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Little Downsend Ashtead

Ofsted: Strong standard·Downsend School Pre Prep Ashstead, 22 Oakfield Road, Ashtead, KT21 2RE · Surrey
Number of places
65 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jan 2026
Local authority
Surrey

About this day nursery

Little Downsend Ashtead, established in 2023, is a "Childcare on non-domestic premises" setting in Ashtead for children aged 0-4 years. Operating Monday to Friday from 7:45 AM to 6:00 PM, the nursery provides a welcoming and inclusive environment where children flourish and make remarkable progress.

The dedicated staff, guided by a highly motivated leadership team, ensure a high-quality, well-structured curriculum that caters to each child's individual needs. Children are seen to be exceptionally joyful and form strong bonds with peers and key persons, embracing challenges and thriving on recognition.

The nursery supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) by creating a nurturing and safe space where every child can achieve their full potential, with staff designing personalised support plans. Outdoor learning is a key feature, with the youngest children exploring a forest area and engaging in activities that foster communication and mathematical skills, while older children develop resilience and collaborative skills through building and imaginative play.

Parents are actively involved, with efficient settling-in visits and continuous communication to gain insight into children's home environments, ensuring consistent strategies to support learning. The setting prioritises children's welfare and wellbeing, with carefully designed routines and mealtimes, and a strong emphasis on physical development, oral health, and personal safety.

What it's like

Children flourish at this welcoming, inclusive and inspiring setting. They are offered excellent opportunities and experiences that enhance the curriculum while also addressing their immediate needs in personal learning and development. Children are exceptionally joyful, having built strong and enduring relationships with their peers and key person. Children embrace challenges and thrive on the praise and recognition they are given when they achieve. Children show kindness and compassion for their friends and behave impeccably.

Strong standardNurturing environmentExceptional progressInspirational leadershipEngaging outdoor play

Pricing & funding

Nursery fees for children aged six months to three years are charged on a termly basis, varying depending on the number of days attended per week. Additional charges apply for extended day options, holiday clubs, and various student insurance schemes, alongside standard registration and deposit fees.

Funding accepted

15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare

Good to know

  • Nursery registration fee and deposit are required upon application.
  • Extended day options are available for nursery and school-aged children.
  • Holiday club offers full-day and short-day sessions with rates varying by age group.
  • Various optional insurance schemes are billed on a termly or annual basis.

Key facts

Opening hours

07:45 - 18:00 (extended day)

Age range

6 months to 18 years

Term time / All Year

All_year

Session types

Full Day, Half Day, Extended Day

Established

2023

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Strong standard

Last inspected Jan 2026

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
0 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Little Downsend Ashtead

Last inspected 15 January 2026 · Kelly Southern

What it's like to attend

Children flourish at this welcoming, inclusive and inspiring setting. They are offered excellent opportunities and experiences that enhance the curriculum while also addressing their immediate needs in personal learning and development. Children are exceptionally joyful, having built strong and enduring relationships with their peers and key person. Children embrace challenges and thrive on the praise and recognition they are given when they achieve. Children show kindness and compassion for their friends and behave impeccably.

Inspector highlights

  • Children are making remarkable progress that is consistent throughout the setting, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities or those who are being closely monitored during their settling period.
  • Children of all ages demonstrate a strong determination to succeed and maintain excellent levels of focus and enjoyment in their activities.
  • An inspiring environment and nurturing staff guide and assist children in managing their emotions and feelings.
  • Children demonstrate their happiness, contentment and eagerness to attend the setting, forming inspiring connections with staff.
  • Leaders and staff are motivational and ensure that every child receives a high-quality, well-structured curriculum.
  • The safeguarding standards are met, with an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
  • The exceptionally skilled workforce, supported by the inspiring leadership team, demonstrates dedication to modify and adapt their teaching methods for all children to engage with the curriculum.
  • Leaders maintain continuous improvement to uphold and enhance the already high standards, listening to staff, parents, and children.
  • Children are provided with a comprehensive curriculum that acknowledges and honours their unique lives and personal experiences, with parents sharing their cultures and professions.
  • Outdoor play encourages younger children to explore and take safe risks, while older children develop resilience and collaborate on building projects.

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 those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and those who may face other barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children are making remarkable progress that is consistent throughout the setting, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities or those who are being closely monitored during their settling period. Leaders and staff have created a nurturing and safe space, where every child is able to learn and achieve their full potential. Staff use their secure knowledge and understanding of each child to design personalised support.

Outdoor space

The youngest children investigate the forest area and enjoy activities that focus on their communication and mathematical skills. Children eagerly dig in the mud for insects, discover how to use binoculars and begin to relate the toy birds to the real birds they observe in the garden. Outside, all children thrive, with younger children encouraged to explore and learn to take safe risks while developing their physical abilities, and older children demonstrating remarkable resilience as they collaborate to build structures, propose ideas and invite their friends to participate.

EAL / language support

Children are provided with a comprehensive curriculum that acknowledges and honours their unique lives and personal experiences. Parents dedicate their time to visit and share their cultures and professions with the children, allowing them to gain insights about others in the community of the setting.

Inspection history

Most recent inspection

15 January 2026

Strong standard

Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.

View full Ofsted report

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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