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They provide affordable quality childcare and education in a safe and happy 'home from home' environment for children aged 6 months to 14 years. As well as providing care and education for early years they offer before and after school wrap around care for children who attend Cranwell Primary...
RAFAKidz is based at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire. The facility was funded by the RAF Benevolent Fund and was purpose-built in 2005.
They provide affordable quality childcare and education in a safe and happy 'home from home' environment for children aged 6 months to 14 years. As well as providing care and education for early years they offer before and after school wrap around care for children who attend Cranwell Primary School and provide a holiday club during school holidays for all children.
The children have plenty of fun in a structured but nurturing environment leaving you relaxed and confident that your child is safe in their care. They provide the highest quality play education in a warm and caring environment within which all children can learn and develop as they play. Their gardens include a forest school, sensory areas, willow domes, pavilions and a friendship garden was added in 2018. They are keen on outdoor learning and go outdoors in all weathers.
RAFAKidz Cranwell places a great emphasis on working in partnership with parents. Their highly trained staff are all qualified first aiders and continuous professional development is encouraged for all staff to keep up to date with new initiatives within the early years sector. The children are provided with nutritious meals freshly prepared on the premises by the kitchen team. They cater for dietary needs and work closely with parents to ensure that children are safely catered for.
Children progress through four rooms within the nursery according to age and the capacity of each room. Throughout their time at RAFAKidz the children will follow the Early Years Foundation Stage, a curriculum to ensure children reach their full potential across all areas of development. RAFAKidz uses Famly to monitor and record each child's development.
Type of Service
- Day Nursery
Opening Schedule
Open all yearAttendance patterns offered
All Year
Minimum attendance
- 1 day per week
Full days available
YesHalf day sessions offered
YesGroup / Owner
- RAFAKidz
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Person in charge
- Katie Parkin (Manager)
Number of Childcare Staff
- 40
Registered Charity Number
- 1154822
Total Places for Children
- 112
Age Range
- from 0 years 6 months
- to 5 years 0 months
Meals Provided
YesMeal Types Provided
Breakfast, Dinner / Tea, Lunch, Snacks
Consumables provided
YesConsumables provided include
Nappies, Suncream, Wipes
Opening Times
- Monday07:30-17:45
- Tuesday07:30-17:45
- Wednesday07:30-17:45
- Thursday07:30-17:45
- Friday07:30-17:45
When Closed
- Bank Holidays & 2 weeks at Christmas
Parking
- There is plenty of parking at this nursery setting.
Funding & Fees
Typical monthly cost for a 3-days place
£364/ month
Military families benefit from lower childcare fees than civilian families across all standard session types.
Military families benefit from lower childcare fees than civilian families across all standard session types.
Additional Charges for Funded Hours:
Meal charge: £0.64 per funded hour
Health & hygiene consumables: £0.18 per funded hour
Extracurricular activities: £0.18 per funded hour
Additional Fees:
Late collection charge: £10.00 per 15 minutes
Late payment charge: £25.00
Registration fee: £50.00
A £30.00 consumables base rate applies to children accessing funded hours only. This charge is spread across invoices according to how funding is allocated throughout the year.
For families using funded hours, the £50.00 registration fee is credited to the first invoice after the child's start date.
A minimum booking of either two morning/afternoon sessions or one full day per week is required.
Standard notice periods apply, and all fees are subject to review in line with RAFAKidz Terms and Conditions.
Calculated from data given to us by this nursery. Your final quote may vary slightly.
Averaged monthly figure. Actual billing varies; some nurseries bill weekly or by use.Defaults shown
9 months to 2 years • 3-days • 30 hours funding • all year
How this price scales (per month)
1 day per week
£51
3 days per week
£364
5 days per week
£988
Adjust for your situation
What this price covers
- Standard chargeable day 7:30am to 5:45pm (10.3 hours)
- 21.9 funded hours used per week. Remaining hours charged privately.
- Included in this price: Breakfast, Dinner / Tea, Lunch, Snacks, Nappies, Suncream and Wipes
Price without government funding: £936 / month (£72 / day)
If you're not eligible or haven't claimed funded hours.More info
- £572/month more than the funded price.
- This is what you'd pay if your child is under 9 months, or if you're not eligible for or haven't claimed funded hours.
About this price
How funding is applied, how the monthly figure is calculated.More info
- Working parents of children aged 9 months to 2 years can usually claim up to 30 funded hours a week. The working-parent hours depend on each parent meeting the minimum earnings rules and earning under £100,000 a year. This nursery stretches funded hours across 52 weeks of the year. You've selected 30 funded hours.
