Heckington Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Sleaford for children from birth to 8+, open 08:30 to 15:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2025. Open since 2003, with 19 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 Lincolnshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Lincolnshire 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
NG34 9RXWhat 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, 20 May 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children independently explore their learning environment. They are supported by skilled staff to develop their curiosity and understanding of the world around them.
For instance, children use everyday objects that staff provide, such as kitchen utensils, to play with sand and water. They enthusiastically add water to dry sand and use their growing imaginations as they pretend to bake the mixture. Staff regularly share books with children. This helps children build a vocabulary of new words. Children explore a range of factual and fiction texts. They read recipes when baking and enjoy sharing their favourite stories. Staff and children sing songs and rhymes throughout the day, which further enhances children's communication and language development.
Children enjoy the choice of activities available to them in the outdoor area. Staff provide children with support to develop their large muscles and their physical skills. They help children to balance safely and move across stepping stones.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff with the planning of activities so that their intent for children's learning is implemented effectively n strengthen the methods of communication between staff and parents so that children receive consistent care between home and pre-school.
- 20 May 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 11 December 2019Good
- 2 February 2016Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Heckington 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.