Mentmore Under Fives
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Leighton Buzzard 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 October 2022. Open since 1992, with 24 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
LU7 2NZWhat 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 October 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children immerse themselves in play from the moment they arrive at the setting.
Dedicated, friendly and caring staff greet children at the door. Staff follow children's lead as they choose from the activities set out for them. Children demonstrate that they feel happy, safe and secure as they separate from their parents with ease. They form close bonds with their key person and other staff.
Children enjoy engaging in conversations with staff members, inviting them into their play.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- develop the use of differentiation in teaching, to ensure interactions with the youngest children fully support their learning and development.
- 4 October 2022Good
- 8 November 2016Good
- 3 December 2012Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Mentmore Under Fives
- 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.