Lunsford Park Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Aylesford for children from birth to 5, open 09:00 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 February 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
ME20 6SSWhat 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, 23 February 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
All children are very happy, settled and confident. Children have a positive attitude towards their learning. They are eager to come into the setting and immediately engage in their chosen activity. For example, children are learning about numbers.
They are excited to design and make their own 'cuckoo' clock. Children of all ages are independent. For instance, the setting is well organised to support children to confidently choose where they would like to play and what activities they would like to participate in. Children enthusiastically bring their imagination to life. For example, when they have a keen interest in space, staff encourage children to act out being an astronaut.
Staff are positive role models. All children know what is expected of them. For example, they are polite and behave well. They take turns with resources, waiting with patience, and play happily together. Children learn about the benefits of healthy lifestyles. They talk about the importance of healthy eating and follow good health and hygiene routines. All children gain good physical skills and enjoy using challenging equipment. For example, they confidently negotiate obstacles, such as steppingstones. Children learn to move in different ways. This includes jumping and hopping with confidence as they enjoy a game of hopscotch.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- develop the ways that staff communicate with parents to keep them informed about their children's individual next steps and learning n review and improve the organisation of changes in routine to ensure all children are engaged and understand what is expected of them during these times.
- 23 February 2023Good
- 17 May 2022Needs improvement
- 5 December 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Lunsford Park 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.