Hilltop Children's Centre Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Cinderford for children from birth to 8+, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in December 2022. Open since 2013, with 24 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 Gloucestershire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Gloucestershire 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
GL14 2QAWhat 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, 1 December 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive happy and form good relationships with staff who support them to feel safe and secure. Their individual personalities are well known and supported by staff who promote children's self-confidence.
Children lead their own play and learning. They benefit from a carefully considered curriculum that places a strong focus on their communication and language skills.
Children enjoy small-group music activities. They sing enthusiastically to familiar songs and rhymes. Children use drums and shakers to tap out the beat. They take turns to lead the group and model actions while their peers copy. Older children develop good early writing skills. They make marks, draw pictures and write the letters of their name on note paper. Children are proud of their achievements. They read their writing back to visitors and hold it tight before they place it in their drawer to take home.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review arrangements at mealtimes to make sure all children are supported to engage in purposeful conversations that extend their learning - strengthen ways to guide and support staff, to help them better organise themselves and recognise when to adapt their teaching and interactions, to promote the best possible outcomes for children.
- 1 December 2022Good
- 11 January 2017Good
- 21 January 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Hilltop Children's Centre 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.