Stewartby Pre-School
OutstandingBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in Bedford 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 Outstanding by Ofsted in April 2025. Open since 2017, 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 Bedford
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Bedford 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
MK43 9NNWhat 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, 24 April 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive in the well-established pre-school. They embrace the learning experiences they receive through the exceptionally well-planned curriculum. Staff expertly plan activities and provide resources that target what children need to know and understand next. There is a clear sequence that builds on what children can already do, helping to prepare them for the next stage in their educational journey at school. For example, staff give children many opportunities to help strengthen and coordinate their core muscles. Children rapidly build their confidence to have a go, practise and strengthen their skills. This is in advance of refining children's fine motor control of their fingers and hands to help prepare them for early writing skills. Staff combine what they want children to learn next with seasonal themes and children's own interests. This helps to inspire and motivate children to enthusiastically continue to experiment and explore independently and with their friends.
Children are curious to find out about the world around them. For example, after playing a game to move small models of bees from honey to a dry dish, they carefully study honeycomb. Children cut, smell and feel the honeycomb. Staff encourage them to recall the facts they have been told about how honey is produced, emphasising words such as 'nectar'. Staff give children even more information to help build on what they already understand, helping to expand their knowledge even further. Children make the most of their play and interactions with staff. The industrious environment helps to promote children's desire to learn and cooperate with their peers and staff, leading to their highly positive attitudes and behaviours towards learning.
- 24 April 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 14 May 2019Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Stewartby 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.