Lostock Playschool
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Bolton for from 2 years up to 5 year olds, open 08:30 to 16:00, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2024. Open since 2010, with 40 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
Up to free 30 hours a week for those children eligible; Free places are available for eligible two and three year olds.
Worth knowing. You will never be required to take more hours than the free hours (unless you want to) and there are no hidden “top up charges”. For those Children who are eligible for the free hours the places are genuinely free.
What childcare usually costs in Bolton
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Bolton 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
BL6 4ELWhat 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.
- 8 June 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 19 September 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff provide a nurturing and engaging environment that fosters children's current interests. Staff place a high priority on supporting children's emotional well-being.
They understand the individual needs of children in their care. For example, on the rare occasion, when children are feeling sad, staff offer a reassuring cuddle and support them in their play. This helps children to settle quickly. Staff form strong bonds with children through their positive and warm interactions with them.
Children feel safe and secure. They develop a real sense of belonging. For example, staff and children sing a welcome song to acknowledge who is ready to play today.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen the implementation of the curriculum at all times to consistently support children's engagement in learning.
- 19 September 2024Good
- 22 November 2018Good
- 5 March 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Lostock Playschool
- What it costs
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? 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.