Little Tinkers Preschool
OutstandingTakes funded hoursBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Milton Keynes for from 1 year 6 months up to school age, open 09:00 to 15:00, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in February 2025. Open since 2009, with 32 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
2 year old and working parents funded children.
Worth knowing. There is no additional charge for children who stay all day for lunch although parents must provide their child with a healthy packed lunch.
What childcare usually costs in Milton Keynes
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Milton Keynes 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
MK6 3AZWhat 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, 4 February 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
All children love attending Little Tinkers. They enter with smiles on their faces, and even the youngest children settle down to activities quickly. Children confidently self-register and put away their belongings independently. The strong values are brought alive in what the pre-school provides. It is a pre-school that helps children to be confident, creative, respectful and valued.
Leaders create a highly effective and ambitious curriculum. This is faultlessly communicated with staff who deliver sequenced learning with expertise. As a result of the rich experiences on offer to children, their attitudes to learning are consistently positive. Children are highly motivated and sustain concentration for extended periods of time. For example, children were captivated, fascinated and enthralled by the wonderful world of fairy tales. Exceptionally skilled staff are dedicated to delivering tailored care and learning, recognising the uniqueness of every child. Staff provide appropriate challenge for children who, in response, demonstrate perseverance to achieve new skills. This prepares them for future success and ensures all children make excellent progress in their learning.
Children's behaviour is impeccable. Staff are exemplary role models, showing respect to the children and each other. They use clear narratives and consistent, gentle reminders to fully embed pre-school rules. Children listen attentively. They respond with immense kindness when turn-taking and sharing. For example, when children declare they feel sad during circle time, children agree how they could change this, by giving their friend a cuddle. There are excellent arrangements in place to support children's emotional well-being. Staff are exceptionally skilled and expertly use highly effective methods to recognise children's positive actions and superb achievements. Children are proud of their own and their friends'
- 4 February 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 17 May 2019Outstanding
- 15 December 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Little Tinkers Preschool
- What it costs
- 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
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.
- What does it cost, all in? 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.