Opening hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 07:00 - 18:00
Play Days Cottage
Ofsted: Strong standard·
5.0(2 Google reviews)
·Osbourne Cottage, Tuxford Road, Newark, NG22 9TA · Nottinghamshire
Number of places
—
Age range
1–5 yrs
Last inspected
Jun 2026
Local authority
Nottinghamshire
About this day nursery
Play Days Cottage is a warm, family-run nursery in Newark, welcoming children aged 1 to 7 years. Children arrive confidently, quickly forming secure relationships with their key person and all staff who know them very well.
The setting provides a wide range of exciting, well-planned activities both inside and in a safe, stimulating garden, fostering positive social skills and preparing children for their next stage of learning, including school. The curriculum is carefully designed to support development across all areas, with a highly effective focus on communication and mathematical knowledge, ensuring high-quality teaching that matches children's differing needs.
All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make secure progress. Leaders and staff recognise SEND needs early, making adjustments like visual symbols and Makaton training to support communication.
They work closely with external professionals to rigorously monitor progress, leading to significant improvements in speech and language development for some children. Children enjoy daily access to high-quality outdoor learning and benefit from well-structured routines that promote healthy habits and independence.
Play Days Cottage was rated a 'Strong standard' at its latest Ofsted inspection on 10 June 2026, indicating leaders are working above the expected standard.
What it's like
Children arrive confidently and happily at this warm, family-run nursery. They quickly form secure relationships with their key person and all staff, who know them very well. There is a wide range of exciting, well-planned activities both inside and outside in a safe, stimulating garden, fostering positive social skills and preparing children for the next stage of their learning.
Strong standardConfidence and independenceExcellent behaviourHigh-quality outdoor learningEffective communication developmentStrong SEND supportEffective partnerships with parents
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
Key facts
Ofsted Inspection — new report card
Strong standard
Last inspected Jun 2026
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
1 to 7
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted report for Play Days Cottage
Last inspected 10 June 2026 · Helena Reid
What it's like to attend
Children arrive confidently and happily at this warm, family-run nursery. They quickly form secure relationships with their key person and all staff, who know them very well. There is a wide range of exciting, well-planned activities both inside and outside in a safe, stimulating garden, fostering positive social skills and preparing children for the next stage of their learning.
Inspector highlights
- Children display increasing confidence and independence, developing knowledge and skills for their next stage of learning, including school.
- Children behave extremely well in an organised, calm, and purposeful setting, treating each other with kindness and respect.
- Children have daily access to high-quality outdoor learning and benefit from well-structured routines that promote healthy habits and independence.
- The curriculum is carefully designed, offering high-quality teaching and a strong focus on developing communication and mathematical knowledge.
- Leaders prioritise professional development, fostering a culture of ongoing improvement, and build highly effective partnerships with parents and carers.
Areas to develop
- 1Leaders should ensure continued improvement in the setting's successful work to remove barriers for children who need extra help, to realise a transformational impact on all children's achievement and wellbeing.
Inspection #2766770 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
All children make secure progress from their starting points, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They receive the necessary support to reach developmental goals, with some children making rapid language gains over a short period of time. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are identified early, and leaders and staff recognise their needs and consider individual family circumstances well. Leaders make adjustments, such as using visual symbols, to reduce barriers and support communication development, and have ensured staff receive targeted training, including Makaton. Staff work closely with the area coordinator for SEND and speech and language professionals, rigorously monitoring progress and assessing achievements, which has led to significant improvements in speech and language development. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities benefit from personalised strategies and well-targeted support; barriers are quickly identified, and appropriate steps are put in place swiftly to help children succeed. Leaders make informed decisions that are firmly in the best interests of children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Outdoor space
Children have daily access to high-quality outdoor learning. Leaders have created a welcoming, safe space that encourages children to learn and play together. Children enjoy active, outdoor play, developing their physical skills and coordination. There are many opportunities throughout the day for children to listen to stories, both inside and in the outdoor provision. Children play and learn outside in a safe, secure and stimulating garden.
Google Reviews of Play Days Cottage
5.0
(2 Google reviews)
Scott Summers
5 years ago
Went to see Play Days Cottage to get a rough idea of where we would like to send our daughter. I must admit I was very impressed with how one to one the care is and how it's all layed out. The rooms themselves are full of activities and thing for your child to work with and use their imaginations. The staff are very friendly and had our daughters interests at heart the while way through them showing us around they were polite and informative about each room. I recommend anyone to Play Days Cottage and will be happily send our daughter there in January.
Read on Google
Rebecca Bushell
4 years ago
Everyone at play days has been friendly, welcoming, supportive, kind and caring. Even in the short time of our son attending play days we feel he has developed so much. As parents we have felt comfortable and confident with leaving our son in their hands which has been such a relief. We love everything about play days from their ethos to the family feel and environment. We honestly cannot fault play days and we definitely feel lucky to have come across them.
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Play Days Cottage. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Most recent inspection
10 June 2026
Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.
View full Ofsted reportFrequently asked about Play Days Cottage
About the setting
Play Days Cottage LTD is a childcare setting on non-domestic premises, registered with Ofsted on 18/12/2023. It operates on the Early Years Register (EYR), Compulsory Childcare Register (CCR), and Voluntary Childcare Register (VCR). The registered person is Play Days Cottage LTD.
- URN
- 2766770
- Registered person
- Play Days Cottage LTD
- Day care type
- Childcare on non-domestic premises
- Register
- EYR, CCR, VCR
- Establishment type
- Childcare on non-domestic premises
Nearby day nurseries in Newark
Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Play Days Cottage.
-
0.4 miOfsted: Good
Ashbourne Day Nurseries at New Ollerton
New Ollerton · NG22 9GS
-
2.0 miOfsted rating unavailable
New Beginnings Nursery
Newark · NG22 9PB
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2.9 miOfsted: Good
Cherubs Edwinstowe
Mansfield · NG21 9NL
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3.2 miOfsted: Good
Country Kids Day Nursery
Newark · NG22 0AD
4.8(23 Google reviews) -
3.5 miOfsted: Not met
Center Parcs Sherwood Forest
Newark · NG22 9DN
-
4.8 miOfsted: Good
Yellow Brick Road Daycare Tuxford
Newark · NG22 0HR
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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more