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Greendown Playgroup

Ofsted: Good
(Apr 2023)
·
4.6(10 parent reviews)
·Lydiard Park Academy, Grange Park Way, SWINDON, SN5 6HN · Swindon
Number of places
30 places
Age range
3–4 yrs
Last inspected
Apr 2023
Local authority
Swindon

About this day nursery

Greendown Playgroup, situated in Grange Park, West Swindon, offers high-quality, inclusive early education for preschool children aged 2 to 5 years. The playgroup operates during term time, providing 38 weeks of affordable childcare annually.

They are dedicated to working in partnership with parents and carers to foster children's learning and development. The playgroup focuses on delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, guided by the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage 2021, and covers the five outcomes for children: Being Healthy, Staying Safe, Enjoying and Achieving, Making a Positive Contribution, and Economic Well-being.

The curriculum incorporates three Characteristics of Effective Learning (Playing & Exploring, Active Learning, Creating & Thinking Critically) and seven Areas of Learning & Development (Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language Development, Physical Development, Understanding the World, Mathematics, Literacy, Expressive Arts & Design). They welcome children with various funding options, including 15 and 30-hour government schemes and Tax-Free Childcare, which can be applied to both core and wrap-around hours.

Our ethos

Greendown Playgroup is committed to working in partnership with parents and carers to foster children's learning and development, delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. They focus on the five outcomes for children and the three Characteristics of Effective Learning.

What it's like

Children are happy and confident in the playgroup and form strong relationships with staff. They really benefit from the well-thought-out and targeted curriculum that staff form based on children's learning needs and interests. Children are inspired and challenged effectively.

Term-time onlyInclusive educationEYFS curriculumAges 2-5

Pricing & funding

Charges are based on an hourly rate, which varies depending on the child's age and whether funding is shared with another provider. Fees are structured by age band (under and over threes), with additional daily snack charges applying depending on the session attended.

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare

Good to know

  • Accepts 15 and 30 hours funding as well as Tax-Free Childcare.
  • Funding can be used for both core and wrap-around hours.
  • Hourly charges apply for any hours taken over the funded entitlement.
  • A daily snack charge applies depending on the session attended.

Key facts

Session types

Morning (3 hours), Afternoon (3 hours), Full day (6 hours), Wrap-around care

Opening hours

Monday - Friday 7:45am – 4:45pm

Age range

2-5 years

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Greendown Playgroup

Last inspected 19 April 2023 · Rachel Howell

Safeguarding effective
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 and confident in the playgroup and form strong relationships with staff. They really benefit from the well-thought-out and targeted curriculum that staff form based on children's learning needs and interests. Children are inspired and challenged effectively.

Inspector highlights

  • Children are happy and confident and form strong relationships with staff.
  • Children benefit from a well-thought-out and targeted curriculum.
  • Managers and staff have high expectations for children's capabilities.
  • Children are well prepared for their move on to school.
  • Staff help children to work together to achieve their self-chosen goals, building friendships and social skills.

Areas to develop

  • 1review and enhance the support staff offer to children during group activities, to extend children's skills further
  • 2strengthen the links with other settings children attend, to share information to inform future planning and to provide a consistent approach for children.
Inspection #10279758 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Key persons assess children's development and build on what children know, outlining gaps in their learning. They focus on these and make plans of what skills children need to acquire next. Children make good progress, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Outdoor space

Older children enjoy their physical education (PE) session and experiment moving in different ways. They change into their PE clothes, showing their growing confidence and independence.

Parent Reviews of Greendown Playgroup

4.6
(10)
Keane Huntingford
9 months ago

Both of my daughters attended Greendown playgroup and it’s been amazing for both of them. The staff are fantastic! Kind, caring, encouraging and supportive. The playgroup itself is incredible, lots to do and play with. The outdoors area is just perfect. By offering wraparound hours too, this has helped our home life and enabled me to work. Such great value. Honestly my daughters have thrived here. I highly recommend this playgroup to any parent.

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Lol Huh
9 months ago

I am writing to express my deep anger and disappointment with how your school has handled my child’s timetable and set class placements. The result of your decisions has not just disrupted their learning — it has actively damaged their mental health. Since being placed in these sets and handed this timetable, my child has come home increasingly upset, withdrawn, and defeated. Let me be clear: your decisions have made my child depressed. That is not an exaggeration — it is a fact. The way this has been managed shows a shocking lack of thought, compassion, and professional responsibility. There appears to be no meaningful communication with students or parents, no transparency in the criteria used for these placements, and no regard for how these choices affect a student’s confidence or emotional well-being. You've taken away their motivation and made them feel like a failure — and for what? A system that prioritizes numbers over people. It is beyond disappointing — it is negligent. I demand an urgent review of both the timetable and the class sets my child has been placed in. I expect a clear explanation for how these decisions were made, who is responsible, and what steps are being taken to correct this unacceptable situation. My child deserves better — and so do all the other students being treated like they don't matter. Fix this. Now.

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Aimee Cadle
a year ago

We moved our son to Greendown a few months back and it was the best decision we've made, he is thriving and loves it here! The outdoor areas are lovely and the indoor areas are really well organised with an array of different areas, toys and activities. And the team are Fab! Highly recommend

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Chyna Blue
2 years ago

My son had the most amazing fun and enjoyable time whilst attending this playgroup and he has so many memories, the staff made my son feel so welcome from the start and made me at ease knowing he was in safe hands, he would come home happy and excited to tell me about his day, they are all a wonderful bunch of lady’s, I really couldn’t of put my son in a better place!!! I can’t thank them enough for everything they have done.

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Kris Collict
3 years ago

Our eldest flourished here and I am looking forward to my youngest starting in the spring. Lovely caring staff and brilliant resources at hand.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Greendown Playgroup. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: December 2007

  • April 2023Good
  • September 2017Good
  • June 2015Good
  • June 2011Outstanding
  • December 2007Outstanding

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