Shadsworth Childrens Centre
Good★ 4.5 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 September 2022. Open since 2008, 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
BB1 2HRWhat 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, 7 September 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children enjoy an interesting and nurturing learning environment where they are kept safe by experienced staff. They have access to a wide variety of resources, both indoors and outdoors. Children test out new ideas and develop their thinking through the learning experiences offered to them. Children are encouraged to take care of resources and care for their friends. Staff use gentle reminders to help them to understand what is expected of them. Children have good manners and are learning to share and take turns. For example, at snack time they wait patiently for their turn to pour their own drink and cut their fruit up. Experiences like this are also helping children to become independent.
Children are encouraged to express their ideas and feelings. Staff listen to children's questions and follow their interests. For example, children's interest in birds in the garden led to a range of learning experiences. These included making bird feeders and using binoculars to look closely at birds. These activities help children to learn about the natural world. Children who had little opportunity to play with other children during the COVID-19 pandemic are well supported to develop their social skills. Parents now bring their children into the setting and are welcome to stay if children need support to settle. Children now enjoy the times when their parents come in to learn alongside them at special stay-and-play sessions. Children are confident and have positive attitudes to learning.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- reflect on practice during group activities in order to consistently meet children's individual needs and maximise learning.
- 7 September 2022Good
- 14 January 2016Outstanding
- 29 February 2012Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Shadsworth Childrens 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.