Bidbury Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Havant for children from birth to 5, open 07:30 to 17:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in October 2021, though that is 5 years ago now. Open since 1998, with 26 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 Hampshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Hampshire 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
PO9 3EFWhat 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.
- 4 March 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 14 October 2021 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy and show they feel very safe in this nurturing pre-school. On arrival, they demonstrate a keen sense of belonging and quickly settle into the routines which are very familiar to them. For example, they choose their picture and put it on a board as they self-register. Children develop strong relationships with their friends, which creates a family atmosphere at pre-school. There are plenty of opportunities for children to engage in learning. Staff offer children an exciting and motivating learning environment which covers a varied curriculum. For example, children skilfully balance on planks and show their good coordination as they crawl under netting.
Children are well behaved and learn the rules and boundaries of the setting, such as 'running feet are for outside'. They demonstrate a strong interest and enthusiasm for all aspects of learning and respond readily to the high expectations of staff. Children concentrate hard on their chosen tasks. For example, they spend a long time at the play dough table, developing their finger and hand muscles well, using various tools. They happily talk about what they know and can do as they explore the play dough and make links in their learning. For example, they pick up spoons and say spontaneously while looking at staff proudly, 'two spoons'. Children engage successfully with staff and play alongside friends. Staff have a clear understanding of each child's learning and emotional needs and use their skills to support children well in their care and development.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen staff understanding of the specific teaching strategies in place for children identified with special educational needs and/or disabilities n strengthen the leadership team's knowledge of strategies to evaluate and improve the quality of teaching to a higher level, particularly whole-group times.
- 14 October 2021Good
- 12 June 2019Needs improvement
- 12 April 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Bidbury Pre-School
- 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.