The Forest of Dean Children's Opportunity Centre
Good★ 4.6 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Coleford for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 17:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2023. Open since 1994, with 55 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
GL16 8DUWhat 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, 3 February 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff value each child as a unique individual at this setting. There are a high proportion of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Targeted support is swiftly put in place to ensure children make the best possible progress. Staff know children extremely well and draw upon this knowledge to ensure teaching builds on what children already know. Staff celebrate every small achievement. They use good teaching strategies to support learning and development.
Children enjoy well-planned outside sessions in the nature area. For example, an excellent storytelling session enthrals children, and they listen avidly. The lead practitioner draws children into the story by capturing their imagination and attention. By altering her tone, pace and dynamic she takes the children on a journey. Children take part in the story. For example, they close their eyes and peep out to wait for mother owl to swoop in. Every opportunity to engage children, motivate their learning and foster a deep love of stories and books takes place.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- explore ways to maintain and build on good practice by focusing professional development on opportunities to further enhance teaching skills n support staff who work with younger children to manage behaviour in a consistent way so that expectations are clear and managed effectively.
- 3 February 2023Good
- 4 May 2017Good
- 9 June 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Forest of Dean Children's Opportunity Centre
- 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.