Children 1st The Marina Nursery School

The Marina, Brayford Pool, Lincoln LN1 1RD
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9.9 81 Reviews
Children 1st The Marina Nursery School is ideally placed for parents working in Lincoln city centre and the university. The nursery has been fully refurbished and provides the perfect environment for children to grow and to learn in small groups.

The early years setting is managed by highly skilled early years teachers who have vast experience and in depth knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The staff support the children to leave The Marina independent and happy, with a real thirst for the next stage of their development.

Children 1st The Marina Nursery School works closely with local schools in order to make the children’s transition to school an easy and happy experience and continues to nurture and maintain close relationships and links with the local community.

The nursery team are passionate about offering exciting learning opportunities and would be delighted to show families around the nursery. Funded places are available for eligible 2, 3 and 4 year olds.
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Care Provided by Children 1st The Marina Nursery School

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Amber Morris (Nursery Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 29
  • Total Places for Children
  • 120
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 3 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:30-18:30
    Tuesday 07:30-18:30
    Wednesday 07:30-18:30
    Thursday 07:30-18:30
    Friday 07:30-18:30
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays & Christmas

Children 1st The Marina Nursery School Reviews (81)

Total of 81, showing 1-20
9.9

Children 1st The Marina Nursery School has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.947) out of 10, based on 34 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Children 1st The Marina Nursery School has 81 reviews.

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  • 77
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Review from James T (Father of Child) published on 14 April 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Words really can't do justice to the excellence of Childrens 1st. Both my children have been through the Marina, and they both benefited from the amazing effort, facilities and people that are here. The headstart my oldest had going from this nursery to school is still evident 4 years later, and my
youngest has already been attracting comments at preschool about his core skills, his fine motor, his speech, his emotional intelligence. These are things that we try very hard with at home, but without an excellent nursery supporting this it would not have been so high.
It's a special place and a wonderful environment to have your children grow, learn and play in. Children's First at the Marina will hold a special place in our hearts and I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Reply from Jessica Griffin, Marketing Executive at Children 1st The Marina Nursery School

Thank you so much for your feedback. It's incredibly rewarding to hear the positive impact Children 1st at The Marina has had on both of your children. Your kind words truly mean the world to us, thank you for your continued support and recommendation!


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Review from S M (Mother of Child) published on 24 March 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has started a nursery this month and she absolutely loves it. I do too, the staff are very welcoming and understanding. I feel comfortable that my daughter enjoys every moment she spends at the nursery and we couldn't have picked a better place. Very pleased mummy!

Reply from Jessica Griffin, Marketing Executive at Children 1st The Marina Nursery School

Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We're thrilled to hear how much your daughter is enjoying her time with us-it's wonderful to see her settling in so well. Knowing you feel comfortable and happy with your choice means the world to us. We're so pleased to have you both as part of our nursery family!


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Review from Amy A (Mother of Child) published on 21 March 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff are lovely and the nursery is an amazing place for my little one who loves being there. They cook their own home made food and have so many different activities for the children especially ially the new play icecream truck!

Reply from Jessica Griffin, Marketing Executive at Children 1st The Marina Nursery School

Thank you so much for your lovely comments! We're thrilled to hear how much your little one loves being here. The team works hard to create fun and engaging activities. And we're so glad you're happy with our homemade meals too. Your kind words mean a lot to us!


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Review from R C (Father of Child) published on 21 October 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Straight from looking around this nursery I knew this place would be perfect for my child.
It's a great nursery and even better people.
I found it a huge thing dropping my child off and handing them over to others to look after but from the people in reception to the staff who look after my children
are all brilliant.
Special mention to 4 staff members in particular and an extra staff member in particular who is actually one of the nicest human beings I've ever met, she's got a special ability with children and my girls love her.

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Review from L B (Mother of Child) published on 3 October 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We had a wonderful experience with Children's First @ the Marina. Our son was initially quite unhappy to be dropped off, but the staff worked together beautifully to provide him with extra care and attention upon his arrival and soon we saw him keen to enter the classroom and join in. It was so clear
to us how much love the staff have for the children and how attentive they are to their needs. As parents, it was so much easier to be able to know our son was happy at drop off (and through the day) and we are so very grateful for that. Our son also grew in his confidence while he was at nursery and was very excited to be part of the different productions the class did throughout the year. It was a wonderful experience for him and we would definitely recommend the nursery to other families.

