Shelswell and Fringford Playgroup
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Fringford for children from birth to 8+, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 January 2024. Open since 2003, 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
OX27 8DYWhat 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, 31 January 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children enjoy their time at playgroup. Staff place a strong focus on building children's personal, social and emotional well-being. Children benefit from the trusting and respectful relationships they develop with staff and their friends.
Younger children, and those who are new, settle happily as staff offer a warm welcome to them. This helps children to feel safe, confident and well cared for.
Staff identify children's specific needs early on and provide targeted support. They seek help from outside professionals readily, where necessary, and this contributes well to supporting children's further development. In addition, good arrangements are in place to support children who speak English as an additional language.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen the organisation of large group story times to help all children remain engaged in purposeful learning n review and improve the deployment of staff during adult-led activities.
- 31 January 2024Good
- 30 April 2018Outstanding
- 9 December 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Shelswell and Fringford 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.