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Piccolo Pre-School Nursery

Ofsted: Expected standard·
4.9(14 Google reviews) ·Chute Recreation Ground, Vyne Road, Basingstoke, RG24 9HX · Hampshire
Number of places
32 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jun 2026
Local authority
Hampshire

About this early years setting

Piccolo Pre-School Nursery is a term-time only setting in Basingstoke for children aged two to four. It operates from Monday to Friday, with opening hours of 8:30am to 2:30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and 8:30am to 2:00pm on Thursday. Ofsted inspected the nursery in June 2026 and gave it an overall rating of 'Good'. The inspector noted that staff have high expectations for behaviour, are positive role models, and form good relationships with their key children, supporting their emotional well-being.

The outdoor area has been improved to offer more opportunities for children to develop their motor skills. According to the Ofsted report, staff support children's physical development well, both inside and outside. Staff use approaches such as signing during song times to assist children developing their communication skills. The report found that while all children, including those with special educational needs or who speak English as an additional language, make some progress, it is not always consistent. Parents who spoke with the inspector said they were happy with the provision.

Our ethos

Piccolo Pre-School Nursery is committed to supporting each child's personal development, learning, social, and emotional needs by encouraging individuality and providing educational opportunities that reflect each child's unique characteristics and interests. They foster independence, emotional regulation, confidence, and self-esteem, adhering to Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) principles.

What it's like

Leaders do not consistently support staff to adapt the curriculum to meet individual children's needs, including those with SEND and EAL. Children arrive happily and are independent, but some activities are very adult directed, limiting creativity. All children, including those with SEND and EAL, make some progress, but a lack of focused planning and assessment means they don't make the best progress.

Good Ofsted ratingImproved outdoor areaFocus on physical developmentSupport for communication skills

Pricing & funding

Fees are structured around hourly and three-hour session rates. A termly consumables fee applies to all children, alongside a one-off registration fee and specific rates for baby group sessions.

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare

Good to know

  • A registration fee is required for all registered children.
  • A consumables fee is charged termly per child.
  • Baby group sessions are charged on a per-child basis.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 08:30 - 14:30, Thursday: 08:30 - 14:00

Age range

2 years to school age

Term time / All Year

Term_time_only

Session types

3-hour session

Registered with Ofsted

2008

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Expected standard

Last inspected Jun 2026

Headline: Expected 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

AchievementExpected standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesStrong standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
InclusionStrong standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Age range
2 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted report for Piccolo Pre-School Nursery

Last inspected 2 June 2026 · Lindsay Osman

Safeguarding effective

Actions the provider must take

  • provide regular, relevant and appropriate professional learning and expertise opportunities and constructive feedback for all practitioners, which equips them to carry out their roles successfully by 01/12/2025
  • ensure that all leaders and staff have the knowledge, understanding and oversight to carry out their roles effectively by 05/01/2026
  • use assessment consistently to reflect on the different rates at which children learn and adjust the curriculum to fully support children's development by 05/01/2026

What it's like to attend

Leaders do not consistently support staff to adapt the curriculum to meet individual children's needs, including those with SEND and EAL. Children arrive happily and are independent, but some activities are very adult directed, limiting creativity. All children, including those with SEND and EAL, make some progress, but a lack of focused planning and assessment means they don't make the best progress.

Inspector highlights

  • Staff promote acceptable attendance by staggering drop-off times and using a welcome song to start the day.
  • Staff have high expectations for behaviour and are positive role models, leading to children playing well together.
  • Children understand rules and routines, joining in tidy-up time when the bell rings.
  • Staff know their key children well, forming good relationships and supporting their emotional well-being.
  • The outdoor area has been improved to provide more opportunities for children to work together and improve motor skills.

Areas to develop

  • 1Provide regular, relevant and appropriate professional learning and expertise opportunities and constructive feedback for all practitioners, which equips them to carry out their roles successfully.
  • 2Ensure that all leaders and staff have the knowledge, understanding and oversight to carry out their roles effectively.
  • 3Use assessment consistently to reflect on the different rates at which children learn and adjust the curriculum to fully support children's development.
Inspection #10108684 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make some progress from their starting points, but this is not consistent. Leaders are familiar with the processes to follow if they identify children who need additional support and they know to work in partnership with other agencies to help children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND). Staff use appropriate approaches to support children, such as signing during song times, to help children who are developing their communication skills.

Outdoor space

The outdoor area has been improved to provide more opportunities for children to work together and improve their motor skills. Staff prioritise children's physical development and support children well in this area, providing many opportunities for them to develop their fine and gross motor skills, inside and outside.

EAL / language support

Children who speak English as an additional language make some progress from their starting points, but this is not consistent. Staff use appropriate approaches to support children, such as signing during song times, to help children who are developing their communication skills so they learn to sign familiar words.

Google Reviews of Piccolo Pre-School Nursery

4.9
(14 Google reviews)
Kate apsey
10 months ago

The most amazing nursery. This was my daughter’s 2nd nursery as I didn’t like the first one she went to. My daughter loved every minute of it and I’m sad it’s come to an end as she’s starting school soon. Her key worker was just amazing and the staff genuinely love being with the children. Highly recommended

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Ms R
6 months ago

My daughter went here and is 15 now. Was just looking it up to see if it was still going strong and it seems it is, with many of the same staff. You simply won’t find better.

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Zoe Enticknap
4 years ago

So happy with all aspects of nursery/pre-school life at Piccolo. Both my daughters love it and don’t look back on drop - off (even my shy daughter who cried everyday at her previous nursery). The staff are experienced, helpful, genuinely care for the children, make learning fun, have excellent communication with parents. In just 8 months, I have attended 2 performances by the children (nativity and Easter parade), 2 parents meetings, “stay and play” sessions where you can see your children in action, and volunteered on a trip on an outdoor learning centre trip (yes they do trips for nursery kids!). Most importantly, my children are safe, happy and having fun, all whilst learning/developing both academically and emotionally in preparation for school. Highly recommend - such a fantastic, calm and kind environment for children to be in.

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Emma-louise Stuart
3 years ago

Fantastic nursery and staff, both my children have attended and despite there being with multiple years difference between the two attending the staff are the same, I feel this shows how much the staff love their jobs. My children have loved every moment at the nursery, the staff are amazing and I feel like I've left my children in the care of family as opposed to staff, the ladies have had such an impact on my children's early years through the care and creative activities I honestly cannot thank them enough. I will be sad when the time comes for my littlest one to have to leave for school. I honestly couldn't rate them enough!

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Charlotte With
4 years ago

Such a wonderful pre-school, my eldest attended just after we had moved to the area and the staff were amazing and helped him settle in quickly, they also helped in getting a referral for speech therapy. My youngest loves going - goes in and comes out with a huge smile and comes home with so many paintings and crafts. Would definitely recommend Piccolo :)

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Piccolo Pre-School Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: October 2009

  • June 2026Expected standard
  • November 2025Expected standard
  • February 2020Good
  • January 2015Outstanding
  • October 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