Opening hours
Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm
Rocking Horse Nursery Stamford
Ofsted: Good
(Apr 2025)
Number of places
48 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Apr 2025
Local authority
Lincolnshire
About this day nursery
Rocking Horse Nursery, located in Stamford, Lincolnshire, offers a nurturing environment for young children. The nursery provides a comprehensive approach to early years education, with dedicated rooms catering to babies, toddlers, tweenies, and pre-schoolers, ensuring age-appropriate development and care.
Beyond the traditional indoor spaces, children benefit from engaging outdoor play areas, including a garden, and unique offerings such as a Forest School, an Allotment Club, and a Literacy Hut, which encourage exploration, learning, and connection with nature. The nursery is committed to supporting families by offering flexible opening hours from Monday to Friday and providing information on fees and available funding schemes.
They also prioritise healthy development through carefully planned meals and nutrition. With a strong emphasis on community engagement, Rocking Horse Nursery aims to foster a love for learning in a supportive and stimulating setting.
What it's like
Staff at this family-focused and friendly setting care well for the children. Children show kindness to each other and play well together because the staff model positive behaviour. Staff offer children many opportunities to develop their independence. Children enjoy listening to stories read by staff, cuddling with their key person and listening intently.
Forest SchoolAllotment ClubLiteracy Hut
Pricing & funding
Pricing on request
This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.
Request pricing →Key facts
Term time / All Year
All Year
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Rocking Horse Nursery Stamford
Last inspected 10 April 2025
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Staff at this family-focused and friendly setting care well for the children. Children show kindness to each other and play well together because the staff model positive behaviour. Staff offer children many opportunities to develop their independence. Children enjoy listening to stories read by staff, cuddling with their key person and listening intently.
Inspector highlights
- Staff interact well with children during activities, modelling new language and reinforcing vocabulary resulting in strong communication and language skills.
- Staff provide a wide range of books and read to children throughout the day, helping them make connections in their learning and build knowledge.
- Staff know the children well, respect individual needs, and maintain privacy during personal care.
- Leaders and staff actively support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and collaborate with other professionals to ensure timely support.
- Leaders prioritise staff well-being, leading to high staff morale and retention.
Areas to develop
- 1refine the literacy curriculum so that it is age-appropriate and meets the needs of all of the children
- 2strengthen staff's understanding of mealtime routines and ensure they help children understand what they expect of them.
Inspection #10388221 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents state they appreciate the information staff share, which helps them understand what their children are learning at the nursery.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Leaders and staff actively support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They collaborate closely with other professionals to ensure children receive timely support. As a result, children with SEND make good progress from their starting points.
Outdoor space
Staff provide valuable outdoor experiences for the children. They help older children develop physical skills on balance bicycles and build core strength by reaching up to make marks. Younger children develop hand-eye coordination with water play.
Parent Reviews of Rocking Horse Nursery Stamford
4.9
(16)
Natasha Briggs
8 months ago
My son started Nursery when he was 6 months old and has just finished, 4 years later, to start school. All of the staff are amazing and I couldn’t recommend this nursery enough. My son needed extra support and the nursery accommodated his every need ensuring they kept us in the loop at all times. Sharon, nursery manager, supported with additional paperwork and went above and beyond to help us get our son into the school he needed. The Nursery is homely and all the staff are approachable. I wouldn’t have found a better Nursery than the Rocking Horse Nursery. They are all incredible!
Read on Google
Emma Ward
10 months ago
We loved our time at The Rocking Horse - my two had such a wonderful time, the ladies here are kind and patient and always understanding. And the kids were always learning something new, bringing home crafts and genuinely seemed to love spending time there. Cannot recommend enough.
Read on Google
Carys Armstrong
6 years ago
We absolutely LOVE The Rockinghorse Nursery. All three of our boys have gone there and loved it. The staff are so warm, welcoming and loving and they always go the extra mile to help. No other childcare setting compares. I think it tells a good story when all the staff are happy, content and have worked there for years. 5* from us.
Read on Google
Kayleigh Bent
3 years ago
As a first time mum I was nervous about my little boy starting nursery and how he’d settle, well 20 months of being at the rocking horse and I should have had no doubts. From day one all the staff have been incredible with him and me. Really making him feel comfortable and helping him grow into the confident (and cheeky) little man he is today! Thank you is not enough for all you have done and I can’t praise you enough as a setting. Every single member of staff has been incredible. Thank you thank you thank you
Read on Google
Kerry Trayhorn
5 years ago
Our Daughter started at the Nursery a few weeks ago. It was one of the hardest things I've done, too leave our little girl but the staff was so supportive, caring and understanding, which made the experience a little easier and I can not thank them all enough! Our daughter is so happy when we arrive at the Nursery and full of smiles when we pick her up. We looked at a lot of Nursery's but we knew this was the right one for us as soon as we looked round. Absolutely amazing and highly recommended.
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Rocking Horse Nursery Stamford. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: February 2011
- April 2025Good
- July 2019Good
- September 2018Good
- August 2015Good
- February 2011Good
Frequently asked about Rocking Horse Nursery Stamford
About the setting
Rocking Horse Nursery Stamford Limited registered in 1992 and is located in Stamford, Lincolnshire. The nursery employs 16 members of childcare staff, with 15 holding appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery provides government funded places for children aged nine months to four years.
- URN
- EY276326
- Registered person
- The Rocking Horse Nursery Stamford Limited
- Day care type
- Full day care
- Register
- Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
- Establishment type
- Childcare on non-domestic premises
- Previous rating
- Good
Nearby day nurseries in Stamford
Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Rocking Horse Nursery Stamford.
-
0.3 miAwaiting first inspection
Ark Kesteven Road Nursery School
Stamford · PE9 1SX
5.0(5 reviews) -
0.3 miOfsted: Good
The Mulberry Bush Nursery
Stamford · PE9 1SR
-
0.7 miOfsted: Outstanding
The Children's Garden Day Nursery
Stamford · PE9 1PJ
5.0(7 reviews) -
0.7 miOfsted: Outstanding
Small Wonders Nursery
Stamford · PE9 1PG
-
0.8 miOfsted: Good
The Little Lane Nursery
Stamford · PE9 2BT
-
1.1 miAwaiting first inspection
Ark Foundry Road Nursery School
Stamford · PE9 2PP
4.4(9 reviews)
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