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Pre-schools in Lancaster

There are 37 pre-schools registered with Ofsted within 5 miles of Lancaster, Lancashire, and 29 of them are rated Good or Outstanding. Compare inspection reports, the ages they take, opening hours and how far they are from you.

Pre-schools
37
Outstanding
3
Good
26
After-school clubs
7

37 nurseries near Lancaster

Within 5 miles, closest first.
Distance
Child's age
Ofsted rating

Some settings do not publish age ranges and are excluded by this filter. Select Any age to see them and ask each setting which ages it accepts.

Scotforth West, Lancaster

Lancaster Day Nursery

Morecambe Bay Hospitals Nhs Trust, Royal Lancaster Infirmary · LA1 4RP

0.3 miles from Lancaster
OfstedOutstandingJul 2022Full day care66 places

A full day care nursery in Lancaster, rated Outstanding by Ofsted in July 2022. Registered for 66 places and run by Bright Horizons Family Solutions Limited.

Ages
0 – 8 years
Hours
Ask the nursery
Bulk, Lancaster

Christ Church School Playgroup

Christ Church C of E Primary School, Derwent Road · LA1 3ES

0.5 miles from Lancaster
OfstedGoodFeb 2024Full day care18 places

A full day care nursery in Lancaster, rated Good by Ofsted in February 2024. Registered for 18 places and run by Christ Church School Playgroup Committee.

Ages
0 – 5 years
Hours
Ask the nursery
Castle, Lancaster

Mucky Pups Pre School

Lancaster Boys and Girls Club, Dallas Road · LA1 1TP

0.6 miles from Lancaster
OfstedGoodOct 2023Full day care24 places

A full day care nursery in Lancaster, rated Good by Ofsted in October 2023. Registered for 24 places and run by Dallas Road Kids Club.

Ages
0 – 5 years
Hours
Ask the nursery
Bowerham, Lancaster

Tiny Treasures

6-8 Winchester Avenue, Lancaster · LA1 4HX

0.7 miles from Lancaster
OfstedGoodJun 2022Full day care30 places

A full day care nursery in Lancaster, rated Good by Ofsted in June 2022. Registered for 30 places and run by Tiny Treasures Nursery And Pre-School Limited.

Ages
0 – 8 years
Hours
Ask the nursery
Bulk, Lancaster

Rising Stars Nursery

Firbank Childrens Centre, Firbank Road · LA1 3HL

0.8 miles from Lancaster
OfstedGoodNov 2022Full day care88 places

A full day care nursery in Lancaster, rated Good by Ofsted in November 2022. Registered for 88 places and run by Person 1st Childcare Limited.

Ages
0 – 8 years
Hours
Ask the nursery
Marsh, Lancaster

Appledore Montessori

Lancaster Steiner School, Lune Road · LA1 5QU

1.1 miles from Lancaster
OfstedGoodNov 2024Full day care23 places

A full day care nursery in Lancaster, rated Good by Ofsted in November 2024. Registered for 23 places and run by Appledore Montessori Ltd.

Ages
0 – 5 years
Hours
Ask the nursery
Bulk, Lancaster

Total Tots Ltd

Caton Road, Lancaster · LA1 3PE

1.5 miles from Lancaster
Inspected December 2025Full day care62 places

A full day care nursery in Lancaster, last inspected by Ofsted in December 2025. Registered for 62 places and run by Total Tots Limited.

Ages
0 – 8 years
Hours
Ask the nursery
Torrisholme, Lancaster

Tiny Treasures

Lancaster & Morecambe College, Morecambe Road · LA1 2TY

2.0 miles from Lancaster
OfstedGoodOct 2021Full day care96 places

A full day care nursery in Lancaster, rated Good by Ofsted in October 2021. Registered for 96 places and run by Tiny Treasures Nursery And Pre-School Limited.

Ages
0 – 8 years
Hours
Ask the nursery
Bailrigg, Lancaster

Pre-School Centre

Lancaster University, Bailrigg · LA1 4YW

2.2 miles from Lancaster
OfstedGoodJul 2025Full day care158 places

A full day care nursery in Lancaster, rated Good by Ofsted in July 2025. Registered for 158 places and run by Lancaster University.

Ages
0 – 8 years
Hours
Ask the nursery
Westgate, Morecambe

Total Tots Ltd

Langridge Way, Morecambe · LA4 4XF

3.1 miles from Lancaster
OfstedGoodMay 2023Full day care60 places

A full day care nursery in Morecambe, rated Good by Ofsted in May 2023. Registered for 60 places and run by Total Tots Limited.

Ages
0 – 8 years
Hours
Ask the nursery
Bare, Morecambe

Bare Necessities Preschool

Bare Methodist Church Hall, St Margarets Road · LA4 6EF

3.2 miles from Lancaster
OfstedGoodSep 2023Sessional30 places

A sessional nursery in Morecambe, rated Good by Ofsted in September 2023. Registered for 30 places and run by Bare Methodist Playgroup Committee.

Ages
0 – 8 years
Hours
Ask the nursery

Childcare in Lancaster at a glance

Inspection results
29 of the 37 pre-schools within 5 miles of Lancaster (78%) were rated Good or Outstanding at their latest graded Ofsted inspection: 3 Outstanding and 26 Good.
Ages taken
36 list babies under 2, 37 take 2 to 3-year-olds, 37 take 3 to 5-year-olds. Registered age ranges are a guide, so check the room your child would join with each setting.
Funded hours
Working parents apply for funded hours on GOV.UK. For the 15 hours for eligible 2-year-olds, contact Lancashire's Family Information Service.

Read our guides to choosing a nursery and funded hours

Questions parents ask about pre-schools in Lancaster

Straight answers from the Ofsted register, updated as inspections come in.

There are 37 Ofsted-registered pre-schools within 5 miles of Lancaster. 3 are rated Outstanding and 26 are rated Good at their latest inspection.