Christ Church [Cheltenham] Pre-School Playgroup
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Cheltenham for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2025. Open since 1993, with 30 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 Gloucestershire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Gloucestershire 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
GL50 2JHWhat 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, 6 February 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The pre-school works to provide a safe, caring, nurturing learning environment with a Christian ethos. Children run in excitedly to see staff, showing the good bonds they have with them. New children are very sensitively supported, and staff ensure they follow children's home routines. They gradually introduce different arrangements and aspects of pre-school practice as children's confidence and awareness grow. Staff patiently offer two-year-olds lots of clear explanations and additional support to help them understand expectations and follow routines.
Children begin to enjoy mealtimes with the other children. They learn about boundaries in place for their safety and how to interact appropriately with others.
Staff know their key children well. They outline next steps in their learning, forming this into a curriculum to help gaps in children's development to close. Children build their dexterity and coordination effectively. They balance on obstacle courses outside and giggle as they practise their jumping. They explore making marks in shaving foam with items such as dried pasta, enjoying the sensory feel of these.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- help staff enhance children's areas and environment, consistently motivating and engaging children to explore and develop their skills as they play n support staff to plan for and adapt adult-focused activities effectively, ensuring children are suitably challenged and progress their skills as much as possible.
- 6 February 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 2 April 2019Good
- 9 February 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Christ Church [Cheltenham] Pre-School 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.