Guilden Sutton Pre-school
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Chester for children from birth to 8+, open 09:00 to 15:00, 5 days a week. £5.00 an hour, and they take the funded hours. Rated Good by Ofsted in June 2023. Open since 1985, with 26 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Term time only, 38 weeks a year.
| Age | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| All ages | £5.00Fees £5.20from September 2026 |
Extras
Charged on top of the session rate.
- £1.00 to £1.50 a day Voluntary contributionvoluntary, each day that children attend preschool, starting January, includes snacks, craft activities, A Star sport etc.
- £2.00 a day Late payment
- £10.00 per 15 minutes Late collection of children
Funded hours
15 hours per week for 38 weeks per year starting from the full term after your child's 3rd birthday; 30 hours Government funding may also be available.
Worth knowing. If your child also attends another setting, this funding can be split between both settings, but must not exceed a maximum of 15 hours per week. Additional hours will be charged at our current rate.
What childcare usually costs in Cheshire West and Chester
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Cheshire West and Chester 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
CH3 7SWWhat 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.
- 17 July 2025 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 25 September 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 15 June 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy and excited when they arrive at this setting. They separate from parents with ease and enter the setting with confidence. Children are pleased to see familiar staff and greet them cheerfully. They select activities and swiftly settle in.
Children feel secure while attending this setting. They make independent choices in an environment that offers exciting opportunities and allows them to explore their interests. Children confidently choose poster paints and squeeze the paint onto pallets. They hang their paper on an easel and then use different-sized brushes to create artwork of their own choosing. Adults are on hand to offer support if needed. Children are keen to show off their work, and when receiving compliments, they politely say 'thank you'. They demonstrate excellent behaviour as they play with their friends. Children are familiar with the expectations adults have.
The manager and staff have recognised the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on children's personal, social and emotional well-being and communication and language skills. They have worked to support children in developing skills in these areas. Children benefit from the many opportunities staff provide to support with sharing and turn-taking.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- extend children's understanding of how healthy eating habits contribute to their overall health.
- 15 June 2023Good
- 6 October 2017Good
- 5 November 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Guilden Sutton Pre-school
- 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
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.
- Is £5.00 an hour still the rate? 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.
- 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.