St John's Church Playgroup
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Welling 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 February 2023. Open since 1992, with 32 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 Bexley
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Bexley 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
DA16 2BQWhat 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, 28 February 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive happy at the playgroup and are pleasantly greeted by staff. They respond politely and with an excited smile. Children easily separate from their parents and settle well into the daily routine. There is a lovely atmosphere in the playgroup. Staff are very gentle with children. For example, they patiently guide and reassure new children as they learn how to use the different pieces of equipment safety. Children form strong bonds with staff. They confidently approach them and ask for help when needed, which shows they feel safe and secure. Children have positive relationships with their friends.
Children are keen to explore their surroundings. Younger children demonstrate good confidence to try new activities and have a positive attitude towards their learning. For example, they enjoy exploring a range of sensory resources. Children behave well. The interactions between staff and children are respectful. Children share resources and space safely and successfully. Staff remind older children of behavioural expectations during group time. This impacts positively on children's behaviour.
Children enjoy spending time outdoors and learning about the world around them.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- focus more on children who take longer to settle and participate in adult-led group times to further enhance their engagement and concentration n use opportunities as they arise to help younger children learn about shapes to extend their vocabulary and learning.
- 28 February 2023Good
- 28 June 2017Good
- 23 March 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for St John's Church Playgroup
- 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.