Little Explorers Kindergarten The Hive
OutstandingBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Gravesend for children from birth to 8+, open 09:15 to 15:15, 5 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 2015, with 26 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
DA11 9DEWhat 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, 18 May 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are safe, confident and incredibly happy at this inspiring kindergarten setting. They receive the utmost care and attention from the passionate staff.
Children form extremely warm and loving relationships with their key members of staff. This supports children to feel safe and emotionally secure, and enable them to engage well and benefit from all of the many experiences on offer.
Children gain an excellent awareness of their local community and are fully involved in community life, which helps them to develop a strong sense of belonging. For example, they help to plant and maintain the flowers in the community flower beds.
- 18 May 2023Outstanding
- 9 October 2017Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Little Explorers Kindergarten The Hive
- 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.