Manor Road Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Tunbridge Wells for children from birth to 5, open 09:00 to 15:15, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2022. Open since 1994, with 28 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
TN4 8UDWhat 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, 12 May 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children of all ages are incredibly happy, confident and settled at the pre-school.
They are extremely eager to join in with the motivating activities that staff carefully plan for them. For example, children use materials to make their own instruments, such as rattles and drums. Children are excited to learn about the natural world.
For instance, they are eager to check up on the progress of their caterpillars as they patiently wait for them to change into a cocoon. Children explore and investigate as they engage in simple experiences. This includes mixing liquids to create 'erupting volcanos'.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff's understanding to consistently encourage children to complete tasks they are capable of and be more independent n provide guidance for staff to strengthen their understanding of the importance of communicating with staff at other settings children also attend.
- 12 May 2022Good
- 7 June 2017Outstanding
- 4 June 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Manor Road 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.