Lewknor Preschool
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Watlington for children from birth to 8+, open 09:00 to 15:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2024. Open since 2002, with 20 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
OX49 5TLWhat 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, 18 January 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff know the children well and greet them warmly when they arrive at this small, village pre-school. Children settle quickly and are eager to join in with play as soon as they arrive. They have warm and caring attachments with staff and demonstrate their feelings of emotional security. They are able to choose from the wide variety of stimulating activities available to them inside.
Staff are good role models. Children feel safe, secure and listened to, as staff adopt a consistent approach towards managing behaviour. For example, children line up quickly when it is time to wash their hands before lunch. Children behave well and have good attitudes to learning. They are kind and considerate to each other and know how to share resources appropriately. Staff support children to build on their skills and knowledge to prepare them well for starting school.
Children initiate their own learning and are interested to play with a wide range of resources. For example, they explore with construction toys to design and build their own structures. They safely use tools, such as saws and hammers, with enthusiasm. Despite facing some challenges, children persevere with their play, and they proudly explain to staff what they have built. This helps to build children's confidence, resilience and self-esteem.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- develop teaching skills further, especially in relation to strategies to support children with SEND, so that all children make progress from their starting points n improve how staff plan activities outside to ensure the curriculum and learning experiences reflect those planned for inside.
- 18 January 2024Good
- 7 March 2018Good
- 27 February 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Lewknor 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.