Blean Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Canterbury for children from birth to 5, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in June 2024. Open since 1996, with 30 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
CT2 9JAWhat 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, 25 June 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive at the pre-school with great enthusiasm, eager and confident to explore the exciting activities prepared by the highly skilled and competent staff, both indoors and outdoors. They enjoy a fully embedded routine that enhances their independence. For instance, on arrival, children take off their shoes and put on indoor slippers, either independently or with support from staff. The routine is so well established that children know either to change into their shoes or seek support from an adult when going outdoors.
All children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities
(SEND), benefit from a well-sequenced curriculum. Staff consider the children's needs and interests when planning activities. This enables children to make good progress. For example, children spend time exploring and talking about snails they find in the garden. Staff extend this interest by incorporating activities that feature the different components of snails into various areas in the pre-school. Children have opportunities to create snail-related drawings and engage in mark-making activities throughout the pre-school. They make imaginary spiral shapes in the space and use shaving foam, water and brushes to make marks. These activities enhance children's engagement and support their early writing skills.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen staff's skills and understanding of when and how to further extend children's communication skills n review and adapt the organisation of group sessions to meet children's individual needs and encourage full engagement from all children.
- 25 June 2024Good
- 28 September 2018Good
- 22 June 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Blean 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.