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Review from Grace H (Mother of Child) published on 18 September 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I couldn't be happier with the care my 10-month-old daughter receives at this nursery. From day one, the staff have been incredibly friendly, warm, and nurturing, making what I initially expected to be a difficult transition into an absolute breeze. They genuinely care about each child, creating such
a welcoming and loving environment that my daughter settled in quicker than I could have imagined.
Not only does she adore going to nursery every day, but she has also made huge strides developmentally. It's clear that the activities and attention she receives are tailored perfectly to support her growth, and we've seen her confidence, communication, and motor skills flourish since she started.
I am so grateful to have found such a wonderful place that I know she loves, and I feel completely confident that she is in the best hands. I can't recommend this nursery enough!

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Review from Z B (Mother of Child) published on 5 September 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son is 4.5 years old and had been with this nursery for 15 months when we first moved to the area (he was in another Children's 1st Nursery from 9 months old). He's had an amazing time at the nursery and all the different rooms and staff. The staff are nurturing and welcoming, communication has
always been brilliant (either diary or online). We were with them throughout the later years of COVID and the change in procedure (e.g. drop off and collection at the door) but still had no issues with it. Costs of nursery has increased over time which is to be expected but a bigger issue with our government rather than the nursery. Our son has made lovely bonds with the staff and made great friendships with the children. The children always look happy and pleased to be there! The food is great and both ours devour it. We are sad our son is leaving to start school but the nursery staff and opportunities have helped develop his skills and resilience to tackle school. Thank you.

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Review from Emma S (Mother of Child) published on 3 September 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both of our children have attended Children 1st @ The Marina from babyhood right through to August before starting school. We will be forever grateful for the care, nurture, attention, and understanding that the staff showed to our children. They were very supportive and understanding with settling
our youngest during COVID restrictions, making an extremely difficult situation a thousand times easier.
The activities provided were always varied and interesting, the food was great (even for our picky eater!), they made excellent use of a relatively small outdoor area, and the staff are absolutely excellent. We will miss them all!

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Review from Sceonaid D (Mother of Child) published on 3 September 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter spent over 2 years at Children 1st @the Marina and loved every single second she was always excited to go to nursery. The staff at the nursery were brilliant, very helpful and friendly and so encouraging helping with the development of my daughter. The nursery provided lots of enjoyable
days with a wide range of experiences and always had the best communication with the parents. I can not thank the nursery staff enough for all they have done and would highly recommend this nursery to others so much so that I have decided to start my baby at the nursery in September as I know he will have the best care, support, fun, and learning experience here. Thank you.

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Review from F G (Mother of Child) published on 3 September 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

After 7 years, through our two children, our time at Children's 1st The Marina Nursery has come to an end. Both children have absolutely thrived at the nursery, created lovely friendships with peers, and heartwarming relationships with the adults. The nursery is a wonderful place for children, the facilities
are great, the staff are approachable and friendly and the children learn so much through the wide range of activities they do. I would definitely recommend this nursery to anyone as my children have benefited and thrived from being a part of this nursery. A huge thank you to all the staff involved in my children's nursery journeys.

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Review from Mia B (Mother of Child) published on 30 July 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been here for almost a year and has loved every minute spent at Children 1st. She has developed immensely and the staff are wonderful. So friendly and encouraging towards my daughter and myself. Very helpful when we needed advice and to make amendments to our booking pattern. Can not
recommend them enough.

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Review from Peter T (Father of Child) published on 24 July 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very satisfied with all aspects of the nursery. Excellent, lovely staff, engaging activities, and welcoming atmosphere. As a parent, I was informed about the well-being of my child on a daily basis. Cannot recommend The Marina enough.

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Review from Elle B (Mother of Child) published on 22 July 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Can not fault them, my little boy has been attending this nursery for 3 years he loved every second. The staff are amazing and always so supportive. My little boy's development has come on so much. Thanks to the staff he is now ready for the next step, thank you all for what you have done for us and
continue to do for others.

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Review from M K (Mother of Child) published on 1 July 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter started at The Marina Nursery at the end of January 2024. Me and her dad were both really nervous about her going and leaving her for the first time. The two taster days really helped put us at ease as we saw how well the children were looked after. Since my daughter has started at the marina
she has learnt to walk, has begun to say words, is more interactive with people and is developing other skills like self-feeding. The staff are always supportive, they helped us to ween out the dummy and bottles, which was a huge achievement and the staff helped us from the start. Whenever we collect our daughter she is always playing or interacting with the staff, she is always smiling and having fun. We love the detailed handover we get when we collect her and hear about all the activities she's been doing. We get observations and goals she's working towards. The staff are amazing and I would highly recommend this nursery.

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Review from S U (Grandmother of Child) published on 24 June 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We were invited to an open event for Grandparents to visit the nursery for a "stay and play" event - Our Grandaughter was very excited to be able to show us the nursery. activities and equipment available. The staff was well-organised booking guests in, explaining the visit, and supporting the children.
It was lovely to see the garden center and for the children to be involved in growing seeds. Such a lovely experience for grandparents and grandchildren - thank you for facilitating this.

