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Caterpillars Montessori Nursery School

Ofsted: Strong standard·APPLETON HALL, WEST GREEN ROAD, HOOK, RG27 8RE · Hampshire
Number of places
40 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Nov 2025
Local authority
Hampshire

About this early years setting

Caterpillars Montessori Nursery School, registered with Ofsted in 1996, provides a nurturing and stimulating environment for children aged 2 to 4 years in Hook, Hampshire. The setting operates with a child-centred approach, fostering an atmosphere of fun, happiness and enthusiasm, as noted in its latest Ofsted inspection.

The dedicated staff, alongside strong leadership, ensure that each child thrives in their learning and development, with a particular focus on personal, social and emotional skills. The provision for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is exceptionally well-orchestrated, with staff working closely with parents and external professionals to provide tailored support.

Children benefit from a rich curriculum that includes weekly Spanish sessions and enriching extra-curricular activities like trips to the woods, allowing them to explore and develop a keen sense of achievement. Outdoor learning is a highlight, offering children opportunities to make independent, well-judged decisions, even during playful activities like negotiating snowy garden spaces.

Our ethos

Caterpillars Montessori Nursery School follows the Montessori approach, fostering a nurturing and stimulating environment. They focus on personalised attention through high adult-to-child ratios, developing strong relationships, and preparing children for primary school. The curriculum is enriched with extracurricular activities and outdoor learning.

What it's like

There is an atmosphere of fun, happiness and enthusiasm at this inclusive and nurturing setting. Children arrive eagerly, ready to start their day. They quickly settle as they engage in a wide range of stimulating activities, prepared by caring and attentive staff. They form trusting and affectionate bonds with their key person. Children's behaviour is exemplary, and they show confidence, resilience, and independence in abundance.

Child-centred ApproachExceptional SEND SupportOutdoor LearningImpeccable BehaviourStrong IndependenceSkilled Staff

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare
Pricing on request

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

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Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm, 47 weeks a year

Age range

2+ years

Session types

Full day, Term time only, Holiday clubs

Registered with Ofsted

1996

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Strong standard

Last inspected Nov 2025

Headline: Strong standard

Grade summary

Exceptional
—
Strong standard
Expected standard
—
Needs attention
—
Urgent improvement
—

Each dot represents one of the six inspection categories. Headline is the average of the six grades, rounded up.

Category grades

AchievementStrong standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesStrong standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
InclusionStrong standard
Leadership and governanceStrong standard
Age range
2 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted report for Caterpillars Montessori Nursery School

Last inspected 19 November 2025 · Sonia Panchal

Safeguarding effective

What it's like to attend

There is an atmosphere of fun, happiness and enthusiasm at this inclusive and nurturing setting. Children arrive eagerly, ready to start their day. They quickly settle as they engage in a wide range of stimulating activities, prepared by caring and attentive staff. They form trusting and affectionate bonds with their key person. Children's behaviour is exemplary, and they show confidence, resilience, and independence in abundance.

Inspector highlights

  • All children excel in their learning, development, health and well-being.
  • Children consistently demonstrate impeccable behaviour throughout the setting.
  • Leaders and staff ensure rigorous processes are firmly embedded to promote children's welfare, well-being and mental health.
  • Staff implement a child-centred approach to learning that prioritises children's health and happiness.
  • Provision for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), is extremely well orchestrated.
  • Children show a keen sense of achievement and proudly share what they have learnt, such as Spanish vocabulary related to the cold weather from their weekly Spanish sessions.

Areas to develop

  • 1Leaders and those responsible for governance should sustain their work to ensure continued improvement and high standards. They should focus on creating a transformational impact on the outcomes and experiences of disadvantaged children, those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, those who are known (or previously known) to children's social care, and those who may face other barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing.
Inspection #10380319 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Provision for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is extremely well orchestrated. Leaders and staff work tirelessly with parents, external professionals and other settings, to ensure children's needs are quickly and precisely identified and provide the tailored support necessary to enable all children to fully engage in planned activities.

Outdoor space

Outdoor learning is a particular favourite for children. During snowfall, children learn to negotiate the garden space around them, with staff allowing them the time and confidence to make their own sensible, well-judged decisions, even when treading carefully across snow and testing climbing frames.

Inspection history
Improved from Requires improvement → Strong standard in 2025

Date: February 2009

  • November 2025Strong standard
  • March 2025Requires improvement
  • June 2019Good
  • May 2015Outstanding
  • February 2009Good

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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more