St Johns Playgroup
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Cinderford 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 2024. Open since 2004, with 29 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 Gloucestershire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Gloucestershire 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
GL14 2PHWhat 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, 6 December 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are welcomed into the positive, supportive atmosphere by the friendly staff. Together, they start the day with a wake-up song. Children dance, wiggle, stretch and laugh as they sing about how they feel. Staff enhance children's emotional well-being and self-esteem as they speak to them about their achievements from home. Children display pride and confidence as they clap enthusiastically for those who receive stars.
The curriculum builds on what children already know, which helps them to make good progress and prepares them for the next stage in their learning. Leaders support staff to understand the curriculum by involving them in planning and observing their practice. There is a strong focus on developing the skills children need to be happy, confident, independent learners.
Children enjoy playing outside, engaging in social games such as hide and seek.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to develop their questioning skills further to provide children with greater opportunities to share their knowledge and understanding of what they have learned n develop staff's skills and knowledge of how to support children's independent thinking, exploration and problem solving, to further enhance the good quality of the learning experiences.
- 6 December 2024Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 12 March 2024Needs improvement
- 26 April 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for St Johns 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.