Barn Owl Pre-School
Good★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Swindon for children from birth to 5, open 08:30 to 15:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in August 2024. Open since 2023, 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 Swindon
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Swindon 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
SN25 1HTWhat 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, 9 August 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children enter this stimulating play environment eager to learn. They seek out their friends and immerse themselves in their chosen play. The friendly and nurturing staff greet the children with a warm smile. They strive to ensure every child feels safe and secure within their care. The staff work hard to build strong relationships with the children and their families. They celebrate children's 'wow' moments at circle time, which helps build children's confidence and develops high self-esteem.
Staff have clear expectations for children's learning. They focus on strengthening children's personal, social, and emotional skills. The staff read children stories about different emotions and have open discussions about ways to manage these feelings. When children feel sad, staff reassure them and validate them through open discussions. Children begin to understand their emotions and how to manage them positively. They develop strong social skills which enable them to grow close friendships. Staff aid the children in resolving conflicts effectively. They get down to the children's level and demonstrate what they need to say to their peers. Staff support the children in waiting their turn and sharing the resources. They have clear expectations for behaviour and provide gentle reminders to help reinforce the golden rules of the preschool.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- extend opportunities for children to develop their independence, particularly around meal times n ensure staff always use the correct words and pronunciation when speaking to children, to further enhance children's vocabulary and language development.
- 9 August 2024Good
Still missing for Barn Owl Pre-School
- 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.