Springboard
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Chippenham for children from birth to 8+, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 February 2022. Open since 2010, 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 Wiltshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Wiltshire 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
SN15 3SYWhat 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, 14 February 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive in this welcoming, inclusive environment. It feels like a family, where everyone cares for each other and the smallest achievements are excitably celebrated. The highly motivated, enthusiastic practitioners are led by an inspirational manager and leadership team. Children calmly arrive at the setting, and are supported to settle in their own time. Parents confidently leave them in the care of the warm, experienced practitioners.
Practitioners have high expectations of children. Working closely with outside professionals, they plan highly effective activities for children based on children's interests and needs. They deliver these with such dedication and commitment that children are highly interested and engaged. Practitioners encourage children to have a go before they step in to help. For example, children are given time to try to put on their coats independently and are encouraged to finishing doing up the zip. Children are making excellent progress from their individual starting points.
Practitioners use exciting methods to encourage children to communicate effectively in their own way. For example, they play the 'balloon game', where children need to say 'stop' when they think the balloon is big enough, before it pops. Children's choices are respected, helping them to develop a sense of selfworth. Practitioners use items such as picture boards to communicate routines to the children and help them to choose what they want to do next.
- 14 February 2022Outstanding
- 5 October 2015Outstanding
- 19 January 2011Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Springboard
- 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.