Amberley Playgroup
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Stroud for children from birth to 8+, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in February 2022. Open since 1992, with 24 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Gloucestershire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Gloucestershire 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
GL5 5JGWhat 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.
Ofsted inspector, 16 February 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The planned curriculum is exciting, enjoyable, enthusiastic and captures children's interests. Children remember that they turned the slide into a 'pirate ship'. They eagerly tell others that they need the pirate hats, treasure chest, flag and telescopes. They use their imaginations brilliantly to create storylines. Older and younger children work together. They vote on where the flag should go, accepting the majority decision. They help to hold the flag in place while staff attach it to the slide.
Children show tremendous respect for others. They cooperate amazingly outdoors.
Children work together to push a tyre up a steep hill. They offer encouragement, copying what they have heard staff say. They reward themselves, praising their efforts. Children remind others that 'sharing is caring' when others want a favourite hat. They tell friends they can have the hat when they have finished and remember to pass it over.
- 16 February 2022Outstanding
- 6 November 2015Outstanding
- 18 November 2009Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Amberley Playgroup
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- 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
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? 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.