RAFA Kidz Cranwell

87 & 86C Wellesley Way, RAF Cranwell, Sleaford NG34 8HB
Review Us
9.5 44 Reviews
  • RAFA Kidz Cranwell, Sleaford
RAFA Kidz 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.

RAFA Kidz 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 RAFA Kidz the children will follow the Early Years Foundation Stage, a curriculum to ensure children reach their full potential across all areas of development. RAFA Kidz uses Famly to monitor and record each child's development.
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Group/Owner

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

Funding & Fees

  • £54.50 for a full day for a child under 5 years

  • Available on request


    Please contact the nursery for further information

Opening Times

  • 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

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays & 2 weeks at Christmas

Parking

  • There is plenty of parking at this nursery setting.

RAFA Kidz Cranwell Reviews (44)

9.5

RAFA Kidz Cranwell has a Review Score of 9.5 (9.474) out of 10, based on 12 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time RAFA Kidz Cranwell has 44 reviews.

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Review from Mary L (Mother of Child) published on 24 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
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
he adapted, thanks to the exceptional care and attention he receives every day.
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.
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Review from Stacey J (Mother of Child) published on 11 June 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Such a lovely setting. Our little girl has been going for nearly 2 years and has loved her time here. The support she has received has been wonderful, with regular feedback to us on her progress.
Lots of fun activities, structured, interesting learning topics and wonderful staff.
Thank you!
Reply from Katie Parkin, Nursery Manager at RAFA Kidz Cranwell
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.
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Review from A K (Mother of Child) published on 11 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
All staff members are extremely friendly and provide a welcoming environment for both children and parents.
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.
Reply from Katie Parkin, Nursery Manager at RAFA Kidz Cranwell
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.
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Review from L H (Father of Child) published on 8 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter started her childcare experiences through RAFA Kidz this year. What is undoubtedly a nervous time for any parent was eased through the taster sessions, where I found the staff to be attentive, caring and fully invested in the development of my child.
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.
Reply from Katie Parkin, Nursery Manager at RAFA Kidz Cranwell
Thank you so much for your review; it is much appreciated.
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Review from R J (Father of Child) published on 8 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We recently moved to Cranwell and enrolled our little boy into RAFKidz Cranwell. We were very nervous about the move having on recently returned to the UK and managed to get him settled in his old nursery, which took a few months.
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.
Reply from Katie Parkin, Nursery Manager at RAFA Kidz Cranwell
Thank you so much for this lovely review. We very much welcome our families to come into the nursery and join us for events.
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Review from Charlotte-Marie G (Mother of Child) published on 7 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff are incredible, they have been so welcoming and supportive. They are informative about all aspects of the day my child has and keep me updated via the app. They accommodate all dietary requirements and take the time to get to know your child’s uniqueness.
Reply from Katie Parkin, Nursery Manager at RAFA Kidz Cranwell
This is so lovely to hear. We are all so passionate about our nursery, so thank you.
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Review from Libby T (Mother of Child) published on 7 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
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.
Reply from Katie Parkin, Nursery Manager at RAFA Kidz Cranwell
Thank you so much for taking the time to give us a review.
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Review from V R (Mother of Child) published on 8 December 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
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 her
confidence in the setting. She is now a much more confident and settled individual.
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.
Reply from Katie Parkin, Nursery Manager at RAFA Kidz Cranwell
Thank you so much, we love our outdoor space as it gives the children so much freedom to explore.
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Review from A B (Mother of Child) published on 7 December 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
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.
Reply from Katie Parkin, Nursery Manager at RAFA Kidz Cranwell
Thank you so much, we pride ourselves with our high standards and always look for ways to improve our practice.
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Review from Georgia S (Mother of Child) published on 6 December 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
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.
Reply from Katie Parkin, Nursery Manager at RAFA Kidz Cranwell
Thank you so much, the staff are really incredible, we are very lucky.
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Review from K A (Mother of Child) published on 6 December 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
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!
Reply from Katie Parkin, Nursery Manager at RAFA Kidz Cranwell
Thank you so much for your review, we love that you feel the care, support and guidance is fantastic. Thank you.
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Review from Emily M (Mother of Child) published on 4 December 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
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.
Reply from Katie Parkin, Nursery Manager at RAFA Kidz Cranwell
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.
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Review from E B (Mother of Child) published on 1 December 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
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.
Reply from Katie Parkin, Nursery Manager at RAFA Kidz Cranwell
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.
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Review from R W (Mother of Child) published on 1 December 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
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.
Reply from Katie Parkin, Nursery Manager at RAFA Kidz Cranwell
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.
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Review from C S (Mother of Child) published on 30 November 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
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.
Reply from Katie Parkin, Nursery Manager at RAFA Kidz Cranwell
It’s lovely to hear you would recommend us to anyone and return to us. Thank you for your lovely review.
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Review from J P (Mother of Child) published on 30 November 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
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.
Reply from Katie Parkin, Nursery Manager at RAFA Kidz Cranwell
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…read more
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Review from Fiona S (Mother of Child) published on 29 November 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
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!
Reply from Katie Parkin, Nursery Manager at RAFA Kidz Cranwell
Thank you so much for your lovely feedback.
Safeguarding is our top priority, and we are glad you feel reassured your children are in safe hands.
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Review from Lisa W (Mother of Child) published on 21 November 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Fantastic nursery, my child has been there for 1.5 years now and loves it. The staff are amazing, they take the time to get to know parents and understand each child and their personal circumstances. I would highly recommend RAFA Kidz.
Reply from Katie Parkin, Nursery Manager at RAFA Kidz Cranwell
Thank you so much for highly recommending us, we work very hard to give you all an outstanding experience.
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Review from Jess J (Mother of Child) published on 15 November 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
A lovely welcoming setting for my child. The practitioners listen to my needs and any concerns. They have helped my child in many different aspects of their learning journey. There are lots of amazing facilities and different planned activities and resources to suit all age ranges.
Reply from Katie Parkin, Nursery Manager at RAFA Kidz Cranwell
Thank you so much for our lovely review, our practitioners go above and beyond so thank you.
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Review from S B (Mother of Child) published on 10 November 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The before and after school club is excellent! I have 2 children who attend and they always have a big smile on their face when they go. All the staff are welcoming and approachable and they always provide great activities for the children.
Reply from Katie Parkin, Nursery Manager at RAFA Kidz Cranwell
Thank you very much for your kind review. The staff work really hard to make sure the children have a really enjoyable time with us.
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Current Review Score: 9.5 (9.474)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.5 (9.474) out of 10 for RAFA Kidz Cranwell is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 12 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.5 out of 5 from 12 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.938 for RAFA Kidz Cranwell is calculated as follows: ( (135 Excellents x 5) + (9 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 144 Ratings = 4.938
  2. 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5'). The 4.536 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for RAFA Kidz Cranwell is based on 12 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4
    2. 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 112 number of registered child places is 22.4. 12 Positive Reviews ÷ 22.4 = 0.536
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (3)

Meet the Team (1)

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Katie Parkin

Job Title: Manager Joined: 2021

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 RAFA Kidz Cranwell

What is the Age Range of Children that RAFA Kidz Cranwell accepts?

RAFA Kidz Cranwell accepts Children aged from 0 years 6 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is RAFA Kidz Cranwell Open?

RAFA Kidz 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 RAFA Kidz Cranwell have capacity for?

RAFA Kidz Cranwell has capacity for a total of 112 Children.

How far is RAFA Kidz 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 RAFA Kidz Cranwell to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. RAFA Kidz Cranwell has an Enhanced Service - more info.