Meadow Farm Playbus Pre school
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Ellesmere Port for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2025. Open since 2014, with 16 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 Cheshire West and Chester
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Cheshire West and Chester 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
CH66 2SEWhat 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, 26 February 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are eager and motivated when they arrive at the playbus. They are greeted with smiles from staff as they are welcomed aboard. Children are very familiar with the unique layout of the playbus and know what is expected of them.
For instance, they know to wait for a member of staff before climbing the stairs to the top deck playroom. Children have a good understanding of some of the different ways to keep themselves safe, such as holding the handrail when climbing the stairs. Staff help children understand the rules and boundaries on the playbus.
They remind children about sharing, turn taking and being kind to their friends.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to implement the curriculum intentions more precisely to build on children's existing skills and knowledge n strengthen to procedures for coaching and mentoring to provide staff with more targeted professional development.
- 26 February 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 1 May 2019Good
- 4 July 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Meadow Farm Playbus Pre school
- 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.