Chacombe Preschool Group
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Banbury 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 Good by Ofsted in September 2022. Open since 2005, with 20 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 West Northamptonshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in West Northamptonshire 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
OX17 2JAWhat 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.
- 30 June 2022 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 14 September 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children rush into the setting when they arrive. They greet staff with smiles and cuddles. Children are invited to bring in their favourite toys to help them settle.
This helps children to feel safe and secure. Staff ask children to bring in photos of their family members and pets, which they place on the 'family tree' display. If children become unsettled or unsure during the day, staff invite them to look at the photos to reassure them.
Children are supported by staff to manage their feelings and emotions. They tell staff they have seen news on the television about Queen Elizabeth II's death. Staff sensitively follow children's emerging thoughts and feelings about this event.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- promote further discussion when interacting with children to extend their learning further n allow children more time to explore independently and develop their problemsolving skills.
- 14 September 2022Good
- 23 June 2015Outstanding
- 27 May 2010Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Chacombe Preschool Group
- 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.