Area avg from
£88/day*
Cuddles Day Nursery Ltd (Parkstone)
Rossmore Campus, Herbert Avenue, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, BH12 4HR
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Capacity 114 Limited spaces
County childcare guide
Nurseries in Dorset
Most of the Dorset nurseries on Toddle are in the BH area: Cuddles at Parkstone, Happy Days and a Bright Horizons Montessori in Poole, Tops at Muscliff and Woodlea House in Bournemouth, and Happy Days at Verwood. Little Robins is in Dorchester.
All take babies and open all year, and published day rates run from £74 at Woodlea House to £94 at Happy Days Poole.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has its own council, separate from Dorset Council, which covers Dorchester, Verwood and the rest of the county.
Childcare numbers for Dorset
Daily fees range
£74–£94
Per day
Outstanding nurseries
0
0% of nurseries
Funded childcare
6
86% offer funding
Total nurseries
7
Across Dorset
Top nurseries
View all Best nurseries in Dorset
Showing 1–3 of 7 selected nursery listings · 7 total in this area.
Area avg from
£88/day*
Tops Day Nurseries: Muscliff Nursery
Claremont Christian Church, 69 Claremont Avenue, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH9 3HD
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Capacity 59 Spaces available
Area avg from
£88/day*
Little Robins Nursery - Sunninghill
Sunninghill Preparatory School Ltd, South Court, South Walks Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1EB
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Capacity 82 Spaces available
From
£94/day
Happy Days Nursery & Pre-School - Poole
Beechbank Avenue, Creekmoor, Poole, Dorset, BH17 7FF
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Capacity 81 Waiting list
Area avg from
£88/day*
Bright Horizons Poole Montessori Day Nursery and Preschool
105 Penn Hill Avenue, Lower Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, BH14 9LY
Montessori Capacity 30 Spaces available
From
£81/day
Happy Days Nursery & Pre-School - Verwood
Happy Days Day Nursery & Pre School, 19 Church Hill, Verwood, Dorset, BH31 6HT
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Capacity 81 Limited spaces
From
£74/day
Woodlea House Day Nursery & Pre-School
1 Crantock Grove, Castle Lane West, Bournemouth BH8 0HS, United Kingdom
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Capacity 48 Limited spaces
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Nursery cost calculator
What will nursery cost in Dorset?
Answer four quick questions. You'll see your monthly cost straight away.
1When was your child born?
Age: 2 yearsFree hours are available.
2Are you working?
Each working parent needs to earn at least £2,643.68 over 3 months, and under £100,000 a year.
3How much time at nursery?
Days a week
5
Hours a day
10
4What does the nursery charge?
About £83 a day for 10 hours. All-ages average from 3 nurseries with prices on Toddle in Dorset
You'd pay about
£1,010a month
£12,118 a year after your free hours
- Nursery fees
- £1,798
- Free hours (30 a week)
- −£788
- You pay
- £1,010
Doesn't include meals, nappies or trips. Most nurseries charge for these separately.
You could get 30 free hours a week.
They end when your child starts reception, around September 2029.
Why isn't it lower in the holidays?
38 weeks free hours: £166/wk 14 weeks full fee: £415/wk
Free hours cover 38 term-time weeks. Many nurseries can spread them across the year instead. Ask yours.
Only going term time? Your cost will be lower. Ask your nursery for their term dates.
Estimate only. England. Based on GOV.UK figures, checked 20 October 2026.
Funded childcare guide
How to Apply for Funded Childcare in Dorset?
The nursery postcode districts represented on this page map to these official local authorities. Choose your council below; your home postcode determines which one handles your application.
Visit Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole CouncilPostcodes: BH8–BH17
Visit Dorset CouncilPostcodes: BH31 · DT1
Helpful answers
Nursery questions in Dorset
How much does a day at nursery in Dorset cost?
Published day rates before funded hours: Woodlea House Day Nursery & Pre-School £74, Happy Days Nursery & Pre-School - Verwood £81 and Happy Days Nursery & Pre-School - Poole £94.
Which postcode areas cover nurseries in Dorset?
Much of Dorset uses DT1–DT11, covering places such as Dorchester, Weymouth, Portland, Bridport, Lyme Regis, Sherborne and Blandford Forum. Parts of east and north Dorset use BH and SP postcodes, including Swanage, Wareham, Wimborne, Shaftesbury and Gillingham.
Can funded childcare be spread across more weeks in Dorset?
Yes. The working-parent entitlement is normally based on 30 hours a week for 38 weeks, but fewer hours can be used over more weeks where stretched funding is offered.
How does Ofsted information work for Dorset nurseries?
Ofsted inspects registered early-years settings in Dorset. Under the framework introduced in November 2025, newer inspections grade individual evaluation areas rather than relying on the previous single overall judgement; ToddleKids can present relevant Ofsted information alongside nursery details.
Does the Dorset nursery page include Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
No. Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council are separate unitary authorities, so Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole should be covered by their own ToddleKids location pages.
Who manages funded childcare in Dorset?
Dorset Council administers funded early education and childcare within its local authority area, including universal and working-parent entitlements.
What funded childcare is available in Dorset?
All 3 and 4-year-olds can receive 15 funded hours a week. Eligible working families can receive up to 30 hours a week from the term after a child turns 9 months until school age.
What early-years SEND support is available in Dorset?
The Dorset SEND Local Offer covers children and young people from birth to 25, including dedicated early-years support for children under five with special educational needs or disabilities.