Banwell Buddies
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Banwell for children from birth to 8+, open 08:45 to 15:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2021, though that is 5 years ago now. Open since 1992, with 45 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in North Somerset
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in North Somerset 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
BS29 6DBWhat 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, 14 July 2021 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy and confident. They settle quickly into a well-organised environment. Staff have put in place additional measures since reopening in
September, after being closed due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
Parents drop off and collect their children from the main entrance, and on arrival children immediately wash their hands. The curriculum is based on children's interests. Staff use starting points to plan activities and build on what children already know and can do, to further extend learning across all areas. Children are eager to participate in activities based on their interests. For instance, they enjoy taking part in a 'bug hunt' and staff help them to identify different insects. Staff have high expectations for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff monitor children closely to identify early any gaps in their development and work closely with other professionals. This contributes to the good progress that children make from their starting points.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen and incorporate the teaching of mathematics more consistently throughout the day n enhance the support given to parents for home learning ideas and extend children's development further.
- 14 July 2021Good
- 28 November 2019Needs improvement
- 15 December 2014Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Banwell Buddies
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- 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
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.