The Elves and Fairies Woodland Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Wimborne for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 17:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in April 2022. Open since 2011, with 16 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
BH21 5RFWhat 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 April 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children behave exceptionally well. They take turns, show respect for each other's ideas and play beautifully together. Children thrive in the calm, well-organised environment which helps them to relax and immerse themselves in learning. They demonstrate impressive levels of attention. Children recall things they have learned in the past and relate them to their play and planned activities. They are eager to show off their knowledge. For example, older children confidently talk about the forest school rules. They practise the rules as they walk around to complete risk assessments before they start exploring the woodland area. Staff recognise children's hard work and offer praise and encouragement in return. This helps to secure the strong, affectionate bonds children have with the staff.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff are providing children with even greater support in the development of their communication and language, and social skills.
Small-group activities provide children with lots of opportunities to express their own thoughts and ideas, which helps to boost their confidence. Children embrace this. They talk animatedly to staff about things they hear and see in the environment. They are keen to talk about plants and flowers, and how to use the stem of a dandelion as a whistle.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- build on the good learning opportunities to provide all children with the time to problem-solve, and help them to critically think, further promoting their independence.
- 28 April 2022Good
- 16 January 2017Outstanding
- 10 October 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Elves and Fairies Woodland Nursery
- 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.