Lower Earley Day Nursery and Pre-School
Good★ 4.0 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Reading for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2024. Open since 1996, with 80 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 Wokingham
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Wokingham 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
RG6 5HQWhat 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.
- 18 July 2022 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 21 May 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive confidently and happily separate from their parents at the door.
They are eager to explore the activities that staff have set out for them. Children enjoy their time at this welcoming nursery. They develop confidence and make good progress. Staff prioritise supporting independence and older children demonstrate good personal care skills. Furthermore, they readily serve their own food and pour their drinks at lunchtime. Staff praise their success, building children's confidence and self-esteem. Effective key-person arrangements ensure that all children are well supported and their individual needs are met.
Overall, staff plan a curriculum that is fun and reflects the knowledge about the children to help them progress. Children under two years explore many sensory experiences in a room that is cosy, calm and stimulating. Staff encourage toddlers to explore and be inquisitive as they explore familiar objects in the role-play kitchen area. Pre-school children are encouraged to use their language to make predictions as they listen to familiar stories. They behave well and are familiar with the daily routines and expectations for their behaviour. When children struggle with their emotions, staff are quick to try and help them to resolve minor issues. Children play well together cooperatively. They form close attachments with staff. This helps children to feel safe and secure.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review small-group time focused activities to ensure that all children are engaged in the learning at their level of understanding n review some areas to create an environment that fully inspires children's learning and supports their thinking and imagination n identify further curriculum training that has specific focus on the areas of learning that need to be strengthened in order to sharpen the quality of education even further.
- 21 May 2024Good
- 31 July 2018Good
- 28 July 2015Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Lower Earley Day Nursery and 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.