Parents often visit a preschool or nursery website before they make contact.
They might be looking for childcare near home or work. They might want to understand your setting before arranging a visit. They might need to check sessions, funded places, fees, term dates, Ofsted information or whether your approach feels right for their child.
If that information is hard to find, the website can quietly get in the way of enquiries.
A good early years website does not need to be complicated. It needs to feel warm, clear and useful. It should help parents understand who you are, what you offer and what to do next.
What parents need from a preschool or nursery website
Choosing childcare is a personal decision. Parents are not only comparing prices or opening times. They are trying to picture whether their child will be safe, happy and supported.
A useful preschool or nursery website should make the basics easy to find:
- where you are based
- opening hours and session times
- age range
- fees and funded childcare information
- term dates
- Ofsted information
- learning approach
- parent information
- how to enquire or apply for a place
This information should be easy to find on a phone, because many parents will be checking quickly between work, school runs and family commitments.
Show the setting, not just the admin
Practical information matters, but a website also needs to show the feel of the setting.
Parents want to know what the day looks like. They want to see whether children are learning through play, spending time outdoors, building confidence and being supported by caring staff.
This can be shown through:
- real photography from the setting
- simple explanations of a typical day
- information about the Early Years Foundation Stage
- pages about free play, outdoor learning and routines
- staff or team information
- parent information pages
- clear wording about safety, care and support
The aim is not to overload the website with text. It is to give parents enough confidence to take the next step.
Make Ofsted, fees and funding easy to find
For many parents, Ofsted and funding information are important checks.
If those details are hidden in a PDF, buried in a menu or missing altogether, parents may leave the site with unanswered questions.
A good website can make this simpler by including clear pages for:
- Ofsted reports and registration information
- fees
- funded childcare hours
- enrolment
- term dates
- parent forms
- policies where appropriate
These pages are useful for parents, but they can also reduce repeated admin questions for staff.
Make the next step obvious
Once a parent feels interested, the website should make it easy to act.
That might be:
- enquire about a place
- arrange a visit
- complete an application form
- call the setting
- email the office
The call to action should be visible on important pages, especially the home page, parent information pages and enrolment pages.
It is also worth testing what happens after the form is submitted. Does the enquiry reach the right person? Is there an acknowledgement? Is the enquiry saved anywhere, or does it only sit in an inbox?
For some settings, a simple CRM or enquiry tracking process can help make sure parent enquiries are not missed, especially during busy periods.
Think about September before September arrives
Many preschools and nurseries review their website when they suddenly need more enquiries. By that point, staff are often already busy.
A quieter admin period can be a better time to check whether the website is ready for the next intake of families.
Useful checks include:
- Is the home page clear and up to date?
- Are sessions, fees and funding details current?
- Is the Ofsted link easy to find?
- Do parent forms still work?
- Is the site comfortable to use on mobile?
- Are photos current and appropriate?
- Is there a clear enquiry route?
- Does someone get notified when a parent enquires?
Small updates can make a big difference if they remove confusion for parents.
Local preschool website examples
Wicko Design has worked on websites for local preschool settings including Brookside Pre-School in Farnborough and St Paul's Pre-School in Tadley.
These websites focus on the things parents need to understand quickly, including the setting, learning approach, parent information, funded places, term dates, Ofsted information and enquiry routes.
They are also designed to be easier for the preschool team to update, so key information can be kept current.
Does your preschool or nursery website need a review?
If your website feels dated, difficult to update or unclear for parents, it may be time to review it.
You may not need a full rebuild straight away. A useful first step is to check the pages parents rely on most:
- home page
- parent information
- fees and funding
- Ofsted
- enrolment or application
- contact page
Wicko Design helps small businesses and early years settings with website design and development, SEO, website maintenance and practical enquiry routes.
If you would like a second opinion, you can book a meeting to discuss your preschool or nursery website.
