Playdays Pre-school
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Chard for children from birth to 5, open 09:00 to 15:00, 3 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2024. 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 Somerset
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Somerset 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
TA20 1QAWhat 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, 24 May 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children love coming to this safe and welcoming pre-school. They smile as they greet the friendly and caring staff. They separate from their parents with confidence and are eager to engage with the activities offered.
Leaders provide an ambitious curriculum with planned activities covering all areas of the early years foundation stage requirements. Staff prioritise children's language, communication and emotional development. They speak clearly to children and give them time to listen, think and practise speaking. Staff encourage children to fully engage with the learning opportunities. For example, in the garden, children happily use the climbing frame and expertly ride trikes, negotiating the spaces well. They challenge themselves to walk across large tyres and balance beams. Inside, they work together in the play kitchen and roll out play dough. They persevere to create a line of 'peas'. These activities help children strengthen and coordinate their muscles and movements.
Staff are excellent role models. They constantly show the children respect and have consistent routines and boundaries. This helps children know what behaviour is expected. This is particularly important to effectively support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- develop ways to consistently support children who are learning hygiene routines.
- 24 May 2024Good
- 25 June 2018Good
- 19 January 2018Inadequate
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Playdays 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.