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Nurseries in Dorset

There are 131 nurseries registered with Ofsted in Dorset, South West England, and 90 of them are rated Good or Outstanding. Compare inspection reports, the ages they take, opening hours and how far they are from you.

Nurseries
131
Outstanding
15
Good
75
After-school clubs
27

131 nurseries near Dorset

Child's age
Ofsted rating
West End, Spetisbury

Scamps Preschool

c/o Spetisbury Primary School, West End · DT11 9DF

5.5 miles from Dorset
OfstedGoodJul 2022Sessional20 places

A sessional nursery in Spetisbury, rated Good by Ofsted in July 2022. Registered for 20 places and run by Spetisbury and Charlton Marshall Playgroup Committee.

Ages
0 – 8 years
Hours
Ask the nursery
Blandford Forum, Dorset

Archbishop Wake Nursery

Archbishop Wake CE Primary School and Nursery, Black Lane · DT11 8SW

6.3 miles from Dorset
Inspected March 2026Full day care57 places

A full day care nursery in Blandford Forum, last inspected by Ofsted in March 2026. Registered for 57 places and run by Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust.

Ages
0 – 5 years
Hours
Ask the nursery
Wareham, Dorset

Focus Nursery School

Focus Nursery School, Worgret Road · BH20 4PH

8.4 miles from Dorset
OfstedGoodMar 2022Full day care18 places

A full day care nursery in Wareham, rated Good by Ofsted in March 2022. Registered for 18 places and run by Miss Linda Burgess & Mr Daniel Albin Partnership.

Ages
0 – 8 years
Hours
Ask the nursery

Childcare in Dorset at a glance

Inspection results
90 of the 131 nurseries in Dorset (69%) were rated Good or Outstanding at their latest graded Ofsted inspection: 15 Outstanding and 75 Good.
Ages taken
119 list babies under 2, 119 take 2 to 3-year-olds, 119 take 3 to 5-year-olds. Registered age ranges are a guide, so check the room your child would join with each setting.
Funded hours
Working parents apply for funded hours on GOV.UK. For the 15 hours for eligible 2-year-olds, contact Dorset's Family Information Service.

Read our guides to choosing a nursery and funded hours

Questions parents ask about nurseries in Dorset

Straight answers from the Ofsted register, updated as inspections come in.

There are 131 Ofsted-registered nurseries in Dorset. 15 are rated Outstanding and 75 are rated Good at their latest inspection.