Hillside Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Bristol for children from birth to 8+, open 09:00 to 15:30, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 1992, with 24 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
BS5 7PBWhat 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, 6 February 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are warmly welcomed by a friendly, nurturing, and long-established staff team. They enter with eagerness and confidence into an organised, inviting setting.
Children enjoy freely exploring the environment and the activities provided by staff.
Children excitedly greet their friends as they begin to play, mixing paint, building with construction blocks, and creating dinosaurs with different features from the play dough. Children have strong bonds with staff and enjoy engaging and initiating conversations with them as they explore and discuss storybooks. Staff know every child very well and are highly attentive to their needs. They praise children's efforts and celebrate their good behaviour. Children who are new to the setting receive good support. Staff help them with building friendships and understanding daily routines.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- include children's home languages in everyday activities and routines to help them feel valued and increase their communication and language skills n extend opportunities for children to make choices about their own activities, to increase levels of independence in their learning.
- 6 February 2023Good
- 25 April 2017Good
- 16 March 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Hillside Pre-School
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.