Playmates Nursery

In October 2024, sensory food exploration, learning about Diwali and trips using local transport gave Playmates Nursery a character rooted in everyday experiences beyond the playroom. At its October 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) received exceptionally effective support.

Based at The Kings Centre in Chessington, it has capacity for 35 children aged 24 to 59 months. The strongest thread in its inspection-era provision was the connection between relationships, language and practical exploration.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: here, the October 2024 examples included learning new words through play and practising social skills. Children's interests helped shape activities, giving staff starting points for extending their understanding.

In October 2024, sensory food activities encouraged children to investigate tastes and textures. Cutting oranges with safety knives created opportunities to introduce descriptive vocabulary. Learning had a tangible purpose.

Experiences also reached beyond the nursery. In October 2024, children learned about Diwali and visited temples, connecting cultural learning with real places. Community outings included travelling to a pet shop on local transport, helping children practise the confidence and skills needed to explore further afield. A communication and literacy programme had also recently begun, intended to extend learning opportunities.

In October 2024, home visits and introductory sessions alongside parents helped children get to know their key person before settling into nursery life. Relationships began before regular attendance, rather than depending entirely on the first nursery session.

Visual cards helped children recognise feelings, while staff supported sharing and turn-taking. In October 2024, activities and the environment were adapted for children with SEND, with families, specialists and external partners involved in support. These were practical mechanisms for helping children participate in the same learning as their peers.

The address is The Kings Centre, Coppard Gardens, Chessington, KT9 2GZ. Opening hours are 9am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; the nursery closes for school holidays.

In October 2024, the nursery offered government-funded early education. Families weighing funded attendance alongside their working arrangements should consider the term-time calendar as well as the daily opening window.

• Consistency of teaching. At the October 2024 inspection, Ofsted identified uneven mentoring of less experienced staff, which sometimes left opportunities to extend children's learning unused, and required stronger staff development support. This qualifies the otherwise positive judgement.
• Term-time calendar. School-holiday closures make the annual attendance pattern an important consideration for working families.
• Settling and funding. On a visit, how would introductory sessions be arranged for your child, and which funded entitlement and associated charges would apply to your intended attendance?

Playmates suits families seeking term-time care for preschool-aged children, with an inspection-era emphasis on relationships, practical language learning and community experiences. Its October 2024 strengths in inclusion carry weight, alongside the clear need for more consistent staff mentoring. The daily hours and holiday closures are central to whether it fits family life.