Curious Explorers Day Care and Pre-school
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Fleet for children from birth to 8+, open 07:00 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 November 2024. Open since 2015, with 60 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
GU51 3XPWhat 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, 26 November 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy and settled in this welcoming nursery. They arrive each day with confidence and separate from their parents with ease. Leaders and staff take pride in their effective settling-in process, which fosters a strong sense of belonging from the outset. Consequently, children form secure and trusting relationships with staff and their designated key person.
The curriculum is thoughtfully designed to support and enhance children's communication and language development. For example, staff ensure that books are accessible indoors and outdoors. They use resources, such as these, to aid further discussion. All children show a strong interest and a love of stories. As they read to children, staff working with babies skilfully introduce and model new vocabulary. Toddlers recall elements of stories with enthusiasm while participating in linked messy play activities. Staff supporting pre-school children encourage them to predict what might happen next. They give children opportunities to re-enact stories in diverse ways.
Staff hold high expectations for children's behaviour. They talk to children about the golden rules at a level of their understanding and take time to explain reasons behind boundaries. Older children are delegated with small tasks, such as helping to set up the table at lunchtime, which fosters a sense of accountability. Staff celebrate their efforts and achievements with praise. This boosts children's selfesteem and instils a strong sense of pride and accomplishment.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen interactions to support all children to remain engaged and focused, particularly during adult-led group activities n support staff in consistently guiding children to develop a secure understanding of good hygiene practices.
- 26 November 2024Good
- 20 February 2019Good
- 19 November 2018Inadequate
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Curious Explorers Day Care and 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.