John McNeill Opportunity Centre
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Salisbury 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 Outstanding by Ofsted in May 2022. Open since 1979, with 62 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 Wiltshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Wiltshire 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
SP2 8BGWhat 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, 4 May 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are exceptionally well supported at this specialist centre. They arrive happily and are greeted by very experienced, patient, and caring staff. Children are confident to explore the setting and engage with staff, who all know them extremely well. Staff support children's emotional well-being very effectively. They carefully monitor children's feelings, using gentle touch and singing to sooth and calm children when needed. Behaviour is exemplary. Staff carefully prepare children for what is happening next, and children follow the routines extremely well. Children readily share and take turns.
Children flourish in the dedicated and individualised support they receive from staff. They develop social skills and learn how to communicate through words, gestures, Makaton and/or the picture exchange communication system. Staff provide consistently high interactions with children through targeted one-to-one and group activities, for example circle time, stories and phonics activities. Children are very often eager to join in, they concentrate well and show pride in their achievements. A child is delighted when they can blow bubbles for the first time.
Children are developing their independence and are encouraged to make choices.
- 4 May 2022Outstanding
- 23 February 2016Outstanding
- 26 February 2010Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for John McNeill Opportunity Centre
- 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.