Elestar Services Ltd T/A Flying Start Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Gillingham for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 February 2023. Open since 2006, with 31 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
SP8 4AZWhat 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, 28 February 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children show that they feel happy and safe in this welcoming environment. For example, on arrival, they quickly separate from their parents as a friendly member of the staff team greets them. Children form strong relationships with their key person. They go to them for support and to share their interests. For instance, toddlers show staff the creations they have made from dough and pasta. Staff respond, saying, 'wow, that's amazing. Let's take a photo.' This helps children to feel emotionally secure and gives children confidence in themselves and their abilities.
Staff have high expectations of children's achievements and behaviour. Children join in with the routines and follow the boundaries. Staff support children to manage their own emotions and encourage them to show kindness and respect to their peers. Older children look for their names on their place mats and patiently wait to serve their own lunch. They show care for each other and thoughtfully remind staff when their friends need a plate.
Children enjoy the motivating activities and resources staff provide for them.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- enable more opportunities for older children to independently investigate and explore, to consolidate and extend their own learning to its full potential n support and encourage older children to participate in making choices and decisions for themselves to help them learn how to express their thoughts and opinions.
- 28 February 2023Good
- 22 June 2017Good
- 12 June 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Elestar Services Ltd T/A Flying Start 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.