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Cracker Jacks Pre-School

Ofsted: Expected standard·
5.0(4 parent reviews) ·15 Kester Way, St. Neots, PE19 6SL · Cambridgeshire
Number of places
45 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Feb 2026
Local authority
Cambridgeshire

About this day nursery

Cracker Jacks Pre-School is a "Childcare on non-domestic premises" setting in St. Neots, PE19 6SL, established in 2024 and registered on 27/11/2024. The latest Ofsted inspection, on 13th February 2026, rated the nursery as "Good" overall.

The nursery caters to children aged 1–4 years, with a capacity of 45 children, and operates Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:00 following the EYFS curriculum. Safeguarding standards were met, with leaders and staff demonstrating a strong understanding of their responsibilities.

The setting excels in supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), ensuring all children make progress. Staff are experienced in supporting diverse backgrounds and frequently update their knowledge.

The environment is designed to be stimulating, encouraging babies to explore musical instruments and develop communication, while older children enjoy creative activities like shaping willow branches in the forest school area. Leaders are highly committed to continuously improving the curriculum and staff practices.

They ensure close partnerships with parents and outside agencies, keeping parents involved in their child's care and learning journey.

Our ethos

Cracker Jacks Day Nursery champions a play-based learning approach, encouraging exploration both indoors and outdoors, and within the local community. They are committed to providing a rich, creative, and secure play space where children can learn and develop, working towards their Early Learning Goals (EYFS). The nursery aims to inspire curiosity and provide diverse learning opportunities.

What it's like

Children receive a warm welcome and are excited to explore the enticing environment, which offers activities and experiences reflecting their individual interests. Staff provide adult-led experiences tailored to children’s needs, helping all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those facing learning barriers, to make continuous progress. This generally prepares them well for the next stage of their learning.

Strong safeguardingIndividualised learningSEND supportOutdoor explorationStrong leadership

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
  • Full Day (Age 0-2)£83.95 / day
  • Full Day (Age 2)£82.80 / day
  • Full Day (Age 3-5)£80.50 / day
  • Morning Session (Age 0-2)£48.00 / session
  • Morning Session (Age 2)£47.50 / session

Key facts

Opening hours

8:00am - 6:00pm, Monday to Friday, 51 weeks a year (with 7:30am start available at Eaton Socon). Closed on bank holidays and between Christmas and New Year.

Age range

3 months to 10 years

Term time / All Year

All_year

Established

2024

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Expected standard

Last inspected Feb 2026

Headline: Expected standard

Grade summary

Exceptional
—
Strong standard
—
Expected standard
Needs attention
—
Urgent improvement
—

Each dot represents one of the six inspection categories. Headline is the average of the six grades, rounded up.

Category grades

AchievementExpected standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesExpected standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
InclusionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Age range
1 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Cracker Jacks Pre-School

Last inspected 13 February 2026

Safeguarding effective

What it's like to attend

Children receive a warm welcome and are excited to explore the enticing environment, which offers activities and experiences reflecting their individual interests. Staff provide adult-led experiences tailored to children’s needs, helping all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those facing learning barriers, to make continuous progress. This generally prepares them well for the next stage of their learning.

Inspector highlights

  • Children achieve well from their starting points, and learning gaps are closing, especially for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
  • Babies are inquisitive and actively explore the stimulating environment, learning how to make sounds with musical instruments and developing communication skills.
  • Children develop motor skills effectively through various activities, including drawing and building strength and coordination using outdoor equipment.
  • Leaders prioritise understanding individual children’s circumstances and work with parents to identify and support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
  • Leaders have successfully addressed actions from the previous inspection, resulting in a curriculum that builds on children’s existing knowledge and embedded routines.

Areas to develop

  • 1Leaders should support staff to consistently allow younger children to demonstrate and practise their independence, giving them more opportunities to complete tasks on their own before providing support.
  • 2Leaders should continue to build on staff practice to support older children to develop their critical thinking skills.
  • 3Leaders should have a more focused approach to increasing children's awareness of a healthy lifestyle.
Inspection #10392062 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Gaps in all children’s learning are closing consistently, in particular for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Leaders successfully use a range of assessment methods in partnership with parents to precisely identify and agree how to best support children with a range of backgrounds and special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Established staff are experienced in how to support children from a range of backgrounds and those with SEND and frequently update their knowledge and skills to remain informed of current guidance and good practice. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face other barriers in their learning make continued progress in their development.

Outdoor space

Children build strength and coordination using a varied range of equipment outdoors. Children love to explore outside, which includes a forest school area. Older children show sustained engagement as staff support them to bend and join willow branches to create the shape of a heart in a forest school session.

Parent Reviews of Cracker Jacks Pre-School

5.0
(4)
Niki Bayes
8 years ago

I have used Crackerjacks for two holiday clubs now and I would not got anywhere else. The staff are lovely, friendly, polite and professional. My son Phoenix goes to the holiday club and absolutely loves it. My daughter Storm goes upstairs in the nursery and never wants to leave!!!lol. If you are looking for a holiday club I would highly recommend Crackerjacks x

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Nishant Ingale
10 years ago

Hi all I have registered my daughter for after school kids club. The activities and play area is very good at Cracker Jacks.I recommend.

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Margarita Rincon
a year ago

The best place for your children

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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more