Barbican Playgroup
Ofsted report card Dec 2025Birth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in London for children from birth to 8+, open 09:00 to 14:45, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Inspected under Ofsted's new report card in December 2025. Open since 1975, with 20 places.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
EC2Y 8AXWhat Ofsted found, area by area
Since November 2025 Ofsted gives a standard in each of seven areas rather than one overall grade. Expected standard means it is doing what it should.
What 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.
- 8 December 2025Report card seven areas graded separately Safeguarding: Met
- 23 January 2020Outstanding
- 23 September 2015Good
- 10 November 2011Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Barbican 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.