The Old Forge Day Nursery
Good★ 4.7 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Derby for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 January 2025. Open since 2011, with 100 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 Derbyshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Derbyshire 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
DE65 6AAWhat 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.
- 25 February 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 7 October 2025 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 22 January 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff have a welcoming, caring approach and ensure that all children's needs are met. They take care to ensure that any specific dietary needs are managed through discussions with the children's parents. Children enjoy healthy food options, such as limited refined sugars, which are planned to support children's physical health and brain development. Children are supported to feel safe and secure as staff create firm attachments with them. For example, as babies settle in the nursery on their first few days, they approach staff for cuddles and reassurance. Older children show they are excited and ready for their day as they put on their wellington boots ready to play outside.
Leaders work closely with staff to implement a strong and well-sequenced curriculum. They encourage children to have big hearts and open minds and to have great adventures. Staff encourage children to persevere and keep trying, helping them to learn new skills. When they play outside, children practise counting as they jump and dig in soil to find insects. Staff support them effectively and give them lots of praise for their efforts. Children's learning benefits from supportive interactions from staff as they play.
Children generally behave well and create good relationships with others. Babies begin forming relationships with others, toddlers learn to take turns as they push a ball to staff, and older children listen to the thoughts and feelings of their friends.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support all staff to have a clear understanding of the curriculum intent so that they are consistently focused on what they want children to learn n review the organisation of larger group activities to support all children to remain fully engaged and interested in their learning n find more ways to help children to learn to regulate their behaviour and to understand how this may impact on others.
- 22 January 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 15 February 2019Outstanding
- 15 September 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Old Forge 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.