SKIPS Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Sevenoaks for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in April 2022. Open since 1999, 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
TN15 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, 20 April 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children of all ages are happy, confident and settled at the pre-school. They are excited to join in with the motivating activities that staff carefully plan for them. For example, children find natural materials, such as sticks and feathers. They go on to use them to create their own 'crowns' and 'fishing rods'. Children are independent and are confident to choose their own play and complete their own tasks. For example, they find their own shoes and coats with confidence. Children enjoy learning about the natural world. For instance, they are eager to find bugs and are intrigued to watch the tadpoles in the pond grow into frogs.
Children behave well and are polite. They build meaningful friendships and enjoy each other's company. Children are kind and empathetic. For example, they are understanding of other children's needs. Children learn about the importance of healthy lifestyles. For instance, they talk about the importance of brushing away sugar off of their teeth to keep them healthy and clean. Children enjoy cooking their own healthy food. This includes fruit smoothies and vegetable soups. All children gain good physical skills. For example, they engage in challenging activities, such as climbing trees and swinging on rope swings.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to understand where to deploy themselves more effectively to ensure that younger children remain fully engaged in larger group activities n strengthen opportunities for children to learn about the similarities and differences of the wider community.
- 20 April 2022Good
- 13 October 2016Good
- 8 October 2012Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for SKIPS 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.