The Old Vicarage
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Blackburn for children from birth to 8+, open 07:45 to 17:45, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2023. Open since 2009, with 62 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
BB2 1UYWhat 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, 22 March 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are engrossed in their learning. They have a very positive attitude towards their learning, and their behaviour is excellent. Children take pride in their work; they take time to practice their skills. For example, they focus their attention while mastering their pencil control. This helps to develop their confidence. Children are content. They respond positively to nurturing and warm interactions with staff. This helps children to feel safe and aspire to the high expectations that staff have of them. Children are captivated at story time as they delight in pretending to be a beautiful butterfly. They have the opportunity to develop their large-muscle movements to music. This enables them to develop the physical skills necessary to access nature in the outdoors. For example, children are able to safely take risks in their play as they balance on a bridge over a stream, while accessing a 'forest school' session. This enables children to develop a 'can-do' attitude.
Children enjoy doing things for themselves. For example, pre-school children take pride in setting out cutlery at lunchtime and serve themselves food at the table.
This helps children to develop their independence. As a result, children are developing their self-esteem, which enables them to explore and find out more within their learning environment. Children are introduced to a wide range of language, which they use during their play. They listen well to staff who diligently interact to support and extend children's language. Children's emotional well-being is sensitively supported through ongoing communication between parents and staff. This helps to secure a foundation for learning both at the setting and at home. In addition, it has helped to counteract the impact of the COVID-19
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- further embed the curriculum aims so that staff have a firm and common understanding, including what it means for their practice.
- 22 March 2023Good
- 15 August 2017Outstanding
- 21 January 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Old Vicarage
- 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.