Isleham Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Ely for children from birth to 8+, open 08:30 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 June 2021, though that is 5 years ago now. Open since 1992, with 26 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 Cambridgeshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Cambridgeshire 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
CB7 5RZWhat 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.
- 17 November 2022 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 22 June 2021 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children form good relationships with their friends. They work well together, and their behaviour is very good. Children show a deep understanding of how their actions might affect others because staff encourage them to talk about their feelings. They explain that if you do not share then it might make your friends feel sad. Staff provide a welcoming and secure environment where children feel safe.
They are kind and nurturing, helping children to develop good levels of selfconfidence and an enjoyment of learning. Children are highly competent at managing their personal care. Staff are very clear about helping children to be ready for school by ensuring they learn the key skills to support their future learning.
Children have developed strong bonds with staff. They know that staff will help them if they need it and say that their key person 'is very special'. Children are confident speakers and are developing good communication skills. They are keen to share their thoughts and recall past experiences. Staff introduce new words to extend children's vocabulary. Children listen intently to well-read stories and join in with rhyming the words, excitedly pointing it out when staff say the wrong word.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen the planning for the outdoor area to provide children with the same rich experiences for learning as those inside.
- 22 June 2021Good
- 30 October 2019Needs improvement
- 11 March 2016Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Isleham 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.