Waitlist
We operate a waiting list, and give extra weight to applicants who have been on it the longest
Gapa Nursery
Ofsted: Good
(Sept 2025)
Number of places
45 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Sept 2025
Local authority
Lincolnshire
About this day nursery
GAPA Nursery provides high-quality, accessible early years education in Gainsborough for children aged 12 weeks to 5 years old. The nursery creates a supportive 'home from home' atmosphere, prioritising children's happiness, safety, and security.
They are particularly proud of their extensive outdoor space, where children can engage in various activities like cycling, mud-pie making, and gardening. GAPA Nursery is committed to an inclusive approach, offering a rich and diverse curriculum tailored to individual needs.
The nursery strongly values collaboration with parents, viewing it as crucial for child development, and actively involves families through various activities. With a dedicated team, GAPA aims to provide a stimulating environment where children can thrive and develop essential skills, whether they are new to childcare or transitioning from another setting.
The nursery operates year-round from 8 am to 6 pm, offering flexible scheduling for busy families via both funded and non-funded places, including stretched funding options. Prospective families are encouraged to visit the facilities and meet the staff to experience the nursery's welcoming environment.
Our ethos
GAPA Nursery is committed to an inclusive approach, offering a rich and diverse curriculum tailored to individual needs. They strongly value collaboration with parents, viewing it as crucial for child development, and aim to provide a stimulating environment where children can thrive and develop essential skills. The nursery creates a supportive 'home from home' atmosphere, prioritising children's happiness, safety, and security.
What it's like
Children show a sense of belonging in the nursery, where staff help them to settle and support their emotional well-being. They are given tasks to complete and enjoy helping to clean and tidy, receiving praise for their achievements. Seamless transitions between rooms are fostered as children are already familiar with staff and peers.
High-quality, affordable childcareExtensive outdoor spaceStrong parent partnershipsYear-round operation
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
Key facts
Opening hours
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
Age range
12 weeks - 5 years old
Term time / All Year
All Year
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Gapa Nursery
Last inspected 22 September 2025 · Hayley Ruane
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Children show a sense of belonging in the nursery, where staff help them to settle and support their emotional well-being. They are given tasks to complete and enjoy helping to clean and tidy, receiving praise for their achievements. Seamless transitions between rooms are fostered as children are already familiar with staff and peers.
Inspector highlights
- The support that children with SEND receive is effective, with early intervention in partnership with other professionals.
- Members of the close staff team are supported with their well-being and practice, including professional development.
- The leadership team uses additional funding effectively to support children's individual needs, including arranging animal interactions and school readiness sessions.
- Staff share information with parents about children's learning and provide food from local supermarkets to take home, promoting children's health and well-being.
- Staff understand how to sequence children's learning, providing experiences like scooping and pouring water outdoors to develop self-care skills and independence.
Areas to develop
- 1share with parents how additional funding is benefitting their children's care and learning
- 2strengthen the planning and implementation of group times for older children to encourage all children to focus and concentrate
- 3help all children to develop a love of books to support their speaking skills in the nursery and at home.
Inspection #10414945 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have targets in place to support their individual needs. Strategies include staff giving children choices and encouraging them to use gestures to communicate, as well as developing physical skills. The leadership team puts early intervention in place, in partnership with other professionals, to support children's individual needs, and staff attend training courses with parents to support children's needs, such as to learn sign language.
Outdoor space
Staff provide experiences for children to scoop and pour water during their play outdoors. The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.
Inspection history
Most recent inspection
22 September 2025
Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.
View full Ofsted reportFrequently asked about Gapa Nursery
Nearby day nurseries in Gainsborough
Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Gapa Nursery.
Are you the owner of this nursery? Claim this listing to manage photos, hours and contact details.
Claim listingShare this nursery
Send to a partner, friend or family member.
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