St John's Nursery and Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Sandown 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 June 2023. Open since 2010, with 105 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 Isle of Wight
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Isle of Wight 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
PO36 8BLWhat 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, 27 June 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive at the nursery happy and excited to start their day. They are greeted by friendly staff who know them well. Staff support children to settle well and place a strong focus on children's happiness. For example, they are aware of children who need reassurance and ensure that they are supported effectively. This helps children to feel safe and secure. Children behave well and play together happily. They invite their friends to join in as they explore the water wall in the garden. They take turns as they skilfully pour water down piping to see how fast it travels. Children show acts of kindness as they cuddle together and say, 'You are my best friend.'
Children are eager to learn and they enjoy the activities offered to them. They benefit from a curriculum that is based on their interests. Enthusiastic staff plan exciting and challenging activities that motivate children to learn. For example, children show enjoyment as they spend long periods working out how to get toys out of ice. They use a range of tools to bang and tap at the ice. Staff extend children's learning by questioning and introducing new ideas. As a result, children decide to take the ice into the garden. They talk about how the sunshine will melt the ice faster.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- increase the information shared with parents to ensure that they are aware of their child's next steps in learning n build on the arrangements for continual professional development and strengthen staff's understanding of their increasing roles and responsibilities.
- 27 June 2023Good
- 11 January 2019Good
- 12 May 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for St John's 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.