Buttons@StokeHammond
OutstandingTakes funded hoursBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Milton Keynes for babies from 9 months up to school age, open 07:45 to 16:30, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in November 2022. Open since 2015, with 40 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
The Time for Twos project provides funding for up to 15 hours of free funded childcare education for eligible two year olds. All 3 to 4-year-olds in England can get 570 hours of free funded early education or childcare per year. This is usually taken as 15 hours each week for 38 weeks of the year. Buttons are also pleased to offer the 30 hour extended funding to eligible families, this can be spli.
Worth knowing. Funding can be used flexibly, between the preschool hours additional fees are required for the wrapround outside of free funded eligablity.
What childcare usually costs in Buckinghamshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Buckinghamshire 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
MK17 9DBWhat 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, 3 November 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children clearly feel safe, happy and secure at this vibrant pre-school. They explore, play, solve problems and think for themselves every day. Learning is active, exciting and fun. Not a moment of learning time is wasted. The playrooms and outside areas are full of interesting and challenging activities.
Staff are excellent role models. They speak slowly and clearly, giving children time to respond to questions and instructions. Adults are highly skilled. They encourage children to think for themselves. For example, children fill a truck with bricks, squealing with delight when the tower falls. They thoughtfully consider how many bricks it will take to fill up the Wendy house.
The rich, imaginative and well-planned range of enjoyable activities and experiences sustain children's interests and keeps them engaged. Staff have an excellent understanding of how children learn. They inspire and challenge children to do their very best at any activity they undertake. Adults meticulously plan learning opportunities, which build on the children's previous experiences so that they know and can remember more. For example, children learn about the world as they eagerly cut up lemons and add ingredients to make play dough. They discuss the smell of mint, comparing it to toothpaste.
- 3 November 2022Outstanding
- 18 January 2017Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Buttons@StokeHammond
- What it costs
- 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.
- What does it cost, all in? 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.