The Lantern Preschool
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in Wimborne for children from birth to 5, open 09:00 to 15:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2022. Open since 2012, with 20 places.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
BH21 3AFWhat 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 January 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are greeted by gentle and kind staff. They settle quickly and are soon playing with favourite activities, such as investigating equipment with cogs, playing with toy dolls, or building train tracks. There is a calm atmosphere, with children positively engaged in their learning. Children are well behaved and kind to their friends. They learn how to respect and understand the needs of others. Staff act as good role models for children's positive behaviour. Children develop strong relationships with staff and their friends.
Children are imaginative and eager to explore. They become deeply involved in their play and focus their attention on tasks without becoming distracted. For instance, they make 'salad' with mud, water and grass, and carefully mix the ingredients together. Children develop their self-confidence as they learn to be more independent. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, gain the skills they need to support their future learning.
The manager has adapted children's routines to promote a safe environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, parents drop off and collect their children from the main entrance and, on arrival, children immediately wash their hands. The manager regularly evaluates and reviews their practice with staff and parents.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen support for staff to develop their questioning techniques, to further encourage children's communication and language abilities n review and adapt ways in which information is shared with parents, including how parents can support their child's ongoing learning at home.
- 24 January 2022Good
- 12 July 2016Good
- 16 January 2013Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Lantern Preschool
- 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.