Shanklin Playgroup
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in Sutton 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 May 2023. Open since 2015, with 15 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 Sutton
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Sutton 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
SM2 6TTWhat 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, 12 May 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are greeted by nurturing, friendly staff. They independently put belongings away before swiftly getting involved in chosen activities. Children use their imagination as they play alongside their peers using transport toys. Adults join their play and support children's developing language by repeating familiar words.
Children show an eagerness to learn, and listen keenly as adults explain the life cycle of caterpillars. They build on embedded knowledge as they talk about cocoons and repeat new words, such as 'chrysalis'. Children benefit from consistent praise and encouragement for even the smallest achievements. This helps them feel secure and develop a sense of belonging.
Staff ensure children have access to daily fresh air. Making use of the outdoor space where children freely move between, alongside visits to the local park.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- implement more consistent strategies for children, so that they develop a better understanding of routine transitions.
- provide more opportunities for children to understand early mathematics and deepen their knowledge of numbers.
- 12 May 2023Good
- 5 July 2017Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Shanklin 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.