Fenham Playgroup
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 5Long established
A day nursery in Newcastle upon Tyne for from 2 years up to 5 year olds, open 08:30 to 14:45, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2025. Open since 2017, with 48 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
Your child may be entitled to 15 or 30 hours funded if you meet the criteria, please see the following for more information www.childcarechoices.co.uk.
Worth knowing. Two year funding is available for families who are in receipt of income support. Families who are in receipt of INCOME SUPPORT, INCOME BASED JOB SEEKERS ALLOWANCE, AN INCOME-RELATED EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT ALLOWANCE, SUPPORT UNDER PART VI OF THE IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM ACT 1999, THE GUARANTEE ELEMENT OF STATE PENSION CREDIT, CHILD TAX CREDIT (BUT NOT WORKING TAX CREDIT WITH ANNUAL INCOME LESS THAN £16,190) may be eligible for an assisted place. Claim forms are available from Playgroup staff.
What childcare usually costs in Newcastle upon Tyne
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Newcastle upon Tyne 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
NE5 2DEWhat 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, 14 March 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive happily and settle quickly, eager to join in activities. Staff welcome them warmly into the relaxed and appealing environment, which helps to support children's emotional security and well-being. They know children well and are sensitive to those children who may need a little more reassurance. Children show trust in familiar staff, for example by seeking cuddles from them. Staff's attentive and warm approach puts children at ease and they show a strong sense of belonging.
The playgroup provides a well-planned and engaging curriculum that, overall, supports children's learning and development effectively. There is a focus on ensuring that children have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed when they move on to school. Children develop their independence and are keen to take responsibility. For example, they help staff to set the table for snack time. Staff provide a wide range of resources that are linked to children's interests and are organised to encourage independent exploration. Children play together with confidence and are lively and motivated learners. Alongside this, staff plan activities to help children to develop specific skills. This helps to ensure that all children learn and remember more. Children make good progress and achieve well.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- develop staff's confidence and expertise in teaching early mathematics to help to deepen children's understanding of mathematical concepts n give children more consistent and positive guidance about the expectations for their behaviour.
- 14 March 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 13 June 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Fenham Playgroup
- What it costs
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? 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.