Gurnard Pre-School
OutstandingBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Cowes for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 17:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in June 2022. Open since 2012, with 39 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 Isle of Wight
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Isle of Wight 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
PO31 8DSWhat 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 June 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children's social and emotional development are given the highest priority. The very well-established routines, combined with the excellent layout of the nursery, support children well. They also help to promote even the youngest children's independence and self-esteem to the highest level. From the youngest age, children quickly form very strong attachments to staff. Staff work very closely with parents to mirror children's routines from home. Children's growing understanding of how to keep themselves safe and healthy is exemplary. For example, children notice that the dinosaurs outdoors have bird droppings on them and instantly suggest using water, a bucket and soap to clean them before using them.
Children's interests and areas of development are consistently used to plan the environment and activities across the provision. This approach to learning builds on children's learning from one room to the next. For example, in the baby room there is a strong focus on enhancing physical skills, which is then built on by staff in the toddler room. Sharply focused learning opportunities help to ensure that children make significant progress. By continuously building on children's prior skills across the provision, staff very successfully enable children to be enormously well prepared for the next steps in their learning.
Children take the lead in their play to 'have a go', interact and build on their strong desire to learn. For example, children confidently name colours, enjoy counting objects and recognise items they find submerged in water during a treasure hunt.
- 28 June 2022Outstanding
- 18 March 2016Good
- 10 May 2012Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Gurnard 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.