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Find a Nursery Near Dorchester

4.8★ average from 73 parent reviews on Google

We track 12 Ofsted-registered day nurseries within 6 miles of Dorchester. 10 of those have a Dorchester address; the rest are in surrounding villages and suburbs but still within a short drive. At their latest inspection: 2 rated Outstanding, 8 rated Good, 1 currently Requires Improvement — 91% of graded settings here are Good or better. One setting has already been inspected under Ofsted's new report card, which grades each area separately instead of giving a single headline word. Parents have left 73 Google reviews across 2 of these nurseries, averaging 4.8★. 8 confirm they accept government-funded hours, 4 are registered to take babies under two. Each entry below links to a full profile with inspection history, fees where published, opening hours and parent reviews.

Nurseries in Dorchester at a glance

Based on Ofsted's register and parent reviews for settings within 6 miles of Dorchester.

12
Ofsted-registered nurseries
91%
Good or Outstanding
4.8★
73 parent reviews
8
Accept funded hours
4
Take under-twos

Latest Ofsted grades

  • Outstanding2
  • Good8
  • Requires improvement1

1 awaiting a first inspection or with no published grade, and 1 inspected under Ofsted's new report card.

Highest rated in Dorchester

Nursery locations in and around Dorchester

Day nurseries in Dorchester

Also within 6 miles of Dorchester

Frequently asked questions

How many day nurseries are there near Dorchester?
We list 12 Ofsted-registered day nurseries within 6 miles of Dorchester, 10 of which have a Dorchester address. The list is rebuilt from Ofsted's official register, so closures and new registrations show up within a week.
Which nurseries near Dorchester are rated Outstanding?
2 nurseries are currently rated Outstanding by Ofsted within 6 miles of Dorchester, including Charminster Preschool, Little Acorns Playgroup. Outstanding is the top grade and is awarded to a minority of settings, so also compare Good-rated nurseries on hours, fees and location.
What do parents say about nurseries near Dorchester?
Across 2 nurseries with enough reviews to average, parents within 6 miles of Dorchester have left 73 Google reviews at an average of 4.8★. Individual pages show the review text so you can look for recurring themes — settling-in, communication and staff turnover are the most useful signals.
Can I use funded hours at a nursery near Dorchester?
8 of the 12 nurseries within 6 miles of Dorchester (67%) confirm they accept government-funded early years hours. Eligibility depends on your child's age and your working status — check the nursery's own page for which funding codes they take and whether they charge for consumables on top.
Which nurseries near Dorchester take babies?
4 settings within 6 miles of Dorchester are registered to care for children from under two, and baby-room places are usually the first to fill. If you need a place before your child turns one, contact several nurseries as early as you can — waiting lists of six to twelve months are common.

These nursery listings are compiled from official Ofsted records, nursery websites, details provided directly by nurseries where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more