Higham Village Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in Rochester for children from birth to 5, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2025. Open since 2024, with 30 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
ME3 7JLWhat 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, 14 February 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are warmly welcomed at this friendly and caring pre-school by smiling staff who know them well. Children enter eager to explore the activities set up for them. Staff promote children's social and emotional skills well. They encourage children's confidence when persevering with tasks, giving reassurance and saying that they believe in them. Children jump up and down excitedly, exclaiming 'I did it!'. This supports children's confidence successfully. Staff plan an interesting and motivating curriculum based on children's interests and needs. For example, children spend time exploring diggers and trains together, maintaining engagement and focus. These activities help promote children's social skills effectively.
Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)
very well. Staff are good role models and are kind and calm in their approach.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review and improve the structure and organisation of some parts of the day to minimise distraction and further enhance children's attention and focus.
- 14 February 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
Still missing for Higham Village 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.