Swallows Nest Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Lincoln for children from birth to 8+, open 08:30 to 16:00, 4 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2023. Open since 1993, with 24 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
LN6 7EPWhat 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, 20 July 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are eager to arrive and sometimes forget to say goodbye or give parents a cuddle before they leave them. Children are keen to talk to staff, enjoying the back-and-forth conversations with them about their interests. Children who speak
English as an additional language are supported well with their language development. For example, staff learn keywords in their home language to communicate with children and help them to speak English. Children are supported to build on their knowledge, based on their interests. For example, when they show an interest in the Red Arrows aeroplanes, staff show them pictures in books and help them to understand the different parts on the aeroplanes. Children learn that the badge on the wing of the aeroplane means it is part of the Royal Air Force.
Staff help children to learn how to behave positively. For example, when children join their peers to play with spaghetti, staff ask them to share. Children kindly grab handfuls of spaghetti to pass to their peers. Children are provided with opportunities to learn how they can keep themselves safe. For example, staff practise fire drills with children, alerting them to a pretend fire with the sound of a whistle. Children say that when they hear the whistle they need to go outside. This shows their understanding of the procedure to follow in the event of a fire.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- develop partnerships with all other early years settings children also attend to help promote consistency in their development n help staff to identify when quieter children need support to join in planned activities so they get the most from the learning being offered.
- 20 July 2023Good
- 2 November 2017Good
- 13 February 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Swallows Nest 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.