Chasewell Playgroup
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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 April 2024. Open since 1993, with 32 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 Oxfordshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Oxfordshire 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
OX16 9YAWhat 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, 16 April 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The manager and staff are ambitious for all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff put children's emotional wellbeing at the centre of their curriculum planning. They understand that if children are going to get the most from the learning experiences available to them, they first need to feel safe, secure and welcome. The impact of this approach is seen in happy children who are keen to learn.
Overall, staff plan with clear and relevant learning intent in mind. They ensure that children have lots of opportunities to develop their speaking and listening skills.
Children enjoy talking with staff about what they are doing and sharing their news from home. They learn to listen to staff and each other. Staff thread opportunities for children to listen to stories throughout the day. Children look forward to these times, showing they are developing a love of books.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- develop further some aspects of the curriculum, to enable a stronger focus on the skills and knowledge most appropriate to the age and stage of development of the children who attend n support staff to become more confident in effectively supporting children engaged in unfocused, energetic play to take part in more meaningful learning experiences.
- 16 April 2024Good
- 12 June 2018Good
- 12 January 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Chasewell 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.