane, Warrington, WA2 8TX

GoodTakes funded hours£59.00 a dayBirth to 507:30 to 18:00, 5 days a week★ 4.8 Google, 3367 placesOpen for decades

Pick two or three to compare.

Everything here comes from Ofsted's published childcare register, under the Open Government Licence. Ratings are quoted exactly as Ofsted gave them, with their dates. Read the full Ofsted reports · How we put this together.

All childcare in Warrington