My granddaughter has developed very well in so many ways thanks to this nurseryKimberely S(Grandmother of Child)

A fantastic nursery in every way. My 3-year-old loves it here and has come on brilliantlyRebecca J(Mother of Child)

The manager of the nursery has always helped and supported us during the time my child has attendeG K(Father of Child)

My granddaughter has developed very well in so many ways thanks to this nurseryKimberely S(Grandmother of Child)

A fantastic nursery in every way. My 3-year-old loves it here and has come on brilliantlyRebecca J(Mother of Child)

The manager of the nursery has always helped and supported us during the time my child has attendeG K(Father of Child)

Thornton Lodge Day Nursery is situated in scenic surroundings and part of a pleasant village environment, where children can enjoy learning in extensive indoor and outdoor play facilities.
The facility supports healthy eating alongside sound education and has been awarded a five-star kitchen rating.
A great deal of expertise and care has gone into creating a stimulating and child-centred environment, with a blend of child-led and adult-led activities. All staff are...
Funding & Fees
8am to 6pm is charged at £66/session.
Early starts can be arranged from 7:30am, please call to discuss your requirements.
Please contact us for the latest prices.
We have a number of Sessions available to meet/match our parent's requirements.
We do not charge for Bank Holidays or any defined days that we are closed (Normally around Christmas).
Contact Thornton Lodge Day Nursery to get a personalised quote:
Type of Service
- Day Nursery
Opening Schedule
Open all yearFull days available
YesHalf day sessions offered
YesGroup/Owner
- 1st Safari Day Nurseries Ltd
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Gareth Rider-Smith (Nursery Manager)
Number of Childcare Staff
- 11
Total Places for Children
- 71
Age Range
- from 0 years 3 months
- to 5 years 0 months
Meals Provided
NoConsumables provided
NoOpening Times
- Monday 08:00-18:00
- Tuesday 08:00-18:00
- Wednesday 08:00-18:00
- Thursday 08:00-18:00
- Friday 08:00-18:00
When Closed
- Bank Holidays only
Parking
- Unfortunately Thornton Lodge doesn't have any car parking facilities on site, however all Visitors and Parents can use King Edward Road to park above the nursery, to ensure free access up and down James Street in peak times, parking outside the nursery on the main road is available, but advise the use of King Edwards Road.
Thornton Lodge Day Nursery Reviews (162)
Thornton Lodge Day Nursery has a Review Score of 9.0 (9.009) out of 10, based on 7 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Thornton Lodge Day Nursery has 162 reviews.
All 3 of my grandchildren have attended Thornton Lodge. The staff have always been supportive of our family as well as amazing with the children.
She has come on so much since coming here.
Staff are great and make you feel so welcome.
Both my children have attended this nursery it is an amazing place with friendly staff who put children at the heart of everything that they do. My children have been kept safe, thrived and well prepared for school life. the learning environments are high quality and outdoor learning is a priority which my boys loved. Communication is good and the setting is managed well by the Nursery Manager. There isn't anything that he wouldn't do for you. I highly recommend Thornton Lodge to prospective parents.
I have two boys who have both attended Thornton Lodge since they were nine months old. My children have loved coming here and are sad that they can no longer attend as they both go to school now. The staff are very caring and committed to ensuring that my children are safe, well and know how to support their development. Communication is good and staff always give regular feedback on daily activities, including food, which my two boys love! I would highly recommend this nursery to everyone.
A home, not a nursery, warm and consistent. They have helped my son to grow and develop during his time here, and I have used different nurseries before this one, and I would never send my children anywhere else!
The staff are very helpful and understanding.
Fantastic service, staff very friendly, nursery very flexible. My child has loved his time at Thornton Lodge and made many friends.
Thornton Lodge has been beyond amazing for my son. They've gone above and beyond to make sure he's happy and content. He loves coming to nursery to learn and play. I'd recommend this nursery to anyone.
Great experience, looked after my sister, well taught her vocabulary that I thought she would never learn, she's very intelligent for her age.
Lovely staff, my son enjoys playing outside in the playground, messy play. He has learnt manners, writing, and being a caring, thoughtful little boy. He would come to nursery on a weekend so that speaks volumes to the staff.