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Review from Rachel B (Mother of Child) published on 8 May 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little girl has gone to nursery since she was 10 months and she is now 3 years and 5 months. There isn’t a single fault I could think of, my daughter comes with a unique bag of quirks and mannerisms, and the nursery has not only embraced them but nurtured them. From involving Sendco regularly to
support her needs, adapting meals for her, and singing Christmas songs in April. Not to mention just offering myself general support and a shoulder to cry on when needed. In particular, her bond with her key worker the same return is something I didn’t know was possible with a “paid member of staff”. When the sad day comes that my little one leaves to go to school, I’m taking her key worker with me because I don’t know how we’ll get through a school day without her patience, tolerance, and acceptance of my special little girl.

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Review from D G (Father of Child) published on 2 May 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

After my first son was so happy here, I feel very lucky that they had a place for my second son. Both boys have been since they were six months old, settled in straight away, and are thriving. The staff have tailored the activities to each child's needs, working on particular skills, and celebrating
their individual achievements and skills. They have been incredibly accommodating of our peculiar nappies and dietary preferences. They even started making frozen yogurt so that children who couldn't have ice cream didn't feel left out. The boys eat well and sleep well, both at the nursery and back at home. Several of the staff are very experienced and have been able to give advice when we've been struggling with certain things. Communication is spot on, not too much and not too little. Just as our sons have befriended their peers (really nice kids), we're glad to have gotten to know other parents, which has been great for playdates and birthday parties. Thank you to everyone!

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Review from Will S (Father of Child) published on 30 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The nursery is fantastic and the staff are awesome. We've had both our daughters there over the past 6 years and they have always loved going.
The only negative is the nursery suffers from its convenient city centre location and doesn't benefit from much outside space but what space they have is managed
well to make the best of it for the children.

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Review from Lizzie R (Mother of Child) published on 30 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The Marina nursery is fantastic- both of my children have loved their time there. The staff are friendly, caring, and supportive and have become part of the family. The nursery is clean and well managed with many different activities changed daily for the children. The staff knows and understands the
children and encourages their development depending on their needs. We would recommend the nursery to others.

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Review from S G (Father of Child) published on 18 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very convenient location for working in town. Fantastic staff that couldn't care more for my child and I feel their educational values align closely with those that we try and teach and instill at home. Thank you!

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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.947)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.947) out of 10 for Children 1st The Marina Nursery School is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 34 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 34 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:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.947 for Children 1st The Marina Nursery School is calculated as follows: ( (379 Excellents x 5) + (18 Goods x 4) + (1 Poors x 2) ) ÷ 398 Ratings = 4.947

  • b) 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 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Children 1st The Marina Nursery School is based on 34 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 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

    • ii) 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 120 number of registered child places is 24, which has been reached with 34 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

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Awards / Recognitions (5)

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Meet the Team (1)

Amy

Amy Delaney

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 2014

Hello everybody. My name is Amy Delaney and I am the Senior Nursery Manager of Children 1st @ The Marina. I am also a mum to 2 young children and live in Skegness.

I qualified as a Nursery Nurse (NNEB) in 1999 and have over many years experience in the childcare sector. I have held many positions in nurseries, most recently as a nursery manager, a role which I have absolutely loved.

My skills and expertise are wide ranging across the 0-8 years age range and I have lots of experience working with families in the Lincolnshire area. The day to day challenges of nursery life as well as having my own family has given me a good knowledge and understanding of what busy working families need.

I take pride in working with all the families at the nursery and I look forward to getting to know families new to the nursery. I always do my best to make myself available to meet families so when you see me in the nursery please feel free to say hello

I am proud as a Senior Nursery Manager to be able to share the ethos of Children 1st Day Nurseries and am fully committed to our mission statement of: ‘Leading the way, shaping the future’ and providing high quality day care and education.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Children 1st The Marina Nursery School

What is the Age Range of Children that Children 1st The Marina Nursery School accepts?

Children 1st The Marina Nursery School accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Children 1st The Marina Nursery School Open?

Children 1st The Marina Nursery School is open: Monday 07:30-18:30, Tuesday 07:30-18:30, Wednesday 07:30-18:30, Thursday 07:30-18:30, Friday 07:30-18:30.

How many Children does Children 1st The Marina Nursery School have capacity for?

Children 1st The Marina Nursery School has capacity for a total of 120 Children.

How far is Children 1st The Marina Nursery School to the centre of Lincoln?

0.3 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 Children 1st The Marina Nursery School to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Children 1st The Marina Nursery School has a Platinum Service – more info.