Minster Lovell Playgroup
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Minster Lovell, Witney for children from birth to 5, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2023. Open since 1992, with 24 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
OX29 0SPWhat 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, 9 February 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy and at ease within this nurturing playgroup. They are warmly greeted by staff and enter the setting with confidence, demonstrating that they feel safe. Children settle well to choose activities which support their learning. For example, children enjoy stacking pegs, building towers and younger children enjoy playing with the small-world characters with good support from staff. Children are growing in confidence and behave well.
All children develop a love of books. For example, children choose books to take home and share with their families. The children also have cosy spaces to relax in and read books. Children snuggle up with staff to enjoy familiar stories where staff read with good expression and animation. This supports children's early literacy skills well.
Children have good relationships with the staff and together they enjoy play that is linked to support and extend their individual interests and development. For example, the children enjoy pretend play as they climb on board their imaginary train. Staff listen and interact well with the children, supporting children's vocabulary with singing and nursery rhymes to support their imaginary play.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- allow children time to process their thinking and respond to adults n support staff to develop further awareness of their responses to children, such as engaging with children who may be quieter.
- 9 February 2023Good
- 26 June 2017Good
- 16 June 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Minster Lovell 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.