St Mary's Playgroup
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Banbury for children from birth to 5, open 08:30 to 15:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in November 2024. Open since 1993, with 26 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
OX16 0AEWhat 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, 8 November 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
All children show excitement as they arrive at the playgroup. They are quick to find their friends and talk about the journey to playgroup. Staff are welcoming and show care as they engage with children in their chosen play.
Staff are positive in their approach and are good role models. For example, they remind children about the rules in the playgroup during circle time. They sing their rules songs, and children join in with enthusiasm. This helps children to learn about how to be kind to each other and promotes their positive behaviour. As a result, children generally behave well.
Staff plan a wide range of activities within an ambitious curriculum. These are aimed at supporting children's learning through play. For example, staff set out the puppet theatre where children use their imagination to create their own games and conversations. Staff join the children and model language and conversation to help them build their communication and language skills.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- enhance daily routines to support the individual needs of children more consistently.
- 8 November 2024Good
- 6 December 2023Needs improvement
- 27 February 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for St Mary's 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.