St Catharine's Under Fives
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Gloucester for children from birth to 5, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in April 2024. Open since 1993, 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 Gloucestershire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Gloucestershire 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
GL2 0RRWhat 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, 29 April 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are welcomed into the setting with their parents, who can choose to stay for a while or leave them after they have spoken to the child's key person. Staff deliver an effective curriculum, taking into account the different ages and stages of the children and their interests. This supports all areas of children's development.
For example, children thoroughly enjoy listening to the story about the hungry caterpillar and do some creative activities linked to the story. In addition, staff show the children the caterpillars that they are watching grow and talk about cocoons being their houses before they change into a butterfly.
There is an effective key-person system that means staff know their key children well. They talk with confidence about what the children know and what they need to learn next to prepare them for the transition to school. Children show high levels of independence as they make choices in their play, wash their hands independently in the mobile sinks and help staff tidy away before lunch. Children behave well, and staff are good at noticing when younger children find it difficult to share or take turns. They immediately get down to the child's level and explain the expectations. They also use visual prompts, such as sand timers, to help children recognise when it is their turn.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- improve transitions during snack times and when preparing to go outside to make sure that children are engaged in meaningful learning and not waiting for long periods.
- 29 April 2024Good
- 14 March 2019Good
- 3 May 2018Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for St Catharine's Under Fives
- 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.