St John's Pre-school, Merrow
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Guildford for children from birth to 8+, open 09:30 to 12:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in April 2025. Open since 2003, 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 Surrey
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Surrey 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
GU4 7AAWhat 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 April 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children of all ages demonstrate that they are settled in this friendly pre-school.
They are excited to arrive and are greeted warmly by enthusiastic staff. Children quickly access a range of activities in the room. They form bonds with the staff and happily share news about their day. This strong attachment helps children build the confidence and emotional security necessary to fully embrace the learning opportunities on offer. Children behave well and learn to be kind, polite and responsible. Staff are good role models who address any minor issues gently and effectively, reinforcing 'kind hands' and 'listening ears' as needed.
The staff are a strong team, who work well together and support each other when needed. They provide the setting with a 'homely' feel, which parents also notice and comment about. Staff ensure they give children choices, including whether they want to play indoors or outdoors, when they would like their snack, and what music and action rhymes they would like to listen and dance to. This promotes children's self-esteem and helps them to feel valued at the nursery.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- improve planning to promote all children's learning and achievement during adult-led activities.
- 23 April 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 26 September 2019Good
- 8 March 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for St John's Pre-school, Merrow
- 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.