Anthony Roper Pre-School CIO
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A day nursery in Dartford for children from birth to 5, open 08:00 to 17:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in June 2025. Open since 2017, with 52 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Kent
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Kent 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
DA4 0AAWhat 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, 9 June 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are warmly welcomed into this very relaxed and calm pre-school. They put their lunch boxes in the trolley and hang up their belongings. Children independently choose the resources they want to play with, and staff are available to support children's learning. Those who enjoy being outside are able to access the secure garden as soon as they arrive and they can freely move between the indoors and outdoors all day. Promoting children's happiness and emotional wellbeing is a real strength at the pre-school.
Staff manage children's behaviour well and sensitively support them to understand what is acceptable. Children remind each other of key rules, such as 'walking feet inside'. They have a good understanding of what is expected of them. The preschool room is full of happy chatter between staff and children. Staff talk about what they can see and introduce new words. This helps to build children's language effectively. Children benefit from secure routines that support positive behaviour and clear expectations. Staff help children to embed routines through strong relationships and effective use of aids, such as visual timetables.
Leaders make sure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen the curriculum for understanding the world to help children learn about more diverse representations of life in modern Britain, beyond that of their immediate community.
- 9 June 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 21 November 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Anthony Roper Pre-School CIO
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- 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
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.