Ashdene Independent Pre-School
GoodTakes funded hours★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Wilmslow for from 2 years 6 months up to school age, open 8am to 6pm. £7.50 an hour, and they take the funded hours. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2022. Open since 1987, with 48 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
| Age | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| All ages | £7.50From April 2026 £7.80From September 2026 |
Before you start
One-off charges to take a place.
- £100.00 depositnot refundable
- £100.00 fee for registeringnot refundable
Extras
Charged on top of the session rate.
- £0.80 a session Snacks
- £2.00 to £2.50 a session DanceTuesday afternoon session
- £2.00 to £2.50 a session SingingWednesday morning session
- £3.00 to £3.50 a session MinisportsThursday afternoon session
Funded hours
15 and 30 hours, plus 2-year-old funding.
Worth knowing. Funded hours can be used for the core sessions only (8.45am-3.15pm). Before and after Pre-School clubs are payable.
What childcare usually costs in Cheshire East
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Cheshire East from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
SK9 6LJWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 4 July 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive in the pre-school. They have positive relationships with staff. For example, children learn about healthy eating as they make their own fruit smoothies. When anxious about the loud noise from the blender, children readily receive cuddles and reassurance from staff. Children are happy and safe.
Children experience lots of engaging learning opportunities. For example, they learn about different kinds of animals when they are brought to visit the preschool. Children learn about people who help them when police and firefighters visit. A large outdoor space is designed to support children's learning. Children have opportunities to develop their physical skills as they climb and run. They practise mark making and early writing on a large chalkboard. Children make their own choices and guide their own play as they move freely between the inside and outside areas. Staff set high expectations for children, which helps their knowledge and skills to develop over time.
Children behave well. They follow instructions and understand the boundaries put in place for them. Children are kind and friendly towards one another. They show a high level of respect for others. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, children leave their parents at the door. They enter happily, eager to play and learn.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- reflect on times of transition, so that children do not spend too long waiting.
- 4 July 2022Good
- 11 March 2016Outstanding
- 17 June 2009Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Ashdene Independent Pre-School
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- Is £7.50 an hour still the rate? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.