- This nursery applies up to 10 funded hours per day, stretched across 52 weeks of the year. With your selected funding, 21.9 hours are covered each week. Hours beyond this, including the early and late parts of the day, are charged at the standard rate.
- We work out the total cost across the year and divide by 12, so the figure shown is a smoothed monthly average. In practice, nurseries bill in different ways. Some bill monthly at this average. Others bill weekly, or charge for what happened that week or month, which can vary across the year. Confirm billing details with the nursery when you enquire.
Contact RAFAKidz Cranwell to get a personalised quote:
RAFAKidz Cranwell Reviews (47)
RAFAKidz Cranwell has a Review Score of 8.5 (8.540) out of 10, based on 5 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time RAFAKidz Cranwell has 47 reviews.
I can't fault Cranwell RafaKidz. The staff are brilliant and clearly really care about the children and their development. There always feels like there's a restlessness and desire to apply new thinking, try new activities, adopt more training, offer additional activities and shake up the way the...
I can't fault Cranwell RafaKidz. The staff are brilliant and clearly really care about the children and their development. There always feels like there's a restlessness and desire to apply new thinking, try new activities, adopt more training, offer additional activities and shake up the way the rooms function. All of this, plus brilliant communication and care, is what makes RafaKidz really stand out. Couldn't recommend them enough.
Thank you so much for your review, we do always thrive to improve in all areas and it is lovely that it is recognised.
I highly recommend this Nursery. The facilities are well maintained and allow for great activities and exploration for the children. The staff are always on hand for advice and give a thorough run down of the day at pick up.
I highly recommend this Nursery. The facilities are well maintained and allow for great activities and exploration for the children. The staff are always on hand for advice and give a thorough run down of the day at pick up.
Thank you very much for taking the time to give us this lovely review.
A genuinely great nursery setting that our girls love going to daily. Staff are friendly and understanding, and educational development appears good within setting. Some of the recent policy changes regarding child illness & allergy measures appear overly restrictive and have had an impact as a...
A genuinely great nursery setting that our girls love going to daily. Staff are friendly and understanding, and educational development appears good within setting. Some of the recent policy changes regarding child illness & allergy measures appear overly restrictive and have had an impact as a working family with little support nearby. Seems strange that the nursery continue to invoice for bank holidays despite the nursery being closed on these days.
We appreciate your feedback and thank you for taking the time to give us a review. We pride ourselves on our excellent quality provision but we understand that due to statutory guidance this can sometimes impact on our families. We always do our best to meet all needs.
Excellent Nursery. Staff members are competent, caring and friendly. Our child loves going and has developed strong relationship with other children, is building social skills and gets involved with lots of different activities.
Excellent Nursery. Staff members are competent, caring and friendly. Our child loves going and has developed strong relationship with other children, is building social skills and gets involved with lots of different activities.
Thank you very much for you positive feedback. The team work very hard to go above and beyond and support not only the children but our families.
We are absolutely thrilled with the care our son has received at RAFA Kidz Cranwell. Before moving to England and enrolling him here, our son had only been cared for by a nanny, so we were naturally nervous about transitioning him into a nursery setting. However, we've been amazed at how seamlessly...
The staff and management team have truly gone above and beyond. Their approach is warm, nurturing, and thoughtful, and it's clear they are deeply committed to each child's well-being and development. The level of care they provide rivals, if not surpasses, that of a nanny. We can see our son growing, learning, and thriving in their positive and supportive environment.
We're so grateful to the entire team for making this transition smooth and for offering our son such a high standard of care. We couldn't be more pleased and HIGHLY recommend RAFA Kidz Cranwell to any parent seeking top-notch childcare.
Lots of fun activities, structured, interesting learning topics and wonderful staff.
Thank you!
Lots of fun activities, structured, interesting learning topics and wonderful staff.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for taking the time to give us a review. Feedback is so important to us, working with our parents to support our child's next steps is a shared role which we all value.
The communication between the nursery and parents is brilliant and our questions are always answered swiftly.
We are always kept in the loop with upcoming events through the app.
Our...
The communication between the nursery and parents is brilliant and our questions are always answered swiftly.
We are always kept in the loop with upcoming events through the app.
Our little boy's key worker and room leader regularly update us either in person or via the app with observations, progress and activities our child is interested in, which gives us ideas on how to help support our child at home with continued learning.
Thank you so much for everything you do.
Thank you for taking the time to give us this lovely review. Communication is key and we always want to keep our parents fully involved in everything we do.
The place setting offers plenty of...
