London Road Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Dereham 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 November 2022. Open since 2010, 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 Norfolk
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Norfolk 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
NR19 1ASWhat 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, 18 November 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children and parents are welcomed into this friendly community pre-school by warm and approachable staff. Children settle in swiftly. The settling-in process is supported by a robust key-person system and continual communication with parents. Indoor and outdoor environments are carefully planned, with stimulating and challenging activities to support children to develop their physical and emotional health. Children benefit from talented staff, who read stories to them.
Staff use animated voices and tones that conjure up excitement and anticipation of what might happen next. Children are inquisitive and curious learners. They frequently ask questions about the story they are listening to. Nurturing and attentive staff congratulate children on thoughtful questions. Staff listen encouragingly and respond with age-appropriate explanations and gestures, to further support their understanding. Children develop self-esteem and confidence in their abilities to communicate with staff and their peers.
Staff build strong attachments with the children in their care. Children are extremely polite and sociable. They have a clear understanding of the behaviour expected of them. At circle time, children recite the 'golden rules', such as 'walking feet' and 'kind hands'. Children gain a swift and deeper understanding of these rules, with corresponding visual prompts on the wall.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- focus more consistently on supporting children to develop even further independence in managing their self-care needs n consistently monitor and improve staff's knowledge to ensure all children, including those with SEND, achieve the best possible outcomes.
- 18 November 2022Good
- 27 January 2017Good
- 28 November 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for London Road 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.