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.
Excellent nursery. My son adores coming and loves all the nursery staff. 5 Stars.
My granddaughter has developed very well in so many ways thanks to this nursery. She absolutely loves coming to see her friends and staff.
My son has been going to the nursery since he was eleven months old, he is now three years old. He has progressed massively, all thanks to his key workers. The manager of the nursery has always helped and supported us during the time my child has attended. Great staff and environment. My smallest child will be starting the nursery and I know the staff will be excellent with him too.
My little boy attended from the age of 10 months old up until September 2019. I can not express how amazing all the staff were with him, he loved going and seeing all of his friends and when he was in preschool class he was always coming home telling me what he learnt in phonics. He made so many friends and is such an outgoing happy boy and I believe a lot of that is down to the great staff. He had a great bond with all the staff too.
My experience of putting my son in nursery for the 1st time has been made very easy for me as it is a big thing letting go. The staff have been fantastic and my son is loving it, he looks forward to going. He has come on leaps and bounds and my childs happy and well cared for. I couldn't ask for more.
The girls are really settled in nursery and love attending. They have good relationships with the staff and are developing well in the environment.
My son has settled in really well and enjoys his time here. Since starting nursery his skills in lots of areas have improved, he's learning to write his name, drawing and colouring skills are amazing for his age, and really loves the messy activities that he may be not able to do at home. I feel comfortable leaving him at the nursery and increasing his hours slowly over time as I know how much he gets from his time here. The staff are all friendly and fab with the children. Thank you.
My son loves coming to nursery. He loves the activities which he takes part in and often talks about the staff and nursery when at home.
My daughter loves going to Thornton Lodge, all the staff are helpful and friendly. Her development has really come on during her time at the nursery with the help of all the staff.
There's always a range of activities which my daughter loves, she's always bringing home her lovely pictures and things they've planted. She enjoys attending nursery so much. I think she would go on a weekend if she had the chance.
Thank you so much, everyone. You've made one little girl very happy indeed.
My 3-year-old loves it here and has come on brilliantly since starting in September 2018.
Her speech has improved massively. As for the learning aspect of the day, there are both individual activities as well as group ones organised every day.
Plenty of outside play including learning activities are available.
My daughter is always happy and never wants to leave.
Has helped build my child's confidence. He now talks loads at home now, whereas before he hardly communicated.
Her talking has really come on since she started nursery and she can have a full conversation.
She has picked up toilet training really quicklty and is only 2. The manager and the girls are all very helpful and deal quickly with any queries we have.
My husband and I are very happy with Thornton Lodge and our little girl is very happy here. I would definitely recommend Thornton Lodge to friends and family.
My daughter loves this nursery. Every single one of the staff are very friendly and I have never felt so comfortable leaving my child in any other setting as here.
My daughter loves her nursery "pals" and of course the staff. I think the manager should be given the recognition he deserves as he is what has made this place exceptional. He has a heart of gold and would do anything for the children. I also thank the deputy, a great addition to the team. It's recognisable that they genuinely care for the children and what more could I want.
I am extremely satisfied with my child's care. All the staff are very helpful and very caring.
My daughter really enjoys going to Thornton Lodge Day Nursery all the staff are really lovely, helpful and deal with any issues great.
My child has come on loads since the start of the year! She enjoys coming.
They both enjoy it and I know they are well looked cared for.
I would highly recommend this nursery.
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.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Thornton Lodge Day Nursery to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Thornton Lodge Day Nursery has an Enhanced Service - more info.