Little Gems Montessori Preschool
GoodTakes funded hours★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Long Ditton for from 1 year 6 months up to school age, open 08:30 to 16:00, 5 days a week. £68.00 a day for 2–3, and they take the funded hours. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2023. Open since 2010, with 50 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Full day (9am–3.30am) · £73 · £68 · £64 ·
One published rate, dated 2025-2026. What you pay depends on the days you need and the funded hours you can claim.
Funded hours
We automatically apply for the Universal Entitlement of 15 free hours in the 'school term' after your child’s third birthday. We also offer 15 hours fully funded sessions in the afternoon 12.30pm-3.30pm. We offer 10, 30 hours funding spaces for eligible working families for 3-4 year olds. and 5, 15 hours funded spaces for eligible working families for 2 year olds.
Worth knowing. We offer full days only for these children, 8.30am-2.30pm. Our 2-year-olds need to sign up for a minimum of 3 full days and our 3-year-olds 5 full days. Any private hours and delivery of the Montessori and Forest School curriculum are to be charged. Montessori and Forest School curriculums voluntary charge is £7 per day.
What childcare usually costs in Surrey
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Surrey 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
KT6 5HTWhat 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, 21 February 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children separate from their parents with ease as they start their day at the preschool. They know the routine well. Children place their belongings on their pegs and change their outside shoes for indoor shoes. They are independent and quickly settle into their chosen activities. Staff interactions are kind and purposeful as they join in with various activities children choose. They listen to the children and ask them meaningful questions as they explore different colours on a light box. These interactions from staff help children feel safe and secure.
Children develop a love for stories. The eagerly recall the events in 'The Very
Hungry Caterpillar' story. Staff are skilful and support children's language; for example, children learn new vocabulary, such as 'cocoon' and 'chrysalis'. They talk about how the caterpillar turns into a 'beautiful butterfly'. This extends children's knowledge of the world around them. Children make friendships with each other and behave well. All children demonstrated a positive attitude to learning, including children with special educational needs/and or disabilities.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- enhance the sequence of the curriculum so that planned activities consistently build on what the children already know and can do n refine and strengthen staff's understanding on how they implement adult-led activities to help children meet the learning intentions, supporting their overall development.
- 21 February 2023Good
- 12 July 2017Good
- 6 May 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Little Gems Montessori Preschool
- Meals
- Nappies
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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- Is £68.00 a day still the rate? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? 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.