The place setting offers plenty of experiences for the children, through see learn and playing. Food options continue to adapt to feedback, offering a broad selection that caters for all.
Thank you so much for your review; it is much appreciated.
We could not have been more delighted with the way in which the...
We could not have been more delighted with the way in which the staff at the nursery welcomed us and our little boy into their setting. He was settled within days and now is so excited about going to nursery each day, to the point he sometimes doesn’t want to come home at the end of the day.
In addition to getting him settled so quickly, the nursery has regular events that include parents, from story readings during the day to parent stay-and-play breakfasts. We feel very blessed to be so involved in his nursery setting, and it has only been three months so far.
All the staff are incredible, including all of the behind scenes staff as well.
We cannot recommend this nursery enough.
Thank you so much for this lovely review. We very much welcome our families to come into the nursery and join us for events.
RAFA Kidz is outstanding. The outdoor space is a safe space for exploration, the activities are diverse and engaging, and the staff are exceptional. My children have both thrived in the positive learning environment they have created. I highly recommend this nursery to any parent seeking top-notch...
RAFA Kidz is outstanding. The outdoor space is a safe space for exploration, the activities are diverse and engaging, and the staff are exceptional. My children have both thrived in the positive learning environment they have created. I highly recommend this nursery to any parent seeking top-notch care and education for their little ones.
Thank you so much for taking the time to give us a review.
Our daughter has attended the setting for about six months now and moved from a very small nursery. The transition has been wonderful, she has settled into this big nursery so well and this is down to the great team at RAFA Kids Cranwell. They identified her needs early and worked to slowly build...
The activities the nursery does with the children are varied, fun and assist in her development daily.
The outdoor space for the children is one of the best parts of this nursery. The new covers mean the children can play outside in all weathers - the fresh air and being active are two things my little one loves.
I can't fault anything with this nursery as a choice for my daughter.
Thank you so much, we love our outdoor space as it gives the children so much freedom to explore.
A wonderful nursery where the children are encouraged and supported to help with their development. The care given by the staff is of a very high standard and I would not hesitate to recommend RAFA Kidz.
A wonderful nursery where the children are encouraged and supported to help with their development. The care given by the staff is of a very high standard and I would not hesitate to recommend RAFA Kidz.
Thank you so much, we pride ourselves with our high standards and always look for ways to improve our practice.
Really a fantastic nursery with incredible staff. My child has come on so much since joining. I will always be grateful for their care and work. Every day there is always something exciting and educational.
Really a fantastic nursery with incredible staff. My child has come on so much since joining. I will always be grateful for their care and work. Every day there is always something exciting and educational.
Thank you so much, the staff are really incredible, we are very lucky.
I cannot fault the nursery at all. I have 2 children attending this nursery and the care, support and guidance they are given on a daily basis is just fantastic! Both my children have developed so much because of what the amazing team do and the opportunities available to them every day! Thank you...
I cannot fault the nursery at all. I have 2 children attending this nursery and the care, support and guidance they are given on a daily basis is just fantastic! Both my children have developed so much because of what the amazing team do and the opportunities available to them every day! Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for your review, we love that you feel the care, support and guidance is fantastic. Thank you.
My child has been here for approximately 3 months now and as a first time mum, I was very nervous about him starting nursery but our experience has been fantastic. He thoroughly enjoys every day he is at nursery, the staff are amazing, caring and attentive and keep me up to date with everything...
My child has been here for approximately 3 months now and as a first time mum, I was very nervous about him starting nursery but our experience has been fantastic. He thoroughly enjoys every day he is at nursery, the staff are amazing, caring and attentive and keep me up to date with everything that goes on. He is always doing different activities every day and gets to go out and about to explore. Thank you to all the staff for doing an amazing job and putting all my worries at ease.
It’s so lovely to hear how much your child loves to come to nursery and what an amazing job the staff do. Thank you so much for your review.
Our daughter has been attending RAFA Kidz Cranwell for the last 7 months and we absolutely love it. The team works incredibly hard to provide a caring, fun and engaging environment. There are always interesting and stimulating activities happening and the team really supports our daughter's...
Our daughter has been attending RAFA Kidz Cranwell for the last 7 months and we absolutely love it. The team works incredibly hard to provide a caring, fun and engaging environment. There are always interesting and stimulating activities happening and the team really supports our daughter's learning/development (with kindness and professionalism). We highly recommend it.
Thank you so much for taking the time to give us this lovely review and we are so pleased that you would highly recommend us.
