Cygnets Pre-School/Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in The Grove, Swanscombe for children from birth to 8+, open 08:45 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 2023. Open since 2007, with 26 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
DA10 0GAWhat 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, 22 June 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children feel comfortable and secure in the care of the kind staff. They have developed strong bonds with the staff and display good social skills as they engage in back-and-forth conversations. For example, children become intrigued talking about the similarities and differences in the shoes they are wearing.
Children show a secure understanding of the routine. They know to wash their hands before mealtimes, and independently collect their lunch boxes before sitting at the table. Staff have high expectations for all children. They are supporting children to develop a sense of right from wrong, and give gentle reminders for behaviour when required. For example, staff help to engage children in story time as they become excited after lunch.
Staff encourage children to develop their curiosity. They provide opportunities to explore the natural world as they go on an adventure in the local community.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen the organisation of large-group activities when on outings to ensure that children are consistently engaged in purposeful learning n support staff and help them to understand how to promote opportunities for children to use their home language in play and learning.
- 22 June 2023Good
- 8 December 2017Good
- 22 June 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Cygnets Pre-School/Nursery
- 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.