Chipmunks Day Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Weymouth for children from birth to 8+, open 07:45 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in October 2022. Open since 2012, with 121 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 Dorset
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Dorset 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
DT4 9PJWhat 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, 13 October 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy and confident. They settle quickly and form good relationships with their key person. Staff have a good knowledge of each child's interests and stage of development. Staff use this knowledge to provide motivating learning experiences for all children, including those with additional needs. The environment is carefully planned and resourced. This supports children's learning in all areas of the curriculum. For example, older children enjoy playing and learning on the outside terrace. Younger children show excitement in the sensory activities in the messy room. They run into the room, smiling, and immediately explore the activities.
Children make good progress with their language and communication. Staff name the resources children play with and use a range of vocabulary. Children then confidently repeat these new words. For example, pre-school children tell each other, 'I've got some castanets.'
Children show high levels of involvement in their play and learning. This helps them develop their skills, knowledge and concentration. For example, children are keen to hammer golf tees into oasis blocks. Staff encourage them to persevere when the task becomes difficult. They tell adults, 'I did it' and 'I did it again.'
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- take opportunities to actively promote the use of technology to enhance children's learning in this area n use outside opportunities to enhance the development of children's gross motor skills n encourage older children to be independent in managing their personal needs.
- 13 October 2022Good
- 1 November 2016Good
- 8 April 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Chipmunks Day Nursery
- 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.