Cranbrook Independent Nursery and Preschool
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Horley for babies from 3 months up to school age, open 8am to 6pm. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in August 2023. Open since 2006, with 72 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
Government-funded childcare for children from 9 months old, as well as for 2-year-olds and 3 - 4-year-olds.
Worth knowing. These entitlements are provided in line with the criteria set out by the local authority. Eligibility may vary, so please speak with the Nursery Manager at your preferred setting for guidance on the funding options available to you.
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
RH6 9SWWhat 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.
- 31 May 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 28 March 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 3 August 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The nursery provides a caring and homely environment for children. The provider has made significant improvements since the last inspection and appointed a new leadership team. This has made a vast difference to the quality of care and learning experiences children have. Although the new nursery manager and two new team leaders have only been in post for a short time, they have already made many positive changes. Babies and children have quickly formed very strong relationships with the new staff. The quality of care given to all children is consistently good. Staff are kind, caring and attentive. Any child who needs comfort is quickly reassured and settled. Children approach staff happily and engage them in their play.
New leaders have trained staff effectively in delivering the nursery's curriculum.
Staff now have a much clearer understanding of why they are planning activities.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- develop further ways to help parents become more closely involved in their children's learning.
- 3 August 2023Good
- 14 February 2023Inadequate
- 26 April 2017Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Cranbrook Independent Nursery and Preschool
- What it costs
- 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.
- What does it cost, all in? 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.