8 nurseries in BB3 (Darwen, Bank Fold, Eccleshill)
Every day nursery with a BB3 postcode, best rated first, and what a place costs in North West after the free hours.
Day nurseries in BB3 (Darwen, Bank Fold, Eccleshill), best rated first
| # | Nursery | Ofsted outcome | Inspected | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riverside Nursery BB3 0PR | Outstanding | 28 September 2022 | 82 |
| 2 | Precious Moments Childcare (Darwen) ltd. BB3 2DE | Good | 28 June 2024 | 55 |
| 3 | Ark Les Enfants Nursery and Forest School BB3 1JE | Good | 18 January 2024 | 80 |
| 4 | Marshmallows Day Nursery BB3 3JB | Good | 29 March 2022 | 63 |
| 5 | Rainbow Childcare BB3 1NW | Good | 10 February 2022 | 32 |
| 6 | Barnabas House Private Nursery BB3 2EB | Needs attention in 5 of 6 | 28 November 2025 | 59 |
| 7 | Kidzania Childcare Darwen BB3 1AT | Urgent improvement in 6 of 6 | 23 April 2026 | 99 |
| 8 | PALS-Darwen St Joseph's Primary School BB3 2SG | Not yet graded | Not yet | 35 |
How the ranking works: our ranking policy. What the grades mean: Ofsted report cards explained.
BB3 is in Blackburn with Darwen, covering Darwen.
Nursery fees in BB3
What day nurseries in North West charge on average. Fees in BB3 itself can sit above or below this.
| Child's age | 25 hours a week | 50 hours a week |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2 | £178no funded hours | £136after 30 funded hours |
| 2 years old | £158no funded hours | £124after 30 funded hours |
| 3 to 4 years old | £62after the free 15 hours | £120after 30 funded hours |
Regional average, not any one nursery's price. Source: Coram Childcare Survey 2026. Work out your own monthly cost.
30 hours free childcare in BB3
The free hours follow national rules, so they are the same in BB3 as anywhere in England. Every day nursery listed here is registered with Ofsted, which is what a nursery needs to offer them.
| Who | Free hours a week |
|---|---|
| Working parents, child from 9 months | 30 hours |
| Every 3 and 4 year old | 15 hours |
| 2 year olds in families getting some benefits | 15 hours |
Nursery list and inspection outcomes from Ofsted's register of childcare providers, as at 30 June 2026.
Fees shown are regional averages from the Coram Family and Childcare Survey 2026, not any one nursery’s price. Confirm with the nursery before enrolling.
Eligibility rules are the government’s (childcarechoices.gov.uk). Whether a nursery offers the funded hours, and what it charges for meals and consumables, is the nursery’s decision; ask for its funded-hours terms in writing.