Tinkerbells
Outstanding★ 4.2 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Preston 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 Outstanding by Ofsted in June 2024. Open since 2011, with 114 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 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
PR1 9XRWhat 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, 24 June 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are warmly welcomed into this bright, imaginative and creative nursery space. Children have formed close attachments with staff and approach them for reassurance or a warm hug. Children demonstrate that they feel secure and happy.
Staff are superb role models welcoming children, talking with parents and finding out about children's needs for the day ahead. Staff plan activities that are creative and incorporate high-quality resources, which are accessible to all children. Many resources are from everyday life, which supports children's imaginative and creative skills. Children are eager learners and are excited to explore their environment.
The curriculum is extremely focused on supporting children to persevere, solve problems and become independent. For example, children concentrate for extended periods of time and draw on previous experiences as they master the skill of using scissors and draw creatures from under the sea. Staff plan opportunities for children to solve problems, which helps children to develop critical thinking skills. Staff shape learning so that all children engage, contribute and achieve.
- 24 June 2024Outstanding
- 23 October 2018Good
- 8 January 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Tinkerbells
- 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.