Little Oaks Pre-School
GoodTakes funded hours★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Brackley for from 2 years up to school age, open 08:00 to 17:30, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in December 2024. Open since 1994, with 50 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
There are various funding options available for children aged 9 months through to school age.
Worth knowing. Little Oaks cannot guarantee the full 30 hours entitlement if we are running at full capacity. However we may be able to offer additional sessions over the 15 funded hours, depending on availability in the year your child attends.
What childcare usually costs in West Northamptonshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in West Northamptonshire 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
NN13 6EEWhat 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 December 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive in this warm and welcoming pre-school. They are individually greeted by familiar staff who know all of the children well. This supports children to develop a strong sense of security. Staff recognise the uniqueness of each child and skilfully plan experiences to reflect their interests and individual learning needs. For example, younger children develop the small muscles in their hands as they glue small items to paper. Older children practise cutting with scissors as they explore the Christmas craft table.
Leaders have devised a broad curriculum that includes the skills and knowledge they want children to achieve. There is a strong focus on children's communication and language. Staff introduce new themes to promote curiosity and encourage children to ask 'how' and 'why' questions. Staff make good use of quiet rooms to help less-confident children practise their speaking skills in smaller groups. This helps to boost children's confidence and self-esteem.
Staff support children to develop good behaviour and social skills. They successfully help children to understand their emotions and to learn how to negotiate and cooperate with others. Children learn the pre-school expectations and follow instructions well. For example, before lunch, children happily sit down for group time and enjoy singing aloud to action songs. The good progress children make in their learning and development prepares them well for their future.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- increase opportunities for children to complete everyday tasks for themselves.
- 11 December 2024Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 21 January 2019Outstanding
- 29 February 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Little Oaks Pre-School
- What it costs
- 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
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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.