Sandcastles Preschool Playgroup
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Hayle for children from birth to 5, open 08:30 to 03:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2022. Open since 2002, 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 Cornwall
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Cornwall 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
TR27 5DTWhat 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, 3 March 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff greet children warmly as they enter the pre-school. Although parents do not come into the setting following the COVID-19 pandemic, the manager takes time to reassure them at the entrance. Staff help children settle quickly into an activity.
This helps children feel safe and secure.
Staff know the children well. They find out about children's interests and learning needs. Children benefit from a varied and well-sequenced curriculum, which supports them to make good progress. Staff help children gain the skills they need for their future learning. For example, children use pencils and crayons to make marks, practise writing their names, and are keen to give 'messages' to a visitor.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- ensure staff help all children to fully engage in educational opportunities to keep them involved in learning and make further progress n ensure staff give consistent messages to children about healthy lifestyles to further promote their understanding of healthy food choices.
- 3 March 2022Good
- 8 June 2015Good
- 2 February 2011Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Sandcastles Preschool Playgroup
- 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.