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Middleton Cheney Preschool

Ofsted: Strong standard·Main Road, Middleton Cheney, Banbury, OX17 2PD · West Northamptonshire
Number of places
35 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Dec 2025
Local authority
West Northamptonshire

About this day nursery

Middleton Cheney Preschool Limited, registered in 2017, is a childcare on non-domestic premises setting catering to children aged 2 to 4 years old. Located in Banbury, Oxfordshire, and operating from 8:00 to 17:00 on weekdays, the preschool offers an inclusive environment where children are supported to settle quickly and develop strong relationships with staff.

The staff's approach is gentle and reassuring, fostering a sense of belonging, confidence, and wellbeing in the children. They skillfully engage children in activities, adapting their teaching to meet individual needs, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Leaders secure external funding and professional support to ensure every child makes the best possible progress, with carefully planned activities that consider specialist guidance and enhance communication skills. The preschool also focuses on developing children's independence, with opportunities for self-care and decision-making, such as choosing snacks and preparing for outdoor play.

The positive atmosphere and consistent support from staff help children thrive and prepare for school.

Our ethos

The nursery employs a child-centred approach, believing that children are "a flame to be ignited," not merely vessels to be filled. They focus on building a strong foundation for future learning through diverse activities that encourage language, literacy, social skills, and creative expression, aiming to foster competent learners and confident individuals.

What it's like

Children settle quickly and are excited to see staff. Positive relationships between children and staff promote a secure sense of belonging, confidence, and wellbeing. Staff provide gentle reassurance and play alongside children, ensuring all children, including those with SEND, can fully participate in daily activities. Children quickly become familiar with the daily routines. They feel secure, and they know what comes next. The staff work very closely with children's parents and carers to ensure that children receive a consistent approach to their care and learning. The staff's skills in interacting with children and their sensitive approach to teaching contribute to children showing joy in their play and thriving at this welcoming and caring preschool.

Confident communicatorsStrong relationshipsInclusive experiencePositive atmosphereDeveloping independence

Pricing & funding

Charges are based on morning and afternoon sessions. Parents can add early drop-off and late pick-up sessions for an additional fee. A lunch club option is available for children staying all day, and a deposit is required to secure a place.

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare

Good to know

  • A £100 deposit is required to confirm your child's session, which is non-refundable if you cancel.
  • Lunch club is only available for children staying all day.
  • Late pick-up can be booked as a regular session or on an ad-hoc basis.

Key facts

Session types

Morning session, Afternoon session, Early drop off, Late pick-up, Lunch club

Opening hours

8:00 to 17:00

Age range

2 years old and above

Established

2017

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Strong standard

Last inspected Dec 2025

Headline: Strong standard

Grade summary

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Each dot represents one of the six inspection categories. Headline is the average of the six grades, rounded up.

Category grades

AchievementStrong standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesStrong standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
InclusionStrong standard
Leadership and governanceStrong standard
Age range
2 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Middleton Cheney Preschool

Last inspected 4 December 2025

What it's like to attend

Children settle quickly and are excited to see staff. Positive relationships between children and staff promote a secure sense of belonging, confidence, and wellbeing. Staff provide gentle reassurance and play alongside children, ensuring all children, including those with SEND, can fully participate in daily activities. Children quickly become familiar with the daily routines. They feel secure, and they know what comes next. The staff work very closely with children's parents and carers to ensure that children receive a consistent approach to their care and learning. The staff's skills in interacting with children and their sensitive approach to teaching contribute to children showing joy in their play and thriving at this welcoming and caring preschool.

Inspector highlights

  • All children successfully settle in and develop skills to prepare them for school.
  • The atmosphere at this preschool is overwhelmingly positive, with children developing secure relationships with staff.
  • Staff get to know each child and their family, working effectively with other professionals to meet children's needs.
  • Leaders and staff promote an inclusive experience for all children, adapting teaching to maintain accurate support.
  • Leaders have improved arrangements for governance and work closely with staff, respecting their knowledge of each child's needs.
  • The safeguarding standards are met. This means that leaders and/or those responsible for governance and oversight fulfil their specific responsibilities and have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. As a result, children are made safer and feel safe.

Areas to develop

  • 1Leaders and those responsible for governance should sustain their work to ensure continued improvement and high standards. They should focus on creating a transformational impact on the outcomes and experiences of disadvantaged children and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Inspection #10399069 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Leaders secure funding from the company as well as additional funding to bring in specific support, such as external special educational need professionals who observe children and guide staff to how best help each child to make the best progress they can. Staff plan activities for each child that take account of the specialist guidance, such as specific physical play to help develop children's balance and core strength. Staff help children gain confidence and develop their communication skills. This helps children to understand the daily routines and prevents them from becoming overwhelmed. The priority the leaders and staff give to inclusion is evident in the high expectations they have for each child and the strong support they provide.

Outdoor space

Children develop independence skills and learn to make their own decisions. For example, they begin to become independent in the bathroom and when getting their coats on for outside play. Children thoroughly enjoy physical activity, such as climbing. They are excited to show how they can climb up the side of a wooden frame and lift their leg over the top. Staff help children to think about their safety. For example, when children experience the sensation of leaning back at the top of the wooden frame, staff remind them to hold on tightly and think about if their feet feel secure on the lower rung.

Inspection history

Date: December 2019

The most recent inspection point has been hidden because the parsed entry didn't match the headline Ofsted rating (Inadequate). We're re-checking it against the original report.

  • August 2025Inadequate
  • December 2019Good

Frequently asked about Middleton Cheney Preschool

About the setting

Middleton Cheney Preschool Limited is a childcare provider on non-domestic premises, registered on 07/04/2017. It is located on Main Road, Middleton Cheney, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX17 2PD and operates Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 17:00. The registered person is Middleton Cheney Pre-School Limited.

URN
EY546559
Registered person
Middleton Cheney Pre-School Limited
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises

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