Harpers Nursery school
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Cranbrook for children from birth to 8+, open 09:00 to 15:30, 4 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in May 2023. Open since 1996, with 24 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
TN17 1JUWhat 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, 15 May 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive in this nurturing and calm environment. Staff are exemplary role models. They are highly skilled in developing warm and respectful relationships with children and their families, and they actively encourage children to be helpful, caring and kind to others. Staff are sensitive, and they use children's individual, real-life experiences to develop their awareness of the world. For example, a child's recent visit to hospital led to a role-play opportunity of simulating a doctor's surgery. This gives children an excellent awareness of additional needs, including special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Children are extremely well mannered, demonstrating advanced social skills for their age. They regularly praise their friends for their efforts, using phrases such as
'well done' and 'great job'. This highlights children's high levels of emotional awareness and shows their advanced self-regulation skills. Staff have exceptionally high expectations for all children and place high importance on supporting children's independence skills. For example, children independently prepare and serve snack to their friends, with very little adult support. Snack time is a fantastic experience for children to build their confidence and social interactions, especially for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and those who need extra support.
- 15 May 2023Outstanding
- 19 September 2017Good
- 19 November 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Harpers Nursery 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.