The nursery is a very welcoming environment, that is absolutely child centred. I have seen first hand how they provide tailored support to the children to meet their needs. The key carer to my children have all been super kind, focused and available as a familiar grown-up for my children to feel...
The nursery is a very welcoming environment, that is absolutely child centred. I have seen first hand how they provide tailored support to the children to meet their needs. The key carer to my children have all been super kind, focused and available as a familiar grown-up for my children to feel secure with. I'm so proud of how my children have grown into independent little people over the last few years and I can't thank the staff enough for their role in that.
We love watching the children grow and flourish with the support of the staff working closely alongside their parents and carers. It’s the most rewarding role ever. Thank you for your lovely review.
We put our son into this nursery when he was 7 months old then swapped him out to send him to a childminders (mostly down to financial reasons). We pulled him out of the childminders after a month and half to put him back into RAFA Kidz Cranwell. This was the easiest decision we ever made. I think...
We put our son into this nursery when he was 7 months old then swapped him out to send him to a childminders (mostly down to financial reasons). We pulled him out of the childminders after a month and half to put him back into RAFA Kidz Cranwell. This was the easiest decision we ever made. I think this speaks volumes. Our son loves it here and more so it gives us peace of mind that he's happy and having fun in a safe place. The app to track his day is also of a great reassurance to us, especially when his dad has to go away with work. He can stay in the loop. Our son quite often comes back tired and dirty from nursery and we wouldn't have it any other way. He's just enjoying life being a toddler and it's really nice that he has a place where he feels settled to be able to do that. We'd recommend RAFA Kidz Cranwell to anyone. In particular, Cranwell. Price hikes per year are a bit hard to swallow but I would say that's about the only real negative.
It’s lovely to hear you would recommend us to anyone and return to us. Thank you for your lovely review.
Such a wonderful nursery, with staff who really care for each child there. My girl absolutely loves going there, and the setting is brilliant, with loads of outdoor space. Massive variety of activities each week. The staff retention rate seems very high too, which probably says it all - the staff...
Such a wonderful nursery, with staff who really care for each child there. My girl absolutely loves going there, and the setting is brilliant, with loads of outdoor space. Massive variety of activities each week. The staff retention rate seems very high too, which probably says it all - the staff are happy working there, and it flows through the whole place. My child is thriving there, all thanks to the practitioners and their skill and love.
The staff team are amazing and we are very proud of them. They are highly motivated and always put the children first. With years of experience and childcare qualifications between them, they always go above and beyond.
I have two children using RAFA Kidz Cranwell (Butterflies/Grasshoppers). I have been so impressed with the fantastic staff, the structured activities, the facilities and the communications with parents. The staff are all so experienced and caring. I always feel reassured that the kids are in safe...
I have two children using RAFA Kidz Cranwell (Butterflies/Grasshoppers). I have been so impressed with the fantastic staff, the structured activities, the facilities and the communications with parents. The staff are all so experienced and caring. I always feel reassured that the kids are in safe hands. The opening hours are ideal to allow for flexibility with the busy working day. And the system of bussing the kids to and from primary school on either side of wraparound care is absolutely amazing! Thank you so much!
Safeguarding is our top priority, and we are glad you feel reassured your children are in safe hands.
Child Vacancies
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
News (0) & Events (0)
There are no news items for RAFAKidz Cranwell.
There are no upcoming events for RAFAKidz Cranwell.
Awards / Recognitions (4)
- 31 Mar 2026Recipient: RAFAKidz
- 04 Mar 2024Recipient: RAFAKidz Cranwell
- 20 Sep 2023Recipient: RAFAKidz Cranwell
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for RAFAKidz Cranwell.
Meet the Team (1)

Katie has worked for RAFA Kidz since 2021 and worked in Early Years for over 30 years and has a wealth of experience.
Frequently Asked Questions about RAFAKidz Cranwell
What is the Age Range of Children that RAFAKidz Cranwell accepts?
RAFAKidz Cranwell accepts Children aged from 0 years 6 months to 5 years 0 months.
What Days & Hours is RAFAKidz Cranwell Open?
RAFAKidz Cranwell is open: Monday 07:30-17:45, Tuesday 07:30-17:45, Wednesday 07:30-17:45, Thursday 07:30-17:45, Friday 07:30-17:45.
How many Children does RAFAKidz Cranwell have capacity for?
RAFAKidz Cranwell has capacity for a total of 112 Children.
How far is RAFAKidz Cranwell to the centre of Sleaford?
4.7 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact RAFAKidz Cranwell to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. RAFAKidz Cranwell has an Enhanced Service -what an Enhanced Service includes.