The Beacon Day Nursery
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Nelson for from 2 years up to school age, open 08:30 to 17:00, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2023. Open since 2009, with 52 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
Funded places which are available for 2, 3 and 4 year old's, dependent on eligibility.
Worth knowing. Our funded sessions run 9am -12pm or 1pm - 4pm.
What childcare usually costs in Lancashire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Lancashire 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
BB9 7HSWhat 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, 31 January 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The nursery has reviewed and changed its way of working following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children. Well-being is at the heart of the nursery, with daily affirmations and a focus on kindness and consideration to one another. As a result, children receive positive re-enforcement from staff through consistent modelling. They are encouraged to offer praise to their friends and celebrate each other's achievements. This is creating a culture of respect for one another and preparing children for life in modern Britain.
Children access a rich and varied curriculum. The environment is carefully planned to engage children in all areas of learning. They enthusiastically fill containers with water and wait patiently for their turn at the tap. Children manipulate play dough and add spices that remind them of home. They are revisiting previous learning and building on what they already know and can do.
Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. Younger children who are still learning how to share are supported to take turns. Children are reminded to walk indoors and run outside. They have a positive attitude and respond to adult guidance because they understand the rules and boundaries.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- offer structure during group activities to develop children's focus and their understanding of behaviour expectations.
- 31 January 2023Good
- 28 November 2017Good
- 19 December 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Beacon Day Nursery
- What it costs
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? 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.