The Learning Tree Preschool
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Arundel for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2024. Open since 2015, with 50 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
BN18 9BAWhat 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, 15 May 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive happy and eager to start their day. Staff individually greet children and their parents as they arrive, seeking any information they may need to know to support each child's day. Staff thoughtfully plan a variety of play experiences and activities. These include children's individual interests as well as their ongoing individual stages of development. For instance, children imaginatively create their own restaurant in the home corner. Staff carefully extend this play, adding real menus and mark-making materials. Some children become customers ordering their meals, while others assume the role of waiting staff, eagerly noting down their customers' orders. These opportunities mean children are quick to immerse themselves in their play and sustain interest. Staff skilfully identify how these experiences can be extended to broaden children's learning. This supports children to make good progress in their learning.
Staff understand the importance of supporting children's emotional well-being.
They build nurturing bonds with children, who confidently seek out staff for play, praise and support. Children are excited to tell staff about things of personal significance. Staff are attentive and always respond. This helps children to feel valued. Staff know children well, and as such, they are responsive to children's individual needs, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff reinforce positive behaviour through praise and encouragement.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to recognise when children need more time to explore and develop ideas for themselves to challenge their thinking skills n support staff to consistently provide the best possible support for children's growing understanding of rules and boundaries n enhance the curriculum to provide opportunities to support children's understanding of how to keep themselves safe online.
- 15 May 2024Good
- 27 September 2018Good
- 13 October 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Learning Tree Preschool
- 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.