Bright Sparks Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Swanley 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 December 2022. Open since 1999, with 40 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
BR8 7AYWhat 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, 5 December 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are safe and happy at this setting. Staff greet them at the gate with a smile. Staff are warm and kind in their interactions with children, and children play very well together. For example, they set up a car track outside together, sharing the cars and bicycles, and taking turns. Children are excited to explore the wide range of activities and opportunities that are set up for them in the attractive environment. For example, they enjoy building with the 'loose parts' materials and making different structures. Staff know the children very well and have high expectations for them. They set up experiences based on their knowledge of children's needs and interests, and appropriately prioritise communication and language.
Children are engaged and focused. They benefit from listening to a wide range of stories and rhymes. Children delight in joining in with 'Tiny Tim the Turtle' using scarves and shakers. Staff support children well to learn new skills. For example, they help them to use scissors to make art and craft work. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are very well supported, and they make good progress. Staff show genuine care for children who delight in sharing their achievements with them. For example, children proudly present staff with pictures they have made, and these are immediately displayed.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to make better use of opportunities that arise to promote children's independence.
- 5 December 2022Good
- 9 December 2021Needs improvement
- 10 October 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Bright Sparks 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.