12 nurseries in Ilkeston
Every day nursery in Ilkeston on the Ofsted register, best rated first, with what a place costs in East Midlands after the free hours.
Best-rated nurseries in Ilkeston
The top of our Ilkeston ranking: Ofsted's outcome first, then the newest inspection.
| # | Nursery | Ofsted outcome | Inspected | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little Explorers Nursery DE7 6DN | Outstanding | 18 November 2022 | 54 |
| 2 | Little Plums Nursery Ilkeston DE7 9HE | Expected standard in 4 of 6 | 14 May 2026 | 47 |
| 3 | Toddlers University DE7 5DR | Good | 2 July 2025 | 66 |
| 4 | Cherubs Ilkeston DE7 8DH | Good | 20 June 2025 | 78 |
| 5 | Pines Private Day Nursery (The) DE7 5FY | Good | 26 March 2024 | 83 |
Day nurseries in Ilkeston, best rated first
| # | Nursery | Ofsted outcome | Inspected | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little Explorers Nursery DE7 6DN | Outstanding | 18 November 2022 | 54 |
| 2 | Little Plums Nursery Ilkeston DE7 9HE | Expected standard in 4 of 6 | 14 May 2026 | 47 |
| 3 | Toddlers University DE7 5DR | Good | 2 July 2025 | 66 |
| 4 | Cherubs Ilkeston DE7 8DH | Good | 20 June 2025 | 78 |
| 5 | Pines Private Day Nursery (The) DE7 5FY | Good | 26 March 2024 | 83 |
| 6 | The Lanes Day Nursery DE7 6HU | Good | 9 February 2024 | 42 |
| 7 | Butterfly Castle Day Nursery DE7 4FJ | Good | 25 July 2022 | 86 |
| 8 | Cantelupe Pre-School Playgroup DE7 5HY | Good | 6 July 2022 | 30 |
| 9 | Ilkeston Tuition Centre DE7 5QT | Not yet graded | Not yet | |
| 10 | Magic Roundabout Nurseries Ltd DE7 4LT | Not yet graded | Not yet | 94 |
| 11 | The Rocking Horse Nursery DE7 8DY | Not yet graded | Not yet | 36 |
| 12 | Twinkle Stars Daycare Ltd DE7 5JA | Not yet graded | Not yet | 22 |
How the ranking works: our ranking policy. What the grades mean: Ofsted report cards explained.
Nurseries by postcode in Ilkeston
Ilkeston is in Derbyshire.
Nursery fees in Ilkeston
What day nurseries in East Midlands charge on average. Fees in Ilkeston itself can sit above or below this.
| Child's age | 25 hours a week | 50 hours a week |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2 | £165no funded hours | £128after 30 funded hours |
| 2 years old | £159no funded hours | £130after 30 funded hours |
| 3 to 4 years old | £62after the free 15 hours | £123after 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 Ilkeston
The free hours follow national rules, so they are the same in Ilkeston 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.