Kingfisher Preschool
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Torpoint for children from birth to 5, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 September 2024. Open since 2011, 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 Cornwall
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Cornwall 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
PL10 1FFWhat 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, 11 September 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy and confident in this pre-school. Staff create a welcoming and friendly learning environment. On arrival, parents come into the nursery building and spend time playing with their children before they leave. Relationships between staff and children are strong. Staff recognise this enables them to gain a good understanding of children's individual needs and supports parents to understand how to encourage learning at home. Staff promote children's emotional well-being and support them to understand and express their emotions. For example, children cuddle staff and discuss their feelings before running to play with their friends.
Children new to the pre-school quickly settle into the group. Routines are clear and staff alert children in advance to any changes in activity. Children respond positively to instructions and listen well. This helps children to know what is happening next to help them feel safe and secure.
Children of all ages are curious and eager to learn. They show interest as staff guide them to water the tomatoes and marrows growing in the greenhouse and learn why the bees are visiting each flower. The curriculum is ambitious for all children. Children are well prepared for the next stage of learning. Staff support children to develop a love of the outdoors and nature to help them learn about the world around them. For example, older children enjoy visits to the local beach and woodland. Younger children develop social skills and friendships, driving toy tractors together in the outdoor play area.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- consider ways to reduce background noise to support children's concentration further and promote engagement in learning n support children further to engage in activities independently to promote their self-confidence, resilience and problem-solving skills.
- 11 September 2024Good
- 14 December 2018Outstanding
- 24 September 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Kingfisher Preschool
- 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.