Nursery Advice
Claim Your Nursery

The Grove Pre-School Playgroup

Ofsted: Good
(Nov 2023)
·
5.0(2 parent reviews) ·The Grove Pre-School Playgroup, The Bungalow, Dorchester, DT1 2LA · Dorset
Number of places
21 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Nov 2023
Local authority
Dorset

About this day nursery

The Grove Pre-School Playgroup, established in 1984, operates as a registered charity located in Dorchester, Dorset. It offers a secure, stimulating, and nurturing environment where children are encouraged to engage in play, learn, and develop at their individual pace.

The playgroup fosters early learning through a framework influenced by the Revised Early Years Foundation Stage (September 2021). This includes prime areas such as personal, social and emotional development, communication and language, and physical development, as well as specific areas like literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design.

Children are given opportunities for "freeflow" play, allowing them to choose their activities both indoors and outdoors, regardless of the weather. The curriculum also emphasises outdoor learning, encouraging children to manage risks, engage with natural materials, and explore independently.

The playgroup also integrates a Rights Respecting approach, focusing on the child's right to play and developing their sense of responsibility in sharing and caring. They maintain a waiting list and accept children from the term following their second birthday.

The team includes staff working towards or holding recognised Early Years qualifications.

Our ethos

At the Grove Playgroup we recognise that the prime motivation for children’s early learning is their own joy of life and the pleasure they gain from experiences offered to them.

What it's like

There is a calm atmosphere across the pre-school. Children follow effective behaviour expectations and show respect to staff and friends. Staff successfully help all children to develop the skills they need for the future.

Charity-runOutdoor LearningRights Respecting approachFreeflow PlayEYFS Curriculum

Pricing & funding

Fees are calculated on a flat hourly rate. Additional fixed surcharges apply for early morning starts and late afternoon finishes.

Good to know

  • Early starts at 8.15am incur an additional charge.
  • Late finishes at 3.45pm incur an additional charge.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday: 8:30am-11:30am, 12:30pm-3:30pm (core funded hours). Lunch club: 11:30am-12:30pm.

Session types

Morning session, Afternoon session, Lunch club

Age range

2 years to school age

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Established

1984

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for The Grove Pre-School Playgroup

Last inspected 9 November 2023 · Rachel Cornish

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

There is a calm atmosphere across the pre-school. Children follow effective behaviour expectations and show respect to staff and friends. Staff successfully help all children to develop the skills they need for the future.

Inspector highlights

  • Children have opportunities to help prepare breakfast for their friends and to make their own breakfast, helping them settle quickly.
  • Staff successfully help all children to develop the skills they need for the future, fostering a positive attitude to learning.
  • Children enjoy opportunities to socialise and explore their community, regularly visiting a local care home for intergenerational learning.
  • Children are supported well to lead active lifestyles, playing outdoors daily and using a range of equipment.
  • The manager values everyone's contribution, emphasising staff well-being and a strong team spirit.

Areas to develop

  • 1support all staff to embed the curriculum intent more securely so that their teaching consistently focuses on what they want children to learn
  • 2ensure that all parents know their child's individual next steps and are kept informed of their ongoing progress so that they can support their child's learning at home
Inspection #10305497 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

parents say that the staff are 'friendly' and 'warm' and that 'even the children are welcoming'

Parents speak highly about the care that staff provide for their children. They say that staff chat with them about their child's day at handover time.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff have used funding to provide children with cosier enclosed areas to support their emotional security.

Outdoor space

Children are supported well to lead active lifestyles. They play outdoors daily and enjoy using a range of equipment that supports their developing muscle control, balance and coordination. For example, children enjoy climbing on the climbing frame, using swinging bars and negotiating the ramp in the outdoor area.

EAL / language support

Children who learn English as an additional language have good opportunities to learn words in English.

Parent Reviews of The Grove Pre-School Playgroup

5.0
(2)
Ashton Galloway
a year ago

Our daughter was here for the year before she started school, we are thoroughly impressed with the staff, activities, the help they have provided and communication with a can do attitude. We couldn't have asked for more, they've exceeded our expectations.

Read on Google
Jenny Webster
8 years ago

I have a lot of contact with this pre school. The staff are excellent kind and friendly, experienced and dedicated.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for The Grove Pre-School Playgroup. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: January 2011

  • December 2023Good
  • November 2023Good
  • March 2018Good
  • February 2018Good
  • December 2014Good
  • November 2014Good
  • January 2011Good

Frequently asked about The Grove Pre-School Playgroup

Nearby day nurseries in Dorchester

Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to The Grove Pre-School Playgroup.

Are you the owner of this nursery? Claim this listing to manage photos, hours and contact details.

Claim listing

Share this nursery

Send to a partner, friend or family member.

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