Playtots
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Liverpool 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 April 2022. Open since 2016, with 53 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 Knowsley
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Knowsley 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
L14 0JGWhat 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, 29 April 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy, settled and enthusiastic about their learning. They immerse themselves in the well-planned opportunities that staff provide. Children choose what to play with from a wide selection of quality resources. They eagerly welcome adults into their play and confidently demonstrate what they know and can do. For example, staff and the inspector sit in the role-play hairdresser's salon as children brush their hair and talk about the importance of washing it to keep it clean.
Babies develop close, positive relationships with the staff who support them. They seek reassurance and cuddles when needed and enjoy exploring a wide range of sensory activities available. All children are incredibly independent. For example, children as young as two years of age skilfully pour their own drinks from the water dispenser when thirsty. Children play harmoniously together, sharing, taking turns and solving problems together. They understand the high expectations that staff have of them and behave very well.
Staff recognise that some children have needed more support with their emotional well-being, social and communication skills as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review the organisation of some larger group times to ensure that all children are able to gain the most from the learning experience n support staff to consistently give children time to think and respond when asking questions so that they may fully assess what children know and can already do in order to precisely extend their learning further.
- 29 April 2022Good
- 5 October 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Playtots
- 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.