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Watoto Pre-School

Ofsted: Needs attention·
4.9(17 parent reviews) ·139 Catherine Road, SHEFFIELD, S4 7HJ · Sheffield
Number of places
65 places
Age range
1–5 yrs
Last inspected
Apr 2026
Local authority
Sheffield

About this day nursery

They offer effective support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), working closely with other professionals. The pre-school also strongly promotes communication and language skills, with some multilingual staff using children's home languages to support those learning English as an additional language.

Physical development is also a key focus, with attractive indoor and outdoor resources that encourage babies to build confidence in rolling, crawling, and walking, and older children to develop muscle control through various activities.

What it's like

Children are very happy and engaged in this warm and welcoming pre-school. Staff work closely with parents from the beginning to ensure that children settle quickly and make a very positive start to their learning. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress overall in all aspects of their development. They are well prepared for the next stage in their learning, including starting school.

Happy and engaged childrenGood progress in learningStrong communication skillsEffective SEND supportWarm and welcomingExciting curriculum

Pricing & funding

Charges are structured around booked sessions, with separate fees for snacks and optional cooked midday meals. A registration fee and advance payment are required to secure a place, with discounts available for siblings. Parents also have the option to provide their own packed lunches.

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds

Good to know

  • Requires a non-refundable registration fee and a two-week advance payment of childcare fees.
  • Advance payment is non-refundable if the place is not taken, but is otherwise deducted from the first invoice.
  • Breakfast is free of charge for all children served before 9am.
  • Packed lunches are welcome but the nursery is unable to reheat food.
  • Essentials like nappies, wipes, and sun cream are charged separately.
  • A 5% sibling discount is applied to the older child when both attend four or more days.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, from 8:00am to 6:00pm

Age range

6 months to 5 years

Term time / All Year

Mixed

Session types

flexible contracts, fixed contracts

Established

2008

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Needs attention

Last inspected Apr 2026

Headline: Needs attention

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

AchievementNeeds attention
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesNeeds attention
Children's welfare and wellbeingNeeds attention
Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
InclusionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceNeeds attention
Age range
1 to 7
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Watoto Pre-School

Last inspected 14 April 2026

Safeguarding effective

What it's like to attend

Children are very happy and engaged in this warm and welcoming pre-school. Staff work closely with parents from the beginning to ensure that children settle quickly and make a very positive start to their learning. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress overall in all aspects of their development. They are well prepared for the next stage in their learning, including starting school.

Inspector highlights

  • Children are very happy and engaged and make a positive start to their learning.
  • Children make good progress overall in all aspects of their development and are well prepared for the next stage of learning, including starting school.
  • Children feel safe and well cared for, behave well, and learn to make decisions and develop their own play.
  • The manager and staff have high expectations for every child and maintain frequent communication with parents.
  • Staff plan an exciting curriculum that systematically helps children make good progress in all areas of learning.

Areas to develop

  • 1Focus staff development on further strengthening children's mathematical language and understanding.
Inspection #10264078 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress overall in all aspects of their development. Staff provide effective support to children with SEND, identify gaps in development early, and work promptly with other professionals to help children achieve their potential.

Outdoor space

Staff help children to progressively build on their physical skills. Babies learn to build their confidence in rolling, crawling and walking. Staff provide attractive resources inside and out for babies to reach out for and pull themselves up on. Children develop their muscle control as they lift small objects with tweezers, or learn to hop, jump and climb when they build their own obstacle courses.

EAL / language support

Staff promote children's communication and language skills strongly. Children who speak English as an additional language are well supported, with some multilingual staff using keywords and phrases in children's home languages.

Parent Reviews of Watoto Pre-School

4.9
(17)
Esther Northcott
3 years ago

We have been happy with our experiences of Watoto. Both of my children are quite sensitive and found it difficult to separate from us and settle into the nursery setting but the staff have been so patient, gentle and flexible with them. We have really appreciated it. Staff are warm and friendly and there is a lovely sense of community here and also being connected with the wider community. We are happy to have been part of it.

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Bethany Grace
4 years ago

My son has been attending this nursey over 12 months the amount of support we have received around my sons speaking is outstanding. I couldn’t ask for a better nursery. They have made my child feel comfortable in a completely different environment and brought him out of his shell when it comes to being around other children. I would completely recommend sending your children to this nursey.

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Sam LJ
4 years ago

Sent all 3 of my children here and my youngest is in his final year here all of my kids came on a long way with the support from all the amazing staff and the primary staff said they were really advanced for their age. Really lovely place and would recommend to any parents looking for a pre-school.

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Fatima Barma
3 years ago

Sent both of my sons here and I am pleased with the amount of support we receive with their development and speech. The staff are nice and friendly.

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Yasmin Hassan
4 years ago

My children love watoto pre- school, best nursery Amazing team ever. Big thank you to all the staff you are all doing amazing jobs.

Read on Google

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

Inspection history

Date: January 2009

The most recent inspection point has been hidden because the parsed entry didn't match the headline Ofsted rating (Good). We're re-checking it against the original report.

  • January 2023Good
  • December 2022Good
  • June 2017Good
  • May 2017Good
  • February 2017Inadequate
  • January 2017Inadequate
  • November 2013Good
  • October 2013Good
  • April 2009Outstanding
  • January 2009Outstanding

Frequently asked about Watoto Pre-School

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