Birdwell Playgroup
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Barnsley 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 December 2023. Open since 1993, with 36 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 Barnsley
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Barnsley 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
S70 5XBWhat 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, 11 December 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
At Birdwell Playgroup, children are highly engaged in activities. These take place indoors and outside as children decide where to play. They lead their own play and share well with their friends. Children demonstrate exemplary behaviour. They take each other's hands to show them how to tidy up, and children helpers pour drinks for everyone at lunchtime.
Staff have created a playgroup rich in language. There are core books that children have embedded in their learning. For example, children discuss where a snake lives. They answer 'an underground house', showing their understanding of 'The
Gruffalo' story. There is a buzz of energy and excitement at the playgroup. Children chop vegetables in the mud kitchen while working together to create a big bowl of cabbages and potatoes. They discuss with staff where vegetables come from.
- 11 December 2023Outstanding
- 26 January 2018Good
- 3 April 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Birdwell 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.