Delarue Crickets Pre-school
OutstandingBirth to 5Long established
A day nursery in Tonbridge for children from birth to 5, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in May 2023. Open since 2016, 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
TN10 3TDWhat 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, 4 May 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are greeted with warmth and given the time they need to settle in. Staff take time to speak to parents about their children's needs and take a genuine interest in them. Children access a highly effective curriculum that is focused entirely on their individual needs. Teaching is precisely tailored to children's individual level of development. Those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) flourish. Children are at the heart of the planning and are making exceptional progress in relation to their starting points.
Children behave extremely well. They are given the time they need to understand how they feel. Staff respond to children consistently in a way that nurtures and respects their emotions. Children are incredibly positive towards staff and the requests they make, as well as the things their peers say or do. For example, children show delight when they see each other. They carefully embrace, showing regard for each other and giving comfort. Managers organise specific activities to give children new experiences. For example, children look after baby ducklings to support their emotional development.
Children have access to an exceptional variety of experiences that help prepare them for future success. Staff knowledgably use the curriculum to enhance the choices they offer to children. For example, they learn about children's previous experiences to ensure they provide them with a rich range of new opportunities.
- 4 May 2023Outstanding
- 19 July 2017Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Delarue Crickets 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.