7 nurseries in MK42 (Castle, Cauldwell, Elstow)
Every day nursery with a MK42 postcode, best rated first, and what a place costs in East of England after the free hours.
Day nurseries in MK42 (Castle, Cauldwell, Elstow), best rated first
| # | Nursery | Ofsted outcome | Inspected | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kiddi Caru Nursery MK42 9AU | Outstanding | 8 June 2023 | 95 |
| 2 | Banana Moon Day Nursery MK42 8BQ | Good | 11 October 2024 | 70 |
| 3 | The Lodge Playgroup MK42 7PS | Good | 29 January 2024 | 20 |
| 4 | Warren Childcare Centre MK42 7NR | Good | 6 December 2022 | 32 |
| 5 | Junior Adventures Group @ Lakeview MK42 6BH | Good | 4 October 2021 | 25 |
| 6 | Busy Bees Day Nursery at Bedford Elstow MK42 9XE | Needs attention in 6 of 6 | 28 April 2026 | 112 |
| 7 | Keep Guard Day Nursery Ltd MK42 8SJ | Not yet graded | Not yet | 60 |
How the ranking works: our ranking policy. What the grades mean: Ofsted report cards explained.
MK42 is in Bedford.
Nursery fees in MK42
What day nurseries in East of England charge on average. Fees in MK42 itself can sit above or below this.
| Child's age | 25 hours a week | 50 hours a week |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2 | £192no funded hours | £155after 30 funded hours |
| 2 years old | £176no funded hours | £141after 30 funded hours |
| 3 to 4 years old | £67after the free 15 hours | £135after 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 MK42
The free hours follow national rules, so they are the same in MK42 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.