Little Squirts Pre School
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A day nursery in Bedford for children from birth to 5, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2023. Open since 2015, with 50 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 Central Bedfordshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Central Bedfordshire 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
MK45 1HNWhat 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.
- 12 August 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 6 January 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are keen to enter the setting. They are warmly greeted by caring staff, who are attentive to their needs and help settle them in. Children have secure attachments with their key persons. Children receive cuddles when they are upset or in need of reassurance. Staff have created a cosy and welcoming environment in the baby room. For example, babies are provided with a peaceful area for sleeping and are comforted when going to sleep.
At the start of the day, babies find their picture cards, and pre-school children discuss their feelings and emotions. This gives children an opportunity to share happy and sad experiences with the group. Children's communication and language is supported well. They develop an interest in books and choose stories to eagerly listen to. Children enjoy listening and joining in with familiar songs and are provided with additional props and musical instruments to make learning fun.
Children are given the opportunity to explore, indoors and outdoors. Older children eagerly put their coats on ready to explore outdoors. Staff set up obstacle courses for children to explore. Children run, jump, and climb confidently, using their largemotor skills. Staff work closely with the local community to arrange local visits to the church, and parents are given the opportunity to partake in such events to share in their children's learning.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- provide a more consistent approach to teaching strategies, to better support children's independence and ability to offer their own ideas when asked questions.
- 6 January 2023Good
- 25 April 2017Good
- 21 June 2016Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Little Squirts 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.