Sunnyside Pre-School Playgroup
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Northampton for children from birth to 8+, open 08:45 to 15:25, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2023. Open since 1992, 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 West Northamptonshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in West Northamptonshire 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
NN2 8QSWhat 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, 13 January 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Parents and children receive a warm welcome from friendly staff as they arrive at the pre-school. Children eagerly find their pictures to place on a peg, where they hang their coats, ready to start the day. Children settle quickly, enthusiastically exploring the activities on offer. They use their imagination as they act out their experiences in the role-play area, using a toy vacuum cleaner as they pretend to clean the carpet. Staff introduce new words such as 'whisk' and 'frothy' as children make pretend cakes using flour and toy eggs. Children enjoy being outside. They develop their physical skills as they practise climbing a wooden climbing frame.
Staff say, 'Ready, steady, go!' as children zoom down the slide, smiling as they do so.
Children have positive relationships with staff and enjoy cuddles for reassurance when needed. They happily play alongside staff, engaging them in conversations.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: - strengthen support for children who speak English as an additional language to hear and use their home language while at pre-school to further their communication and language development n consistently support children to develop independence and self-help skills, allowing them time to do things themselves.
- 13 January 2023Good
- 21 April 2017Good
- 15 May 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Sunnyside Pre-School 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.