Simon De Senlis Pre-School
OutstandingBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Northampton for children from birth to 5, open 08:45 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 July 2024. Open since 1997, 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 West Northamptonshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in West Northamptonshire 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
NN4 0PHWhat 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, 1 July 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The manager and staff team have a strong and shared understanding of what they want children to learn. The highly effective curriculum is carefully sequenced to help children build on what they know already. Staff place a high focus on promoting children's well-being and social skills. They help children begin to be aware of themselves and their feelings, as well as learn mindfulness skills, which contribute to a calm and harmonious atmosphere.
Staff provide all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who speak English as an additional language, with high quality interactions as they play alongside them. Children with SEND make rapid progress, and with sensitive and tailored support from staff, they take a full role with their friends at pre-school.
Staff's positive involvement with children promotes children's concentration. Staff encourage children to follow their own ideas and skilfully make suggestions to extend their interest and play. This positive approach contributes to all children making rapid progress and learning important skills for their future. Children's behaviour is exceptionally good. They make friendships, are excited to take part in the activities and remain deeply engaged. Children talk together to organise which direction they want the chalked arrows to go when they ride balance bicycles.
- 1 July 2024Outstanding
- 11 July 2018Outstanding
- 7 May 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Simon De Senlis 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.