Stonewell Cottage Day Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Northampton 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 November 2024. Open since 1993, with 38 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 West Northamptonshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in West Northamptonshire 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
NN3 7SWWhat 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, 1 November 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children settle quickly at this small and nurturing home-from-home nursery. They arrive happy and confident. Children are eager to explore their environment and the activities on offer. They soon become immersed in their play. Staff focus on building secure relationships with children and families. They know children very well, which helps them to identify what children need to learn next. Consequently, all children make good progress in their learning.
Staff teach older children how their bodies work, and children learn how exercise impacts their bodies. Children's physical skills are promoted well by staff. Babies learn to manoeuvre around furniture and negotiate small steps in the garden as they climb in the sandpit. Toddlers engage in a yoga session where they complete different stretches and learn about the different parts of their bodies. Older children show each other exercises that they know, such as star jumps and burpees. Staff talk to the children about how they will feel warm and out of breath. They teach them how to take their pulse and how to take care of themselves by drinking plenty of water. This helps children maintain their positive well-being.
Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour and teach them the importance of good manners. Children listen to staff and follow the nursery's routines and staff's expectations. As they go on regular walks, staff remind children to listen, hold hands and stay close, and they teach them how to cross roads safely.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen staff interactions to further extend children's knowledge and make the most of all opportunities to fully promote children's learning.
- 1 November 2024Good
- 2 November 2018Outstanding
- 31 March 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Stonewell Cottage Day Nursery
- 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.