Charminster Preschool
Day nursery in Dorchester, DT2. Part of the Dorset council area.
St. Marys C of E VC First School, West Hill, Dorchester, DT2 9RDWhat Ofsted found
Outstanding Inspected 29 November 2022
| Judgement | Grade |
|---|---|
| Overall effectiveness | Outstanding |
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
The highest of the four grades Ofsted gave before report cards. Ofsted now gives report cards instead, so this grade stays until the next inspection.
What a place could cost
Charminster Preschool sets its own prices. These are the averages for day nurseries in South West, for 50 hours a week in term time once the 30 funded hours are taken off.
| Child's age | You pay a week | About a month |
|---|---|---|
| From 9 months to 2 | £145 | £460 |
| 2 years old | £133 | £422 |
| 3 to 4 years old | £122 | £388 |
A month here is 38 term-time weeks spread over 12 months. Work out your own hours or check your free hours.
Charminster Preschool against Dorchester
| Charminster Preschool | Dorchester average | |
|---|---|---|
| Places | 34 | 52 |
| Ofsted outcome | Outstanding | 90% rated Good or better |
Other nurseries close by
Questions parents ask about Charminster Preschool
- What Ofsted grade does Charminster Preschool have?
- Charminster Preschool was rated Outstanding at its inspection on 29 November 2022, under the grading Ofsted used before report cards.
- How many children can Charminster Preschool take?
- Ofsted registers Charminster Preschool for 34 places at any one time. The average day nursery in Dorchester has 52.
- How much does Charminster Preschool cost?
- Charminster Preschool sets its own fees, so ask it for a price list. As a guide, the average nursery in South West charges £181 a week for 25 hours for a child under 2, before any free hours.
- Does Charminster Preschool offer 30 hours free childcare?
- Any nursery on the Ofsted Early Years Register can offer the funded hours, but each one chooses how many funded places it has and what it charges for meals and extras. Ask Charminster Preschool how it offers them.
- When was Charminster Preschool last inspected?
- Ofsted last inspected Charminster Preschool on 29 November 2022. The full report is on the Ofsted website.
- Which nurseries are near Charminster Preschool?
- Nearby in DT2: Little Acorns Playgroup, Winfrith Pre-School, Barn Owls Nursery.
Nursery list and inspection outcomes from Ofsted's register of childcare providers, as at 30 June 2026.
Fees shown are regional averages from the Coram Family and Childcare Survey 2026, not any one nursery’s price. Confirm with the nursery before enrolling.
Eligibility rules are the government’s (childcarechoices.gov.uk). Whether a nursery offers the funded hours, and what it charges for meals and consumables, is the nursery’s decision; ask for its funded-hours terms in writing.