Silsoe Pre-School
OutstandingBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in Bedford 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 Outstanding by Ofsted in September 2024. Open since 2016, with 36 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
MK45 4GPWhat 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, 26 September 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive in this friendly and stimulating pre-school. They move between rooms and the garden, exploring resources that interest and excite them. Staff are ambitious in their planned activities, helping to introduce children to the awe and wonder of the world. For example, after children show an interest in planting seeds and flowers, staff inspire them to fill trays with natural materials, including plants, to use in their imaginative play. Children wait with anticipation to discover the resources that are contained in a case to help them during the activity. Staff show illustrations in reference books to help children understand what they are doing.
They introduce words such as 'investigations' in their descriptions and conversations during the activity. This contributes to children's motivation to use exciting words in their own complex sentences. By the time children leave for school, they are confident, articulate learners who are ready to embrace the next stage in their learning.
Children behave exceptionally well. Staff are excellent role models. They gently remind children of the simple and consistent 'golden rules' that are shared across the pre-school. Children are encouraged to recognise how they are feeling. Staff acknowledge children's emotions, while giving them ideas about what they can do when, for example, they feel anxious or cross. This helps children find ways to help self-regulate their feelings, so they can continue their day in a positive way.
- 26 September 2024Outstanding
- 30 November 2018Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Silsoe 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.