Almondbury Playgroup
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Longcroft, Almondbury for from 2 years up to school age, open 09:00 to 15:00, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2025. Open since 2000, with 20 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
15 Hours Free Childcare is available for all 3 and 4 year olds starting from the term after their third birthday. 30 Hours Free Childcare for some 3 and 4 year olds for working parent/s depending on circumstances. 15 Hours Free for 2 year olds from April 24 for working parent/s depending on certain criteria. 15 Hours Free for 2 year olds if you receive certain benefits.
What childcare usually costs in Kirklees
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Kirklees from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
HD5 8XWWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
- 28 February 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 9 September 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children settle in and behave well in this setting. Staff take time to explain the expectations and what is happening next. Routines are clear and well organised.
This helps even the youngest children to feel secure and safe. All children quickly follow instructions and listen carefully. For example, children listen attentively in anticipation of the word 'go!' as they play racing games. Children play happily, often singing to themselves and chatting as they play. They build friendships with others as staff skilfully encourage them to interact with each other. Staff support children to share resources and take turns. Minor disputes about resources are settled very quickly with the aid of sensitive staff. It is clear that children feel emotionally secure in this setting.
Children persevere at activities for long periods of time. For example, children learning to use scissors repeatedly attempt to snip the edges of a piece of paper.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen staff's questioning skills to ensure they consistently place a sharp focus on the acquisition of vocabulary as children follow their interests n review the curriculum and routines in order to maximise opportunities for children to be independent and make their own choices.
- 9 September 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 21 November 2024Needs improvement
- 13 February 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Almondbury Playgroup
- What it costs
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.