Best nurseries in Dorset

The sprawling metropolis of Bournemouth and Poole has a mixture of corporate nurseries and small local providers. Talbot Woods Day Nursery and Pre-School, part of the Bright Horizons chain, offers all year round childcare from 3 months to 5 years. Others include Queens Park Montessori Day Nursery, Ashley Cross Montessori and Blue Penguin Montessori at Alum Chine. 

Bournemouth Collegiate School (BCS) Prep, an independent school in Parkstone, has its own kindergarten for children aged 3 and up. Talbot Heath School in Bournemouth has just opened Honey Bees Family and Toddler Group for children aged 0-4. Run by the school’s in-house early years specialist teacher, it’s open on Fridays from 9.15-10.15am.

Meanwhile across town in Upton, Yarrells School and Nursery admits children aged 2-4, with many staying on to join the prep afterwards. The nursery is very popular so parents should apply as early as possible. The school offers all year round provision as well as a term time only programme.

Blandford Nursery and Shaftesbury Nursery are both quality options. Archway Nursery School in the village of Pimperne, three miles from Blandford, was started more than 20 years ago and has a good reputation locally. Halfway between Blandford and Wimborne is the privately owned The Old School Nursery in the pretty village of Shapwick, based in the beautiful old village school. Two private schools, Bryanston Prep in Durweston and Port Regis near Shaftesbury, also have their own nurseries. Bryanston Prep’s nursery section has 16 places for 3 and 4 year olds.

Pear Tree Nursery and Pre-School in the centre of Sherborne is the sister nursery of Lower Covey Montessori School in Yetminster, four miles away, and both are popular with families. The owner has 30 years of childcare experience and aims to promote children’s independence and help them to grow into confident preschoolers set for the transition to primary school.

The nursery at Leweston School, a private school in a rural setting three miles from Sherborne, takes children from three months to four years. Parents are advised to apply and register their interest as early as possible – there are long waiting lists. Sherborne Prep has its own nursery – children can attend for full days, mornings only, lunchtime sessions or afternoon sessions.

Dorset’s county town has a range of options for preschoolers. Standouts include The Grove Pre-School Playgroup in town and Sunny Days, a custom built nursery on the edge of Poundbury. Sunny Days offers a 10 per cent NHS discount for Dorset County Hospital Foundation Trust employees.