Sholing Community Centre Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Southampton for children from birth to 5, open 09:00 to 15:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2021, though that is 5 years ago now. Open since 1998, with 40 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 Southampton
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Southampton 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
SO19 1BNWhat 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.
- 20 December 2021 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 12 May 2021 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The manager displays a clear vision for the intent of the curriculum. She works closely with staff and parents to analyse and identify children's needs. Staff plan activities that are ambitious, building on what children already know. They have a good understanding of how children learn and what they need to learn next.
Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are making good progress as a result. Staff place a significant focus on supporting children's attention. This helps boost their listening and concentration skills.
Children's emotional well-being is well supported and nurtured. Due to the COVID19 (coronavirus) pandemic, parents and carers are currently unable to enter the setting. Staff plan extra time to welcome children and reassure parents. This helps children to feel safe and they settle quickly as a result.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- utilise opportunities within the routine to further strengthen children's communication and language development.
- 12 May 2021Good
- 23 September 2019Needs improvement
- 28 April 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Sholing Community Centre 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.