Fairy Tales Playgroup
OutstandingBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Rainham 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 January 2023. Open since 2014, with 28 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 Havering
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Havering 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
RM13 9GPWhat 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, 11 January 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children demonstrate high levels of energy and excitement as they enter the safe, vibrant and well-resourced environment. Staff design a curriculum, indoors and outdoors, which provokes children's exploration and thinking skills. Children flourish, and they develop superior levels of self-esteem and confidence. Staff's interactions ignite children's thirst for learning. Staff maximise spontaneous learning opportunities by providing effective activities which encourage children to direct their own play and learning.
Staff highly value each child as an individual and adapt their care and teaching to meet children's individual needs. They interact with children in a very warm, respectful manner. This helps children form exceedingly strong bonds with staff.
Children learn to care for the playgroup pets. They particularly enjoy bathing 'Milo'
- 11 January 2023Outstanding
- 5 January 2017Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Fairy Tales 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.