Penenden Heath Pre-School
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Maidstone for children from birth to 5, open 08:45 to 14:45, 5 days a week. £28.50 a session, and they take the funded hours. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2023. Open since 1994, with 28 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Fees from September 202 6 are £ 28.50 for a 3 hour morning or afternoon session.
One published rate. What you pay depends on the days you need and the funded hours you can claim.
Where this came from
The outlined line is the one the price was taken from.
Funded hours
15 hours of free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds (Universal Funding), 15 & 30 hours childcare for eligible working families, 15 hours for 2 year olds (FF2).
Worth knowing. Funded hours are provided free of charge; no compulsory, regular additional charges.
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
ME14 2DHWhat 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, 19 January 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children demonstrate they feel happy and safe in their pre-school. Friendly and approachable staff greet children on arrival. Children independently hang up their coat and change their shoes. During carpet time each child signs 'good morning' to their friends before they rush off to play. Staff constantly reflect to ensure that activities cover all areas of learning. The environment is purposefully arranged to meet each child's interests and needs. For example, clothes in the role-play area are carefully selected to help develop fine motor skills. Children can learn how to use zips, buttons and poppers, which promotes their independence.
Children are highly motivated learners who are confident to speak to staff and visitors. They are proud to show off their artwork and receive praise. There are opportunities all day to access the large outdoor area. Its design allows children to explore and experiment in a safe space. For example, children discover ice that has formed overnight and try to work out how to break it up. They use different tools and then place chunks in the pizza oven, explaining that ovens get hot so it will melt the ice. Staff have high expectations for all children to make good progress.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen children's knowledge of how to manage and learn about good hygiene n strengthen communication and language strategies to support children's developing language skills.
- 19 January 2023Good
- 25 May 2017Good
- 14 May 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Penenden Heath Pre-School
- Youngest age taken
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- Is £28.50 a session still the rate? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? 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.