St Williams Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Chatham 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 January 2025. Open since 1998, with 40 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 Medway
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Medway 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
ME5 9LRWhat 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, 14 January 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children enjoy attending this warm and welcoming setting. On arrival, they are greeted by caring staff and quickly settle into a routine that is familiar to them. This shows they feel safe and secure. The atmosphere is calm, and children are engaged. Staff have developed a curriculum that is sequenced and builds on what children need to learn next. They take account of what interest's them and organise the environment in a way that supports their needs and next steps in development. This helps children to make good progress in their learning.
Children develop a positive attitude to learning. They keep trying when they want to achieve a set outcome. For example, when trying to fit peg puzzle pieces in place, they twist and turn them until they fit. Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. Children share and take turns with their friends when playing.
When they need support, staff are gentle in their approach, talking quietly and reminding them of the rules. This enables them to develop an understanding of right and wrong and of acceptable behaviour. Staff offer praise throughout the day for children's achievements, such as unique pictures they have created. This helps boost children's self-esteem.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- enhance staff's skills, so they can fully support and extend children's communication and language.
- 14 January 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 24 April 2019Good
- 22 May 2018Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for St Williams 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.