10 Best Nurseries in Chorley for Babies & Preschool Children

Finding the right nursery for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. The Chorley area has a strong range of early years settings, from Ofsted Outstanding maintained schools to small, community-run day nurseries. Whether you are searching for flexible full-day childcare, a play-based preschool, or a nature-inspired setting, this guide covers the best nurseries in Chorley to help you make a well-informed choice.

What Makes a Great Nursery? Here Is What to Look For

Before jumping into the list, let's break it down. When choosing a nursery in Chorley or nearby Leyland, parents typically weigh up:

• Ofsted rating (Outstanding or Good)
• Age range accepted (from babies upwards or 2–4 years only)
• Opening hours and session flexibility
• Government-funded childcare eligibility (15 or 30 free hours)
• Staff-to-child ratios and staff qualifications
• Outdoor play and curriculum approach
• SEND support
• Proximity to home or workplace

With those factors in mind, here are ten nurseries worth considering in and around Chorley.

1. Little Mowgli Nursery – Leyland (Serving Chorley Families)

Location: 2 Tomlinson Road, Farington Moss, Leyland, PR25 2DY 

Ages: Babies and preschool-age children 

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 7am–6pm 

Little Mowgli Nursery is a warm, community-focused nursery based in Leyland, just a short drive from Chorley. It draws its ethos from a love of nature and the spirit of childhood adventure, and regularly welcomes families from Chorley, Buckshaw Village, Euxton, and surrounding areas.

The nursery operates two dedicated rooms the Tiger Room and the Giraffe Room alongside a well-resourced outdoor play area. Each space is designed to help children develop at their own pace through play-based learning rooted in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework.

At Little Mowgli Nursery, the team places a strong emphasis on outdoor time in all weathers, building resilience and a genuine connection with nature. Parents consistently highlight how quickly their children settle in, and the home-from-home feel is a recurring theme in reviews. The nursery also takes care to respect individual cultural needs, which parents have praised in testimonials.

Staff support language development, social skills, creativity, and physical wellbeing through hands-on, child-led experiences. Children with special educational needs and disabilities receive tailored support within the EYFS framework.

Best for: Chorley families looking for a small, nurturing setting with genuine community values and a strong outdoor curriculum.

2. Duke Street Nursery School – Chorley Town Centre

Location: Duke Street, Chorley, Lancashire, PR7 3DU 

Ages: 2–4 years 

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am–3:30pm (term time only) 

Ofsted Rating: Outstanding

Duke Street Nursery School has held an Outstanding Ofsted rating for over 24 consecutive years, a rare achievement in the UK early years sector. It is a maintained nursery school run by Lancashire County Council and sits in the heart of Chorley town centre.

The school accepts children from the age of two and follows a play-based curriculum with rich indoor and outdoor learning environments. Inspectors have repeatedly praised the school's community connections, its support for children with complex needs, and its strong focus on school readiness. The school operates an open-door policy, so prospective parents can drop in at any time.

Best for: Families seeking a proven, long-established nursery school with a record of excellence at no additional cost for funded hours.

3. Little Acorns Nursery – Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

Location: 34 Sheep Hill Lane, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, PR6 7JH 

Ages: 3 months to pre-school age 

Ofsted Rating: Outstanding (all categories)

Little Acorns is an award-winning independent nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, within easy reach of Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, and Euxton. It was named Best Independent Nursery in the UK at the National NMT Nursery Awards 2020, and Ofsted has rated it Outstanding in every single inspection category.

The nursery uses a Forest School approach alongside its indoor provision, and Ofsted inspectors have noted how children arrive happy, settle confidently, and make strong progress from their individual starting points. SEND support is particularly well regarded. A new Ofsted report published in late 2025 confirms the setting continues to perform at a high level.

Best for: Parents who want an award-winning, independently run nursery with exceptional outdoor and Forest School provision.

4. Buckshaw Village Nursery – Euxton, Chorley

Location: Unity Place, Buckshaw Village, Chorley, PR7 7HZ 

Ages: 3 months to 5 years 

Ofsted Rating: Outstanding (every inspection since opening in 2011)

Buckshaw Village Nursery has earned Outstanding ratings in every area at each Ofsted inspection since it opened in 2011. It holds Millie's Mark accreditation, meaning all staff who work directly with children are trained in paediatric first aid a reassurance many parents find invaluable.

The nursery accepts children from three months old right through to school age, and the team focuses on physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development within a secure environment. Government-funded childcare places are available for eligible families.

Best for: Parents in the Buckshaw Village and Euxton area wanting outstanding rated childcare for babies through to reception age.

5. Busy Bees Day Nursery at Chorley Brooke Street

Location: Brooke Street, Chorley, Lancashire, PR7 3BS 

Ages: 3 months to 11 years 

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30am–6pm 

Ofsted Rating: Good (July 2024)

Busy Bees at Brooke Street is the largest nursery on this list, with 199 places for children aged three months to eleven years. It sits in the centre of Chorley, a short walk from Chorley train station, and offers on-site parking.

The nursery's most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024 rated it Good across all areas. Inspectors noted that staff create a calm, nurturing environment where children learn to identify and express their feelings, and that the curriculum helps children understand people who are different from themselves through a dedicated 'fund of knowledge' calendar. NHS-accredited menus cater to all dietary needs.

Busy Bees also offers a flexible session-booking app, which suits families with changing schedules.

Best for: Working parents who need full-day, full-year childcare with flexible booking and easy access to Chorley town centre.

