Ofsted: Expected standard or betterYou're hereBarbican Playgroup
EC2Y 8AX · Nursery
Barbican Playgroup
- Ofsted: Expected standard or better · Dec 2025
- London EC2Y
In short: a nursery in London, open since 1975, with room for 20 children. Ofsted last visited in December 2025. Nurseries publish far less than schools, so this page sticks to the facts we hold and what to ask on a visit.
Good to know
- Inclusion: Strong standard at Ofsted's inspection in December 2025.
- Children's welfare and wellbeing: Strong standard at Ofsted's inspection in December 2025.
- Registered with Ofsted, which last inspected it in December 2025.
Worth checking
- Little data. Nurseries publish far less than schools, so a visit matters more.
- Last Ofsted visitDec 2025less than a year ago
- Places20children at a time
- Opened197551 years ago
Ofsted
What Ofsted found in Dec 2025
Ofsted no longer gives one overall grade. It rates each area on a five-point scale, from urgent improvement to exceptional, and checks whether safeguarding is met. The scale is new, so it can't be read straight across from old grades such as Good or Outstanding.
Every Ofsted visit
Choose a year to see the visit.
Good or better at all 3 graded inspections since 2011.
What Ofsted found in November 2011
Read the 2011 report on OfstedWhat Ofsted found in September 2015
Read the 2015 report on OfstedWhat Ofsted found in January 2020
- SafeguardingEffective
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- LeadershipOutstanding
What Ofsted found in December 2025
- SafeguardingMet
- InclusionStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Behaviour, attitudes and routinesExpected standard
- Children's welfare and wellbeingStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
The report card scale, in plain English
- Exceptional
- The very best practice, given rarely.
- Strong standard
- Better than Ofsted expects.
- Expected standard
- What Ofsted expects of every setting.
- Needs attention
- Some things must get better.
- Urgent improvement
- Serious problems to fix straight away.
Funded childcare
How many free hours could your child get?
These are the national rules. Ask Barbican Playgroup which funded hours it offers, and what costs extra, like meals and trips.
15 hours for every 3 and 4 year old
Every child in England gets 15 funded hours a week in term time from the term after they turn 3.
Up to 30 hours for working parents
If you work, you may get 30 funded hours a week for children from 9 months old. Apply through Childcare Choices.
15 hours for some 2 year olds
Families on some benefits can get 15 hours a week from the term after their child turns 2.
Tax-Free Childcare
For every £8 you pay in, the government adds £2, up to £2,000 a year per child.
Check what you can get at Childcare Choices.
Day to day
Life at Barbican Playgroup
Open day
What to ask when you visit
Based on what the data says about Barbican Playgroup. Take this list with you.
- 1“What are your opening hours, and do you close in the holidays?”We don't hold opening hours for nurseries.
- 2“How many funded hours can you offer, and what costs extra?”Funded hours are free, but meals and extras can cost money.
- 3“Who will look after my child, and how long have they worked here?”Staff who stay make a big difference to young children.
- 4“How do you support children who need extra help?”Every nursery has to support children with special educational needs.
Nearby
See all City of London nurseriesOther nurseries nearby
Popular nurseries fill up, so it's wise to list more than one. Here's how Barbican Playgroup compares with its neighbours.
Ofsted: Expected standard or betterYou're here
Ofsted: Outstanding
Ofsted: Good
Ofsted: GoodKeep an eye on Barbican Playgroup
We'll email you when there's a new Ofsted report, new results or new admissions figures. Nothing else.
The basics
School details
- Type
- Nursery
- Opened
- July 1975
- Council
- City of London
- Address
- Level 01 and 02, Andrewes House, Barbican, London, EC2Y 8AX
- Ofsted reference (URN)
- 122756 · See it on the government register
Questions
Questions parents ask
Is Barbican Playgroup a good nursery?
Ofsted's December 2025 report card gives no overall grade. Strong standard: Inclusion, Children's welfare and wellbeing. Expected standard: Curriculum and teaching, Achievement, Behaviour, attitudes and routines, Leadership and governance. Safeguarding met the required standard. Visit, and read the latest inspection report.
What is Barbican Playgroup's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted's December 2025 report card gives no overall grade. Strong standard: Inclusion, Children's welfare and wellbeing. Expected standard: Curriculum and teaching, Achievement, Behaviour, attitudes and routines, Leadership and governance. Safeguarding met the required standard. Report cards grade each area from Urgent improvement, Needs attention and Expected standard up to Strong standard and Exceptional. The full report on Ofsted's website explains what it does well and what it needs to improve.
How many free hours can my child get?
Every 3 and 4 year old in England can get 15 funded hours a week in term time. Working parents can get up to 30 hours a week from 9 months old. Check what this nursery offers.
Sources: Department for Education school performance tables, school census and workforce, academy accounts, admissions statistics, Ofsted and ISI. Photos are stand-ins. School details and inspections checked against official records on 5 November 2026.