Olney Nursery School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Olney 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 March 2024. Open since 1996, with 30 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 Milton Keynes
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Milton Keynes 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
MK46 4AAWhat 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 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive at the nursery with high energy and enthusiasm. Staff greet them warmly and support their learning effectively from the start. The curriculum is well thought out and the daily routine ensures that every moment of children's time at the nursery is productive. There is a strong focus on developing children's literacy and communication and language skills. Children learn traditional nursery rhymes, and staff expand on their speech and language well. Children are confident talkers and ask thought-provoking questions, such as 'What would happen if we didn't have bones?' Staff spend time explaining to children and building on their understanding, especially for children who speak English as an additional language.
Staff find effective ways for children to test out their mathematical knowledge. In the garden, children play in the role-play farm shop. There are price lists for fruit and vegetables so children can practise simple addition as they 'shop'. Activities encourage children to learn about healthy eating. The newly acquired allotment provides an opportunity for children to grow produce, and the regular cookery class develops children's awareness of healthy foods.
Staff are successful in weaving numerous learning opportunities into stimulating activities. Through developing their knowledge and teaching skills, staff are beginning to step back and have confidence in children's ability to lead their own learning. As a result, children are becoming curious and ambitious individuals who demonstrate a thirst for learning. Accompanied by their excellent behaviour, children are developing the essential dispositions and attitudes they need to be competent learners in the future.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- continue to build on the very strong foundations and curriculum development to sustain the good quality of care and education for children n exchange more information about children's learning with the other settings that they attend to help to provide them with greater continuity.
- 14 March 2024Good
- 25 April 2023Needs improvement
- 16 October 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Olney Nursery 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.