Cholsey Pre-School
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Wallingford 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 November 2021. Open since 2003, 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 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
OX10 9PPWhat 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, 25 November 2021 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The pre-school is a hive of learning, fun and activity. All children benefit from an extremely safe and stimulating environment. Children are completely engrossed in their learning from the moment they enter the pre-school until the end of the session. Children benefit greatly from taking part in rich experiences. Children love to rise to challenges set by the staff. The quality of teaching and learning is excellent. For example, staff challenge children to put two numbers together, such as six and zero is 60 and five and two is 52.
Children are extremely well supported to develop important independence skills and learn how to keep themselves safe. During snack time, staff ask children to choose and serve themselves a drink of their choice. Mealtimes are immense fun, as children chat about what they have in their lunch boxes and talk about experiences outside the setting. Children use sign language confidently and are very proud to demonstrate their knowledge to the inspector. They expertly use their skills to indicate they would like milk and bananas. Children pretend that they are monkeys and know that monkeys open bananas from the other end.
Children behave extremely well and respond to prompts from staff quickly. Those who are unable to manage their behaviour when they first arrive at the pre-school receive targeted support and reassurance. As a result, children settle quickly and their behaviour improves, often significantly.
- 25 November 2021Outstanding
- 12 June 2015Outstanding
- 24 March 2011Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Cholsey 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.