The Shore Pre-School
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Southampton for children from birth to 8+, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 November 2024. Open since 2000, 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 Southampton
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Southampton 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
SO19 9JQWhat 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.
- 4 June 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 28 November 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Leaders and staff work together to plan an ambitious and flexible curriculum that incorporates the needs of every child, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This flows through the setting with seamless fluency. Staff form close, nurturing and supportive relationships with children and their families. They take time to thoroughly understand each child, such as through home visits and exceptional settling in procedures. This helps to ease any anxieties parents might have, and forms a foundation of trust and respect for children and their families right from the outset.
Children thrive in this exceptionally warm, welcoming, and child-focused preschool, where care and education are of the highest quality. Staff offer an extensive variety of open-ended materials, such as craft resources, and teach children how to use various tools. This inspires children to bring their ideas to life. For example, children show an interest in animals, and design and create a farm yard. Passionate and highly skilled staff enhance these experiences with meaningful interactions tailored to each child's learning journey. They model words and ask open questions, such as, 'How can we build a fence to keep the animals safe?' This enriches children's developing language skills and sparks their curiosity to learn even more.
Staff use differing strategies, such as props and visual aids, to guide children's behavioral understanding. This creates an inclusive environment and helps all children make better choices. All children thrive at this pre-school. They follow the rules of the setting and consistently interact respectfully with staff and their friends.
- 28 November 2024Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 12 December 2019Outstanding
- 2 February 2015Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Shore 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.