ELEVEN nurseries across the Bradford area have been named in the best 20 in Yorkshire, beating hundreds of others from all corners of the region.

The top 20 nurseries in the Yorkshire & The Humber have received a prize from awards organiser daynurseries.co.uk, a leading day nurseries review site.

The awards are based on reviews left by the families and carers of children, with more than 50,000 reviews over the past two years taken into consideration.

Nurseries are rated on their overall standard, facilities and outside space, learning, resources, equipment and ICT, care, activities, staff, food and nutrition, management, cleanliness, safeguarding and value for money.

Of the 1,028 early years settings across Yorkshire & The Humber, the top 20 have been rewarded for their high standards, and more than half of the top nurseries are based in the Bradford area.

The 11 nurseries in Bradford and surrounding areas named in the top 20 in Yorkshire are:

  • Ashmoor Private Day Nursery and Pre-school, Shipley (Just Childcare Ltd) Moorhead, Shipley
  • Cavendish Lodge Day Nursery (1st Safari Day Nurseries Ltd) Back Cavendish Street, Keighley
  • Dracup Lodge Private Day Nursery (1st Safari Day Nurseries Ltd) Great Horton, Bradford
  • Esscroft Private Nursery Ilkley Road, Burley-In-Wharfedale, Ilkley
  • Kinder Haven @ Eccleshill (Kinder Haven Day Nurseries) Bradford
  • Kinder Haven @ Pasture Lane (Kinder Haven Day Nurseries) Bradford
  • Kinder Haven @ Town Gate Wyke (Kinder Haven Day Nurseries) Bradford
  • Kinder Haven Ltd @ Halifax Road (Kinder Haven Day Nurseries) Bradford
  • Kinder Haven Ltd @ Westgate Hill (Kinder Haven Day Nurseries) Tong, Bradford
  • The Little Green Frog Day Nursery, Otley
  • Lightcliffe Pre-school (Early Years Alliance) Christ Church, Brighouse Road, Hipperholme, Halifax

Kinder Haven nurseries in Eccleshill, Pasture Lane, Wyke, Westgate Hill Street and in Halifax Road all made the list, as well as Dracup Lodge in Great Horton.

In Shipley, Ashmoor Nursery was included and in Keighley, Cavendish Lodge made the list. Burley-in-Wharfedale’s Esscroft Private Nursery was also included.

Outside the district, but still in the Bradford area, were The Little Green Frog Day Nursery in Otley, and Lightcliffe Pre-School.

The Kinder Haven group was also listed in the national Top 20 Mid-Sized Nursery Group list.

Owner Danielle Dixon said: “We are honoured to have been awarded this award, it celebrates our success and achievements in what has been such a difficult year.

“Receiving the Day Nurseries Awards, voted for by parents is massive; there is no better honour than this, our successes cannot be achieved without the commitment and dedication from our team and the amazing families and children. Thank you for all your continued support.”

Ruth Johnson, owner of The Little Green Frog Day Nursery, added: “We are delighted to have won this award for the second year.

“The team at The Little Green Frog are amazingly dedicated to the children and will go the extra mile every day to give them wonderful experiences and loving care.

“It is lovely to know that our parents value the nursery and recognise the commitment, enthusiasm and skill of our team.”

Amanda Hopkins, reviews manager of daynurseries.co.uk, said: “ Being chosen as one of the best nurseries by family and carers of children that attend the setting is a huge achievement.

“This year has been a huge challenge for nurseries, many of whom were offering childcare to vulnerable and keyworker children during lockdown and have now opened up fully, giving parents and children that vital return to ‘normality’.

“We hope these awards will boost the spirits of nursery staff and give parents valuable guidance in choosing the right nursery for their child.

“Reviews of our Top 20 nurseries show these settings stimulate and nurture children, enhancing their social and emotional wellbeing as well as their learning.”

The other nurseries listed in the top 20 are based in Leeds, York, Halifax and Castleford.

The nurseries making up the rest of the top 20 list are: 

  • Banana Moon Day Nursery Rothwell (Banana Moon Day Nurseries) Rothwell, Leeds
  • Daisy Chain Childcare Rothwell (Daisy Chain Childcare) Rothwell, Leeds
  • Little Green Rascals Organic Day Nursery - 7 Minster Yard (Little Green Rascals Organic Day Nurseries) York
  • Little Green Rascals Organic Day Nursery - Elvington Lane (Little Green Rascals Organic Day Nurseries) Elvington Lane, York
  • Little Green Rascals Organic Day Nursery - Flaxton (Little Green Rascals Organic Day Nurseries) Flaxton, York
  • New Moon Nursery Castleford
  • Puddleducks Children's Nursery Sheriff Hutton, York
  • Tiny Tree Day Nursery and Out of School Club (Halifax) (Shine Childcare Ltd) Halifax