Smarties Nursery and Pre-school
Good★ 4.4 on GoogleBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Wirral for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2023. Open since 2015, with 33 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 Wirral
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Wirral 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
CH47 8XAWhat 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, 10 January 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff create a calm, friendly and nurturing environment at this nursery. Children are happy and settled and thoroughly enjoy spending time here. Staff have formed positive bonds with children. They provide babies with plenty of cuddles when they seek reassurance. Children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure here. Staff have high expectations of all children. They teach children to be kind and considerate to others. Children listen attentively to staff's instructions and follow them well. Staff praise children for their excellent listening skills. This helps to build up their self-esteem.
Children behave very well. They play harmoniously together sharing the toys and resources. Babies giggle with glee as they make bubbles in the water tray. They become immersed in learning as they explore how to make the glow sticks light up.
Older children confidently name different continents on the world map. They discover which animals are found in each continent and discuss special qualities about each animal. Older children thoroughly enjoy their weekly Spanish lessons.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- explore ways to help children to develop an understanding of how to keep themselves safe when online outside of the nursery n strengthen supervision arrangements, so staff have clear targets to support and improve the quality of their practice to the highest level.
- 10 January 2023Good
- 9 May 2017Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Smarties Nursery and 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.