Conkers The Balsam Centre's Community Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Wincanton for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 2022. Open since 2019, with 32 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 Somerset
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in 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
BA9 9HBWhat 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.
- 27 April 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 27 October 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children receive a warm welcome at the nursery and settle quickly with the caring and nurturing staff. Children benefit from a broad curriculum with exciting activities based on their interests and learning needs. Whether children are drawing
'treasure maps' or riding on scooters, they behave well, taking turns and sharing resources. Children are curious and enjoy exploring the environment. They have many opportunities to develop their physical skills as they climb and balance on the climbing frame. They play in the mud kitchen making potions or build sandcastles in the sand. They hunt for bugs and excitedly tell the inspector how they have found 'gems' and speculate about where they came from.
Staff know the children well and support them in managing their feelings successfully. Children are confident to express themselves because they feel safe and secure. Children learn many skills in preparation for starting school and their future learning. They develop good hand-to-eye coordination, as they throw a beanbag into a square when playing hopscotch. They develop their fine motor skills as they make marks with a range of materials, learning how to hold a pencil in preparation for writing.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- explore ways in which to further support children to develop and use their home language in play and learning n provide consistent opportunities for children to practise developing their independence skills.
- 27 October 2022Good
- 24 May 2022Inadequate
Rated Good or Outstanding at 1 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Conkers The Balsam Centre's Community 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.