Lindens Pre-School Group
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Worthing for children from birth to 8+, open 08:45 to 14:45, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2024. Open since 1979, with 52 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 West Sussex
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in West Sussex 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
BN13 1QLWhat 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 July 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive in this extremely homely, nurturing pre-school. They skip down the path when they arrive, full of enthusiasm and excitement to meet their friends and teachers. Staff support children's emotional well-being exceptionally well. The staff have continued with routines they started after the COVID pandemic and gently support children to say goodbye to parents at the gate. This change in routine has significantly supported children's self-confidence and their ability to separate from parents happily. Staff also recognise how well it encourages children to be ready for routines they will follow at school.
Children behave well. They follow the clear guidance staff give. Staff are positive role models. They remind children of the importance of sharing and taking turns when minor disputes occur, but these are rare. Children form strong friendships and happily play in small groups. They share ideas and demonstrate good levels of patience, tolerance and respect for others. For example, when staff set up an obstacle course in the garden, children know they must wait for their turn.
Staff support children's social skills particularly well. Older children play and learn extremely well alongside their younger friends. They develop responsibility and independence and show kindness towards each other. Younger children gain much from being with the older children. New children quickly settle into the group and make good progress from the moment they start.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- develop the links with parents to help them become more fully involved in children's learning.
- 4 July 2024Good
- 18 October 2018Good
- 20 April 2018Inadequate
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Lindens Pre-School Group
- 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.