My granddaughter has loved her time at this nursery. The staff have been brilliant, and they, and their leader, always go above and beyond to make it a happy and caring place. Their affection and care for the children is a joy to see, all carried out with a warm sense of humour.
Thank you so much.
Highly recommend.
They've grown and developed so much due to the amazing staff.
Highly recommend.
Exceptional nursery, all staff go above and beyond for all the children.
An amazing nursery, looked after my child for many years, any problems I have had would be noted and taken care of. Staff are lovely. Really engage with the children, no matter of their abilities.
Great nursery. My son has loved every minute of it. Thank you to all the staff for making his time at nursery amazing.
My daughter also attends the baby room and as a baby who was very clingy they have really helped her settle and she really enjoys going now.
The nursery manager is very approachable and does everything in his power to accommodate parent’s needs and to involve parents in their child’s progress.
My daughter is so happy at the nursery and the staff are so warm and welcoming. They have been extremely supportive and know her well. She loves all the activities. The manager is brilliant and a real driving force for the amazing changes at the nursery. Would strongly recommend.
I recently changed the nursery for my little girl and noticed the positive impact Thornton Lodge has had on her. All the staff are very down to earth and cannot do enough for my daughter. She is so excited to tell me everything she has done and eaten. She has also gained lots of friends and she would attend every day if I would allow her to, which is why I started my baby at Thornton Lodge. She has come on leaps and bounds.
My son has been attending for just over a year. The staff are very attentive, knowledgeable and know my child well. He completes/participates in a range of activities each day which are set up by the staff. He is very well fed with a good range of choices. They have amazing facilities (including outdoor space) and a great range of toys. The staff keep a great record of his achievements and targets and seem to do more than is required of them. He has bonded well with the staff. The staff also plan great activities/parties on occasions e.g Halloween and Christmas, which he thoroughly enjoys.
Child Vacancies
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
News (0) & Events (0)
There are no news items for Thornton Lodge Day Nursery.
There are no upcoming events for Thornton Lodge Day Nursery.
Awards / Recognitions (1)
- Recipient: Thornton Lodge Day NurseryDate: Thursday 01 Mar 2018
Meet the Team (2)
My Name is Gareth. I am the Nursery Manager at 1st Safari - Thornton Lodge.
I qualified in 2008 with a CACHE Diploma Level 3 in childcare. I then went on to complete my Foundation degree in Early Years in 2012.
I started working at the 1st Safari in 2010 as Nursery Manager. I have since been a manager at Sandpit Nursery for 18 months, part of the 1st Safari Group alongside running Thornton Lodge, and then, most recently, after leaving Sandpits Nursery, I have become the Manager of Dracup Lodge.
I work across all rooms in the nursery to support the staff and children with their learning and development and encourage the staff team to embed our learning and development programmes to get the best learning opportunities at home. I love my job, and I’m passionate about working with children.
My other roles within the nursery are safeguarding officer and health and safety officer. I have carried out many training courses, including EYFS, food hygiene, First Aid, and behaviour management.
With an incredible 25 years in childcare under her belt, Kalsum joined 1st Safari in February 2025, bringing a wealth of experience and an infectious passion for early years development. As Deputy Manager and Baby Room Leader, she works alongside Gareth to ensure Thornton Lodge remains a nurturing, safe, and fun environment where children can truly excel and reach their full potential. Her journey began with an NNEB Diploma in Nursery Nursing, and she's never stopped growing - progressing to achieve her Level 5 in Early Years and Management. After a quarter of a century in childcare, Kalsum firmly believes you should never be afraid to better yourself, and she continues to learn every day with guidance from her mentor, Gareth.
Ask Kalsum where her heart truly lies, and she'll tell you it's in the Baby Room. There's something magical about being part of those precious early milestones - helping little ones learn to sit up, stand, crawl, and take those wobbly first steps. She adores watching babies discover their voices, from adorable babbling to their very first words. Every single day brings new joy as she watches children learn, develop, and grow, eventually moving on to school and the big, wide world beyond nursery. For Kalsum, there's no greater privilege than giving children the best possible start to their early education journey.
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