The Donkey Field Pre School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Crawley 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 December 2022. Open since 1993, 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 West Sussex
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in West Sussex 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
RH10 4XAWhat 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, 7 December 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are greeted warmly at this setting. Staff meet them at the gate with a smile. They are kind and caring in their interactions. Children eagerly explore the attractive and exciting environment that staff set up for them. For example, they enjoy setting up a Santa's sleigh outside, working together to build it with crates and wooden planks. Children's needs and interests are used by staff to plan interesting activities and experiences. For example, children enjoyed exploring the different ways they could pour and tip water on the 'water wall'. Children delighted in joining in with singing 'Incy wincy spider climbed up the Christmas tree', developing their listening and language skills. Staff successfully prioritise opportunities for children to develop their communication skills.
Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are very well supported and make good progress. Staff support and encourage children to learn new skills. For example, children enjoyed exploring different art and craft materials to make their own creations, developing their fine motor skills. Staff have high expectations of children. They encourage children to recall previous learning and skilfully use this to extend children's understanding. For example, children talked excitedly about the 'stickman' story they had heard recently, and staff encouraged children to use sticks to make 'his family', to retell the story together.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to make better use of opportunities that arise to support children's independence n explore further opportunities for extending and challenging children's learning during transition times.
- 7 December 2022Good
- 11 June 2018Good
- 4 May 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Donkey Field 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.