--- title: "12 Day Nurseries near Dorchester, 2 Outstanding | Nursery Advice" url: https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nurseries/south-west/dorset/dorchester description: "Compare 12 day nurseries near Dorchester: 2 Ofsted Outstanding, 4.8★ from 73 Google reviews, fees and hours." lang: en-GB --- Nursery Advice: https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/ Claim Your Nursery: https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/claim # Find a Nursery Near Dorchester **4.8★** average from **73** Google reviews 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 Google reviews. ## Nurseries in Dorchester at a glance Based on Ofsted's register and Google reviews for settings within 6 miles of Dorchester. 12 Ofsted-registered nurseries 91% Good or Outstanding 4.8★ 73 Google reviews 8 Accept funded hours 4 Take under-twos ### Latest Ofsted grades - Outstanding 2 - Good 8 - Requires improvement 1 1 awaiting a first inspection or with no published grade, and 1 inspected under Ofsted's new report card. ### Highest rated in Dorchester - Charminster Preschool (https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/charminster-preschool-dt2-9rd-ey337568) · Ofsted Outstanding - Little Acorns Playgroup (https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/little-acorns-playgroup-dt2-0jy-ey281575) · Ofsted Outstanding - Scallywags Child Care Centre (https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/scallywags-child-care-centre-dt3-5aj-ey384987) · Ofsted Good · 4.9★ (55) ## Nursery locations in and around Dorchester ## Day nurseries in Dorchester - ### Little Robins Nursery Dorchester · DT1 1EB https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/little-robins-nursery-dt1-1eb-2813369 - ### The Grove Pre-School Playgroup Dorchester · DT1 2LA · Ofsted: Good https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/the-grove-pre-school-playgroup-dt1-2la-139370 - ### Chipmunks Day Nursery DORCHESTER · DT1 2BS · Ofsted: Requires improvement https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/chipmunks-day-nursery-dt1-2bs-ey454946 - ### Summertime Nursery & Preschool Dorchester · DT1 2ET · Ofsted: Good https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/summertime-nursery-preschool-dt1-2et-ey493659 - ### Sunny Day Nursery & Play Club ★ 4.3 (18 reviews) DORCHESTER · DT1 3WA · Ofsted: Good https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/sunny-day-nursery-play-club-dt1-3wa-ey216520 - ### Charminster Preschool DORCHESTER · DT2 9RD · Ofsted: Outstanding https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/charminster-preschool-dt2-9rd-ey337568 ## Also within 6 miles of Dorchester - ### Preston Pre-School Weymouth · DT3 6BH · Ofsted: Good https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/preston-pre-school-ltd-dt3-6bh-ey474916 - ### Scallywags Child Care Centre ★ 4.9 (55 reviews) WEYMOUTH · DT3 5AJ · Ofsted: Good https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/scallywags-child-care-centre-dt3-5aj-ey384987 ## 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. 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The list is rebuilt from Ofsted's official register, so closures and new registrations show up within a week." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which nurseries near Dorchester are rated Outstanding?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "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." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What do parents say about nurseries near Dorchester?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "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★. 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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." } } ] } ] ```