St Mary's Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Bristol for children from birth to 5, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2024. Open since 2008, with 36 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 South Gloucestershire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in South 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
BS37 5BGWhat 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, 28 March 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are greeted at the door by staff and make their way to the hall. They arrive happily and settle into the activities available. Staff support children to choose what they would like to play with. Children who find it hard to settle in are given the time and reassurance they need. Staff provide children with comfort when they get upset. Staff encourage children to engage and interact at story time.
For example, staff read books and encourage children to complete the actions from the story alongside them. Children show delight as they listen intently to the story.
This helps to support children's attention and listening skills.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- improve ways to support children in understanding their emotions so they can learn to self-regulate and communicate their feelings more effectively.
- 28 March 2024Good
- 12 April 2018Outstanding
- 13 April 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for St Mary's 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.