Fairfield Playbox Preschool
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Kingston upon Thames 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 November 2024. Open since 1992, with 25 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 Kingston upon Thames
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Kingston upon Thames 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
KT1 2UJWhat 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, 13 November 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff warmly welcome children on arrival. Children arrive with enthusiasm to start their session full of learning experiences. The setting has effective settling-in procedures. This helps children feel safe and emotionally secure when they first start. Children develop strong bonds with their key person and other staff.
Since the last inspection, the provider has improved their safeguarding policies and procedures. Staff are clear on how to report concerns about colleagues as well as about children. This helps to keep children safe.
Staff ensure that children are physically active. For example, children access a range of experiences to build on their physical development. They learn how to use scooters and pedals to cycle. This improves children's balance and coordination.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- provide greater opportunities for children who speak EAL to hear and use their home language in their play and learning n make better use of visual resources to support children with SEND, to help them make independent choices and ease their understanding of routines within the setting.
- 13 November 2024Good
- 27 June 2024Inadequate
- 25 April 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Fairfield Playbox Preschool
- 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.