Squirrels Preschool food hygiene rating
Caring Premises · New Forest
Squirrels Preschool holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the care premises met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 11 March 2014, more than 12 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: West Totton Community Centre, Hazel Farm Road, Totton, SO40 8WU
How it compares in New Forest
That puts Squirrels Preschool among the 1,153 places in New Forest holding top marks, 80% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,153 | 80% | ← Squirrels Preschool | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 183 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 69 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 23 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 138 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Squirrels Preschool none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Squirrels Preschool, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goodies Takeaway/sandwich shop | 294 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 December 2025 |
| Abm Catering at Abbotswood Junior School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2025 |
| Freedom Leisure Totton Other catering premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 April 2023 |
| Connors Candy Cart Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2025 |
| Forest Park Primary School School/college/university | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2026 |
| Lydlynch Pre-School Limited Caring Premises | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 November 2024 |
| Abm Catering at Lydlynch Infant School School/college/university | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2025 |
| Caterpillars Pre School Caring Premises | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 March 2025 |
Questions about Squirrels Preschool
What is Squirrels Preschool's food hygiene rating?
Squirrels Preschool has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by New Forest Council on 11 March 2014.
Is Squirrels Preschool safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this care premises to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Squirrels Preschool last inspected?
Squirrels Preschool was last inspected on 11 March 2014, more than 12 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by New Forest Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Squirrels Preschool?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Squirrels Preschool compare to other places in New Forest?
80% of the 1,435 rated food businesses in New Forest hold the top rating of 5, and Squirrels Preschool is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
New Forest Council inspects Squirrels Preschool and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Squirrels Preschool and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Squirrels Preschool is one of 133 rated food businesses in Totton. See every hygiene rating in Totton →
New Forest inspects and rates 1,573 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in New Forest →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.newforest.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →