St Andrews Pre-School
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Bridport for from 2 years up to school age, open 08:30 to 15:30, 5 days a week. £45.00 a day, and they take the funded hours. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2024. Open since 1993, with 36 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Term time only, 38 weeks a year.
| Age | Full day | Session | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All ages | £45.00ALL DAY | £18.00MORNING SESSION or AFTERNOON SESSION, 3 hrs £21.00MORNING $ LUNCH or LUNCH & AFTERNOON, 3.5 hrs |
Extras
Charged on top of the session rate.
- £3.00 a session EARLY DROP OFF
Funded hours
From the term after his/her third birthday, every child is entitled to 15 hours of pre-school education per week, which includes early drop off, lunch, and late collection.
Worth knowing. Additional fees will be payable for any hours or part hours over and above the funded 15 hours unless you qualify for the additional 15 hours (ie. 30 hours).
What childcare usually costs in Dorset
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Dorset 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
DT6 3BJWhat 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, 17 January 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children flourish and thrive at this very welcoming and friendly setting. Staff interact warmly with them and are very kind and caring. They know the children well. Staff are very supportive and encouraging of children. Children are happy and extremely confident, showing high levels of self-esteem.
There is an ambitious curriculum that successfully challenges children to make the best possible progress across all areas of learning. The focus of leaders and staff on developing children's independence, resilience and self-esteem successfully prepares children for future learning, including moving on to school. Staff provide very good opportunities for children to carry out tasks for themselves, to keep trying and to be socially confident in different situations. There is a happy buzz across the playrooms as children immerse themselves in various learning opportunities.
Staff have high expectations for all children and promote these well through their positive interactions and guidance. Children behave really well. They are kind, considerate and play nicely with others. They seek each other and staff out in play, particularly in games, where they take turns and share. Staff are very positive role models, and children follow their lead, showing friendly behaviour towards familiar people and visitors.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- make better use of group times, to encourage children to focus more and fully benefit from the learning opportunities.
- 17 January 2024Good
- 16 May 2018Good
- 15 July 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for St Andrews Pre-School
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- Is £45.00 a day still the rate? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? 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.