Age range
24 months to school age
Fountains Playgroup and Pre-School
Ofsted: Good
(Mar 2023)
Number of places
20 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2023
Local authority
North Yorkshire
About this day nursery
Fountains Playgroup and Pre-School is a non-profit registered charity operating in a dedicated facility within the village of Grantley, near Ripon. The playgroup is registered with Ofsted and nurtures children from 24 months up to school age in a serene rural environment.
The ethos is centred on fostering a supportive atmosphere where each child's individual growth is encouraged, allowing them to reach their full potential. The experienced and dedicated team collaborates with parents and carers to tailor each child's educational journey, promoting curiosity, enthusiasm, self-assurance, and positive social interactions.
They pride themselves on a strong, stable team with low turnover, understanding the anxieties parents might face during separation and therefore nurturing children with empathy and care. The fees collected directly benefit the school, ensuring resources are reinvested into providing a high-quality early education experience.
Our ethos
The nursery's ethos is centred on fostering a supportive atmosphere where each child's individual growth is encouraged, allowing them to reach their full potential. They promote curiosity, enthusiasm, self-assurance, and positive social interactions through collaboration with parents and a strong, stable team that nurtures children with empathy and care.
What it's like
Children are happy, confident and independent learners. They smile and laugh throughout the day, receiving an excellent level of care and attention from staff. Children develop excellent independence skills, finding and putting on their outdoor shoes and coat in preparation for outdoor play.
Charity-runRural SettingExperienced StaffLow Staff Turnover
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-oldsTax-Free Childcare
- Hourly fee (unfunded / additional hours)£5.90 / hour
- School lunches£2.80 / day
- Voluntary consumables (per half term)£15 / week
Key facts
Term time / All Year
Term Time
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Fountains Playgroup and Pre-School
Last inspected 29 March 2023 · Jane Mumby
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Children are happy, confident and independent learners. They smile and laugh throughout the day, receiving an excellent level of care and attention from staff. Children develop excellent independence skills, finding and putting on their outdoor shoes and coat in preparation for outdoor play.
Inspector highlights
- Children make excellent progress in their learning.
- Staff are skilled in identifying children's current stages of development and plan fun, relevant, and interesting activities.
- Children share stories and sing action songs as a key part of their day, developing listening and attention skills.
- Staff provide resources in the indoor and outdoor environments to follow children's interests, provide challenge and fun.
- Children have good social skills and play collaboratively, with any minor disagreements resolved sensitively by skilled staff.
Areas to develop
- 1provide activities that provide more choice for children so that they can express themselves creatively
- 2support children to learn more about diversity and provide them with a more accurate view of modern Britain.
Inspection #10279757 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
"Parents say how pleased they are that their child can experience their early education sessions within the pre-school."
"They comment on how well the staff team know their child and how they go above and beyond to help them develop and learn."
"They feel that their children are safe and happy within the pre-school and are delighted that their children have had a positive early years experience."
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Children with additional needs are supported well. Staff use their knowledge of child development to help children and families put strategies in place to help them to make good progress.
Outdoor space
In preparation for outdoor play, children find their outdoor shoes and coat, trying to put them on themselves. Outside, children use large wooden blocks to make bridges and see the flow of water on wall-mounted drainpipes.
Inspection history
Date: September 2010
- March 2023Good
- September 2017Good
- June 2014Good
- September 2010Good
Frequently asked about Fountains Playgroup and Pre-School
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