Little Dragons Pre School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Portland 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 May 2022. Open since 2003, 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 Dorset
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Dorset 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
DT5 2BDWhat 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 May 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive at the pre-school excited for the day to begin. They are happy and settled, forming secure emotional attachments with their key person and staff.
They show high levels of confidence as they explore the well-resourced environment indoors and outdoors. Children are extremely well behaved and attentive. For example, older children are seen putting a reassuring arm around younger ones as they choose their favourite song and dance to the music.
Children benefit from a broad and varied curriculum, which supports them to make good progress in their learning. They hear a wide range of words to build on their vocabulary and show perseverance and determination to dress independently for outside play. Managers and staff have high expectations of the children and are committed to providing the best possible support. They work in close partnership with a range of professionals to meet children's individual needs successfully.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review the organisation of group activities to provide more opportunities for quieter, less-confident children to contribute and participate more fully.
- 11 May 2022Good
- 10 May 2016Good
- 22 June 2015Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Little Dragons 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.