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Painswick Playgroup

Ofsted: Good
(Jun 2025)
·
5.0(1 parent reviews) ·c/o Croft Primary School, Churchill Way, Stroud, GL6 6RQ · Gloucestershire
Number of places
24 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jun 2025
Local authority
Gloucestershire

About this day nursery

Painswick Playgroup, nestled in the heart of Gloucestershire within the village of Painswick, provides a secure, caring, and stimulating setting for young children. Situated on the grounds of The Croft School, the playgroup benefits from a dedicated building with facilities thoughtfully designed for early years, including a spacious main room for varied activities, a play kitchen, and a reading nook.

The outdoor area boasts a large, enclosed garden with a covered play space, climbing frame, mud kitchen, and gardening opportunities, ensuring outdoor play in all weather. The playgroup values resilience, independence, and curiosity, aiming to foster holistic development in toddlers and preschoolers.

They maintain close ties with The Croft Primary School, utilising its extensive rural grounds, including playgrounds, a trim trail, fields, and a forest school area for enriching outdoor experiences. The curriculum is set up to foster learning in all areas of the Foundation Stage, with an emphasis on child-initiated learning.

They welcome children from two years of age and operate during school term times.

Our ethos

We pride ourselves on ensuring our playgroup is a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment for young children where resilience, independence and curiosity is at the heart of all we do. Our priority is the all round development of toddlers and preschoolers within a caring, nurturing environment. We are passionate about providing a learning environment that is exciting, but also allows space for the children to initiate their own learning.

What it's like

Children show confidence and an eagerness to learn at this dynamic setting. Staff provide a broad and interesting curriculum that aims to meet all children's needs and learning styles, enabling children to have choice in their learning. Children show they feel safe and secure, displaying curiosity and a positive attitude to learning.

Forest SchoolCommunity-basedChild-led playOutdoor learning

Pricing & funding

Fees are calculated on an hourly basis per session and are structured by age. Invoices are billed termly in advance, though weekly payments can be pre-arranged, and eligible government funding is deducted from the bill.

Funding accepted

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

Good to know

  • Fees are billed termly in advance, but weekly payments can be arranged.
  • Additional ad hoc sessions are charged at the full hourly rate.
  • Late collection incurs a discretionary fee of £20 for the first 10 minutes, and £5 per 5 minutes thereafter.
  • A voluntary contribution of £25 per term is requested towards the purchase of snacks.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday – Friday, school term time only: Breakfast Club 07:45 – 08:45 Morning session 08:45 – 12:00 Lunch Club 12:00 – 12:30 Afternoon Session 12:30 – 15:30 (Friday afternoon sessions finish at 15:00) Late play 15:30 – 17:00

Session types

Breakfast Club, Morning session, Lunch Club, Afternoon Session, Late play

Age range

2 years old to 4 years old

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Painswick Playgroup

Last inspected 26 June 2025

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 show confidence and an eagerness to learn at this dynamic setting. Staff provide a broad and interesting curriculum that aims to meet all children's needs and learning styles, enabling children to have choice in their learning. Children show they feel safe and secure, displaying curiosity and a positive attitude to learning.

Inspector highlights

  • Staff reflect on the learning environment and adapt it according to the children's needs.
  • The new leadership has high ambitions for the playgroup and has introduced new learning experiences for children, such as outdoor learning sessions.
  • Staff support children's mathematical development through play.
  • Partnerships with parents are effective.
  • The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Areas to develop

  • 1support staff to make their expectations clearer to children, particularly older boys, to help them consistently engage in learning, benefit fully from the experiences offered and respond positively to staff
  • 2enhance staff's teaching and interactions further during children's self-initiated play to build on their ideas and seize opportunities to extend and maximise children's learning.
Inspection #10398691 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Babies don't have teeth, so they can't chew.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff provide extra support for children if they notice learning difficulties. They refer to other professionals as necessary and act on their advice. This inclusive practice helps all children to make the best possible progress.

Outdoor space

Staff understand that older children benefit from engaging in energetic activities in the playground. The new leadership has introduced outdoor learning sessions, enabling children to learn in nature with increased challenge and exploration.

Parent Reviews of Painswick Playgroup

5.0
(1)

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

Inspection history

Date: January 2005

  • July 2025Good
  • June 2025Good
  • November 2019Good
  • November 2019Good
  • July 2015Outstanding
  • July 2015Outstanding
  • August 2010Outstanding
  • July 2010Outstanding
  • August 2007Requires improvement
  • January 2005Good

Frequently asked about Painswick Playgroup

About the setting

Painswick Playgroup registered in 1991 and is run by a voluntary management committee. It operates from a self-contained building within the grounds of The Croft Primary School, in Painswick, near Stroud, Gloucestershire. It offers care in term time, from 9am to 3.30pm from Monday to Thursday and from 9am to 3pm on Friday. The playgroup provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The committee employs five staff members who work directly with the children. Of these, two hold qualified teacher status, two hold early years qualifications at level 3 and one is unqualified.

URN
101673
Registered person
Painswick Playgroup Committee
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises
Previous rating
Good

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