Sutton St James Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Macclesfield for children from birth to 8+, open 09:00 to 15:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2024. Open since 2016, 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 Cheshire East
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Cheshire East 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
SK11 0EEWhat 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, 29 February 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff know children and their interests well. Children are happy and well settled at this pre-school. They are eager to enter the pre-school and confidently wave goodbye to their parents and carers. The pre-school provides a community for all the children and their families. It offers a variety of community activities and support, such as an Easter fare and the community pantry. Children recall with excitement regular events such as 'mystery readers', where a family member comes into the nursery to read a story.
Leaders use additional funding, such as early years pupil premium, well. Staff consider the gaps in children's learning before deciding where to spend the funding. Staff have purchased additional resources and improved areas within the pre-school to reflect the gaps in children's knowledge and development. This helps children to catch up and close any gaps in their learning. Children are learning ways to keep themselves and others safe. For example, a small group of children is chosen each day to help carry out the risk assessment. Children show delight as they use their pens and clipboards to tick of any areas of the garden they have checked for hazards. Children recall why it is important as they say, 'We must close the gates so we have no strangers'.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- consider the noise level and environment before carrying out language activities to ensure children remain focused.
- 29 February 2024Good
- 25 April 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Sutton St James 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.