Scotby Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Carlisle for children from birth to 5, open 09:00 to 15:00, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 1996, with 26 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 Cumberland
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Cumberland 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
CA4 8BWWhat 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, 12 October 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children settle quickly on arrival at this warm and welcoming pre-school. They are greeted by kind and caring staff who provide a calm and nurturing environment.
Children feel safe while exploring the activities and resources. Staff sensitively adapt the setting to meet children's individual needs. Children establish secure attachments and strong bonds with their key persons. This effectively supports their well-being. Children confidently interact with each other and staff. Staff use sign language and picture prompts to help children understand daily routines and to ensure children's wants and needs are met.
Staff and managers have high expectations for children. They aim for every child to be confident, independent and a good communicator, and to be ready for their next stage of learning. Children behave well. They learn to cooperate, take turns and share resources, which are all skills that they will need in later life. Staff promote healthy living and healthy lifestyles. They engage children in physical activity, such as gentle stretching and finger exercises. This supports children's physical development.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review the implementation of group times, to maximise the learning opportunities for every child.
- 12 October 2022Good
- 13 October 2016Good
- 13 December 2012Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Scotby Pre-School
- 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.