Skips
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Kidlington 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 December 2023. Open since 2004, 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 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
OX5 1EAWhat 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.
- 26 September 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 6 December 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are greeted by warm, friendly staff as they arrive at this setting. They separate easily from parents and carers and confidently explore the environment.
Children happily play alongside and with their friends as they choose from the activities that staff have planned. They play cooperatively with each other and share and take turns with toys and resources. For example, older children play a card game, waiting patiently for their friends to take a turn before taking their own.
Staff have high expectations for children's learning and behaviour. They are positive role models and know the children well. Children show that they feel safe and secure. Staff give children lots of encouragement and praise. Children show a sense of pride in their achievements. For example, children playing with sand show delight and pride as they remove the bucket and see the sandcastle they have built and proudly show staff.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- develop opportunities to support children's understanding of online safety n consider the support and interactions children receive in order to further develop their social skills.
- 6 December 2023Good
- 17 July 2023Inadequate
- 16 January 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Skips
- 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.