St Nicholas Pre-School
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Whitchurch for from 2 years 8 months up to 5 year olds, open 09:00 to 15:00, 5 days a week. £6.75 an hour, and they take the funded hours. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2023. Open since 2001, with 24 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 | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| All ages | £6.75if not claiming government funding |
Before you start
One-off charges to take a place.
- £20.00 Place holding fee (deposit)refunded within first fees invoice once child starts; not required if, refundable
Extras
Charged on top of the session rate.
- £3.00 a week Voluntary consumable contribution (first year)voluntary; first year, includes snacks, sun cream, wipes, hand soap, paper towels
- £4.50 a week Voluntary consumable contribution (preschool year)voluntary; preschool year, includes snacks, sun cream, wipes, hand soap, paper towels
Funded hours
Universal funding provides a maximum of 15 hours of education per week for 38 weeks per year. We also accept 2 year funding and Working Parents Funding, which can provide up to 30 hours funding.
Worth knowing. Consumables Charge is voluntary but appreciated; if child receives EYPP, consumables charge is covered by extra funding. Cannot claim funding before third birthday.
What childcare usually costs in Bath and North East Somerset
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Bath and North East Somerset 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
BS14 0PRWhat 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 May 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children enter the pre-school enthusiastically. They are happy to see their friends and are greeted by smiles from staff as they begin to play. Staff place a strong focus on supporting children's well-being from an early age. They have formed exceptional relationships with all children and take great care to ensure that they feel nurtured. Children feel safe and well cared for. They demonstrate good manners and behaviour. They frequently receive clear messages about expected behaviour and boundaries as they play. They confidently remind each other of the
'pre-school promise', such as to 'be kind' and 'no running indoors'. This helps children to understand the rules of the pre-school and to be respectful to others.
Children delight as they take part in an abundance of stimulating learning experiences. They benefit from superb, memorable experiences that teach them about the wider world. For example, they purchase items from the local garden centre to grow in their allotment. Staff then teach them how to cook with the produce that they have grown, such as making vegetable soup. Children enjoy visits to the local library and learn about oral health from a dentist visiting the preschool. They learn about special events, such as Chinese New Year and the King's coronation. Children know that all people are different. As a result, they develop an understanding of their own uniqueness and respect for others.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- adapt teaching to enable children to develop their own thoughts, ideas and creativity skills further.
- 17 May 2023Good
- 19 October 2017Good
- 10 December 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for St Nicholas Pre-School
- Nappies
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 £6.75 an hour 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.