St Benedict's Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in Lowestoft for children from birth to 5, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2023. Open since 2012, with 30 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 Suffolk
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Suffolk 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
NR32 4AXWhat 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 May 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children enjoy their time at this well-led pre-school. They build close and respectful bonds with the warm and engaging staff. Children benefit from a wide range of interesting and engaging learning opportunities. They make good progress in their development. Children gain new understanding about a wide range of subjects.
The experienced staff help them to develop their communication and language skills. For example, while staff encourage children to put on their own coats and shoes, they discuss with them how the fastenings work. Staff teach children what it is called and encourage them to think about other places that the same material is used in the pre-school. Children enjoy climbing, balancing, painting and role play.
All areas of the pre-school are set up with children's learning and engagement in mind. There are plenty of suitable resources for children to use. Staff support children to learn how to make the dough they use in their play. Children then practise rolling and shaping it, which helps to develop their strength and finer hand movements. They explore different textures, colours and aromas. Staff provide real items, such as fresh herbs, some of which they are beginning to grow with the children.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- improve the arrangements for adult-led times, including whole-group times, to ensure that teaching is well matched to children's individual learning needs and that their learning experiences remain positive and engaging n develop the curriculum further to help children to develop their understanding of the communities and lives of people beyond their own immediate experiences.
- 23 May 2023Good
- 30 November 2022Inadequate
- 15 March 2017Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for St Benedict's 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.