Mudeford Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Mudeford, Christchurch for children from birth to 5, open 08:00 to 14:45, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in November 2023. Open since 1992, with 40 places.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
BH23 3HLWhat 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, 17 November 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive happily at the pre-school, keen to start their play. They separate from their carers well and show they feel safe and secure. Staff offer a warm welcome and develop caring relationships with children and their families. They use the interests of children to implement the creative and stimulating curriculum. For instance, staff take children's ideas for what they would like to do when planning for topics. Children are highly motivated learners and show positive attitudes to learning. They huddle excitedly around a 'curiosity cube' containing items and talk about what they can see. They are creative and enjoy solving problems. For example, they design houses to stop the 'Big Bad Wolf blowing them down'.
Children talk through and adapt their designs with their friends, explaining their choices.
Children are independent and manage their self-care. They dress themselves, cut their own fruit and pour drinks carefully. Staff skilfully support children by modelling or using prompts. For instance, they teach young children to go 'backwards and forwards' when slicing apples and offer praise and encouragement. Children develop a love of reading. They choose to listen to stories on devices using headphones and sit following the story in the book. Children use new words learned from books in their play and show pride in sharing what words mean to staff and children.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: - provide further challenge for children, particularly during indoor physical play, so they remain focused and engaged and continue to learn.
- 17 November 2023Good
- 24 January 2018Good
- 23 February 2017Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Mudeford 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.