6. Highfield Nursery School – Chorley

Location: Chorley, Lancashire 

Ages: 2–4 years 

Ofsted Rating: Outstanding

Highfield Nursery School is another Outstanding-rated local authority nursery school in Chorley. Inspectors have highlighted the school's excellent leadership, strong communication with families, and the settled, happy atmosphere children experience day to day. Like Duke Street, it operates term time only and accepts funded two-year-old and three/four-year-old places.

Best for: Families wanting a second local authority Outstanding nursery school option within Chorley.

7. Playdor Nursery School – Chorley

Location: Chorley, Lancashire 

Ages: Birth to 8 years 

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am–5:30pm 

Ofsted Rating: Outstanding

Playdor Nursery School holds an Outstanding Ofsted rating and accepts children from birth up to eight years old. This broader age range makes it one of the more flexible settings for families who need continuity of care as their child grows. The school operates Monday to Friday and welcomes enquiries from parents looking for both nursery and before/after-school care.

Best for: Families who want a single, trusted setting for children across a wide age range from babyhood through primary school years.

8. Nature Trail Nursery – Brinscall/Chorley Area

Location: Multiple sites across the Chorley area 

Ages: Birth to 5 years 

Ofsted Rating: Outstanding (Brinscall site); Good at other sites

Nature Trail Nursery operates several sites across the Chorley district. The Brinscall site carries an Outstanding Ofsted rating, while the Railway site in Euxton was named one of the Top 20 nurseries in the North West by daynurseries.co.uk parent reviews in 2025 a recognition based on overall standard, staff, outdoor space, and value for money. The setting's focus on nature-based activities runs through each of its locations.

Best for: Families who want a nature-themed nursery with multiple locations across the Chorley area and strong parent review scores.

9. Little Explorers Nursery & Pre-School – Chorley

Location: Chorley, Lancashire 

Ages: 3 months to 5 years 11 months 

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30am–6pm 

Ofsted Rating: Good

Little Explorers is a 96-place nursery rated Good by Ofsted across all areas. The setting operates under the motto "Achieve and succeed, together we are a family," and parents describe warm staff, a safe environment, and genuine care for each child. The nursery covers babies through to pre-school age and accepts government-funded childcare hours.

Best for: Parents looking for a well-reviewed Good-rated nursery with a strong community ethos in Chorley.

10. Early Birds Private Day Nursery – Coppull, Chorley

Location: Coppull, Chorley, Lancashire 

Ages: Birth to 5 years 

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am–6pm 

Ofsted Rating: Outstanding

Early Birds Private Day Nursery in Coppull, on the edge of Chorley, holds an Outstanding Ofsted rating. It is a 43-place setting caring for children from birth to five years, and its smaller size means staff can build close relationships with each child and family. Parents in the south Chorley and Coppull area find it a well-regarded local option.

Best for: Families in Coppull and south Chorley wanting an Outstanding-rated smaller nursery with a strong personal touch.

How to Choose the Right Nursery in Chorley: A Quick Checklist

Here is a simple framework to guide your search:

1. Start with Ofsted reports. Visit reports.ofsted.gov.uk and search for any setting you are considering. Read the most recent inspection in full.
2. Check funding eligibility. Lancashire County Council's website confirms whether you qualify for 15 or 30 free funded hours based on your child's age and your household income.
3. Book a visit. No website or report replaces seeing a nursery in person. Pay attention to how staff interact with the children already there.
4. Ask about key worker systems. A named key worker builds a consistent relationship with your child and keeps you well informed about their progress.
5. Look at the outdoor provision. Research into early childhood development consistently supports the benefit of regular outdoor play for physical health and emotional wellbeing.
6. Consider the journey. The drop-off and pick-up routine is daily, so proximity and parking genuinely matter over time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nurseries in Chorley

1. What is the best nursery in Chorley for under-twos?

Several settings in Chorley accept babies from three months old, including Buckshaw Village Nursery, Busy Bees at Brooke Street, Early Birds Private Day Nursery, and Little Explorers. Little Mowgli Nursery in nearby Leyland also welcomes babies and is popular with Chorley families. Check each nursery's current availability directly, as baby places fill up quickly.

2. Are there any Outstanding-rated nurseries in Chorley?

Yes. Duke Street Nursery School, Highfield Nursery School, Playdor Nursery School, Buckshaw Village Nursery, Little Acorns, and Early Birds Private Day Nursery all currently hold Outstanding Ofsted ratings in the Chorley area. Always check the Ofsted website for the most up-to-date inspection results, as ratings can change after re-inspection.

3. Can I get free childcare hours at nurseries in Chorley?

Yes, if you meet the eligibility criteria. The UK government offers 15 funded hours per week for all three and four-year-olds, and up to 30 hours for working parents. Two-year-olds from lower-income households may also qualify. Lancashire County Council administers the scheme locally. Most nurseries on this list accept funded places confirm directly with your chosen setting.

4. How do I know if a nursery near Chorley has spaces available?

Contact each nursery directly by phone or email to ask about current availability. Waiting lists are common, especially for baby rooms and popular settings. It is worth registering your interest early, ideally six to twelve months before you need a place, particularly if you are returning to work after parental leave.

5. What is the difference between a nursery school and a day nursery in Chorley?

A nursery school (like Duke Street or Highfield) is typically run by a local authority, operates term time only, and follows school hours. A day nursery (like Busy Bees or Little Mowgli Nursery) is usually privately run, open year-round, and offers longer hours to support working parents. Both follow the EYFS framework and can be Ofsted inspected.