Barham Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Barham for children from birth to 8+, open 09:00 to 15:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2025. Open since 1977, with 20 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
CT4 6NXWhat 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 May 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff greet children with enthusiasm as they arrive, taking a genuine interest in the children and their families. Children enjoy voting for the story they would like to hear later in the day by placing a stone next to their chosen book. This supports them to come in happily and they settle quickly to the many exciting resources on offer. Staff create a safe and nurturing environment where children are happy to explore and have fun.
Staff listen to children and take into account their views about what they would like to learn. Staff then plan creative activities to support children to explore and investigate their chosen topics. For example, children recently asked to learn about flowers and growing. Children excitedly look to see how much their bean plants have grown and carefully water the flowers outside, learning about what they need to thrive. This supports children's feelings of self-worth and their focus and interest in the topics being taught.
Children have access to a good-quality curriculum through the wide variety of exciting activities and experiences provided. Staff foster children's inquisitive nature and regularly provide books and use tablets together to further their understanding and knowledge. They have warm relationships with the children and support them to build good peer friendships. For example, children enjoy turn-taking games and working together as a team to build a den outdoors. Children learn to become independent, as staff model new skills for them and shower them with praise. Staff provide a well-rounded curriculum where children learn to be curious, confident, respectful and kind to others.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- provide further support for staff to build their confidence and knowledge to help all children receive any targeted support they need to close gaps in their learning n strengthen the organisation of group times so that all children, particularly the younger ones, remain focussed and engaged in their learning.
- 14 May 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 30 October 2019Good
- 6 July 2015Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Barham Pre-School
- 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.