Portland Kindergarten Limited
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Lincoln for children from birth to 5, open 08:15 to 17:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2023. Open since 2000, with 33 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 Lincolnshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Lincolnshire 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
LN5 7DBWhat 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.
- 2 July 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 23 February 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are excited as they arrive at this warm and caring nursery. They show confidence as they leave their parents with ease. Babies form close relationships with their key person and receive comfort and reassurance. They sit with friends and stack bricks to make a tower, giggling when it falls. Older children make independent choices about their play from a variety of resources that capture their interests. For example, children blow through straws to make bubbles and race toy ducks. They proudly tell their friends, 'look at my big bubbles'.
Children have daily opportunities to be active and play outdoors. They balance on an obstacle course and bounce on a trampette. Children engage in risky play independently, climbing up a big wooden climbing frame and confidently sliding down. This helps to develop their physical skills. Children show resilience when they try to put on their wellingtons and coats by themselves. They work together with their friends to dig in the soil. Children use magnifying glasses to search for minibeasts in the garden and use books provided by staff to extend their knowledge of insects.
Children benefit from planned experiences that support their understanding of healthy eating. For example, pre-school children use their senses when they explore and handle a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs. This allows children to express their likes and dislikes and to try new tastes.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- help all staff to understand how best to support children to achieve as much as they can throughout the nursery - develop ways to enhance younger children's communication and language, particularly during group activities.
- 23 February 2023Good
- 28 March 2017Good
- 23 January 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Portland Kindergarten Limited
- 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.