Bright Sparks Playgroup at Empingham
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Oakham for children from birth to 8+, open 09:15 to 15:15, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in April 2024. Open since 1992, with 21 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 Rutland
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Rutland 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
LE15 8PQWhat 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, 30 April 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive excited to greet their friends and play in the homely, warm environment staff have created. They build close relationships with all staff.
Children settle quickly and feel secure enough to put their own comforters away, happily seeking a cuddle from staff for reassurance when needed. Children learn a breadth of skills and knowledge from staff during daily routines. At snack time, children learn good hygiene practices and help staff to spray and clean the table.
They follow staff's instructions and count how many children are sitting and waiting patiently, then hand the correct number of cups and plates to them. Staff help children to pour their drink carefully and remind them to pass the jug to others.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen staff's ability to adapt their focus and respond appropriately when children begin to lead their own learning during planned activities, so that interactions during these activities support all children to make the most progress n embed further the professional development staff are provided, to improve the consistency of staff interactions and practice.
- 30 April 2024Good
- 1 November 2023Inadequate
- 25 May 2023Inadequate
- 22 June 2017Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 4 graded inspections.
Still missing for Bright Sparks Playgroup at Empingham
- 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.