The Caterpillar Club
OutstandingBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Ferndown for children from birth to 5, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in March 2025. Open since 1997, with 22 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 Dorset
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Dorset 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
BH22 9FBWhat 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, 26 March 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive and thoroughly enjoy their time in this highly inclusive and nurturing setting. They are eager to start their day upon arrival and immediately engage in a wide variety of interesting and stimulating activities. Staff are attentive and welcoming to children. Consequently, children build strong bonds, not just with their key person but with all staff. This helps children to feel safe and secure. The language-rich environment created by staff supports all children to acquire and use language, and they are excellent communicators. For example, staff use visual prompts consistently to help children who find verbal communication more difficult.
Staff are great role models for children. Children show respect for the routines and for each other. Children play cooperatively with their peers and confidently ask for support from staff, when needed.
Children's behaviour is excellent. There is a strong focus on supporting children's emotional well-being. Staff provide ample opportunities to help children express and understand their emotions. For example, staff support children to put on their coats unaided and share how proud they are when they achieve this for themselves, and children beam with happiness. The provider organises a broad curriculum that is deeply embedded and effectively delivered by staff inside and outside. As a result, children are constantly engaged and completely immersed in their learning. Staff consistently build on and extend what children already know and can do. For example, staff plan regular, targeted, adult-led group activities for their own key groups of children. They skilfully support children to share their opinions and develop their critical thinking.
- 26 March 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 18 July 2019Good
- 11 June 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Caterpillar Club
- 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.