Amber Pre-School
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Horsham for from 2 years up to 5 year olds, open 09:00 to 15:00, 5 days a week. £6.50 an hour for under 3's, and they take the funded hours. Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2024. Open since 1994, with 18 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Term time only, 38 weeks a year.
| Age | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| Under 3'sbirth to 3y | £6.50Under 3's | |
| Over 3's3y to 5y | £6.00from the term after your child turns 3 |
Where this came from
The outlined line is the one the price was taken from.
Funded hours
15 hour funding- this is available to all; 30 hour funding- to see if you are eligible; You may be eligible for 2 year old funding.
Worth knowing. Additional fee for Amber Ant Club outdoor learning sessions.
What childcare usually costs in West Sussex
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in West Sussex from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
RH12 4LNWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 14 March 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children separate from their parents without hesitation. They are greeted warmly by staff and enthusiastically engage in activities alongside their peers. The curriculum is ambitious for all children. It currently has a strong focus on developing children's social, emotional and independence skills. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and those learning English as an additional language, are making good progress. Staff use strategies, such as visual aids, to support children's emerging language and communication. This builds on children's confidence and helps them to swiftly settle into the setting. Children enthusiastically find their pegs and hang up their belongings. They have a good understanding of the routines of the day, which helps to develop their confidence and independence in readiness for school.
Children are keen to explore the wide range of learning experiences on offer. For example, they roll and manipulate play dough and learn to identify shapes. Staff act as positive role models. They are quick to support children in making the right choices. For example, when children have a slight disagreement over tools in the construction area, staff sensitively talk to them about the benefits of working as a team. Children listen to staff and express delight when they succeed in constructing a tower together. Staff praise children for their achievements, which fosters their self-esteem.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to provide more consistent encouragement for children to express their thoughts and ideas, and enhance their thinking and problem-solving skills.
- 14 March 2024Good
- 21 May 2018Good
- 22 October 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Amber Pre-School
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- Is £6.50 an hour still the rate? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.