Lily Pad In The Park
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in Bishops Waltham 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 May 2021, though that is 5 years ago now. Open since 2016, with 20 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 Hampshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Hampshire 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
SO32 1DUWhat 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, 25 May 2021 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children enjoy their time at this small and friendly setting. A well-developed keyperson system enables staff to build close bonds with children. Managers and staff have a strong focus on ensuring that children are happy and safe. They are sensitive to the time that children have had away from the setting due to the
COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and changes in the usual environment. Staff provide a secure base for children, to help them to develop confidence and selfassurance in readiness for learning. Staff know the children well, and value the uniqueness of each of them. This contributes to children's positive self-esteem.
This is a busy and fun setting. The learning environment is interestingly arranged, both inside and outdoors. Children's interests are known and considered when planning the activities. For example, the small-world emergency services theme and treasure maps are provided to link with children's personal preferences.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- sharply focus the monitoring of staff practice and supervision to enhance the quality of teaching and interactions with the children n ensure staff are organised in a way that supports children when moving from one part of the day to the next.
- 25 May 2021Good
- 22 May 2019Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 1 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Lily Pad In The Park
- 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.