Hulland Community Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Ashbourne 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 March 2023. Open since 1972, 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 Derbyshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Derbyshire 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
DE6 3FSWhat 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, 2 March 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive at this pre-school with enthusiasm. They are happy and quickly settle into their play. Children move around the playroom safely, choosing their own play from the activities the staff provide. They love playing outside and eagerly put on their coats and run outside, screaming with delight. Staff encourage children to ride the balance bicycle carefully. Children excitingly race around the garden, negotiating the furniture and each other. They throw and kick balls accurately, demonstrating their physical skills well.
Children have a positive attitude to their learning. They are curious and explore their environment. This is evident as children decide how they can make a pretend river. Children further develop their physical skills as they make a long narrow trench by scooping out the soil and pretend to plant plastic flowers to make a garden. Staff skilfully extend children's play as they support them to plant sunflower seeds.
Children enjoy looking at books and sitting in the cosy book area with their friends.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- provide children with sufficient time to process and respond to questions to help them further develop their thinking skills n review the organisation of group time sessions to ensure all children receive support to join in and be fully engaged.
- 2 March 2023Good
- 23 March 2017Good
- 20 June 2016Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Hulland Community 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.