The Rocking Horse Montessori Kindergarten
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Tunbridge Wells for children from birth to 8+, open 08:30 to 16:30, 4 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in April 2025. Open since 1990, 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 Kent
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Kent 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
TN1 2NJWhat 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 April 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The education and care provided to children in this welcoming and inclusive environment is exceptional. The highly skilled and passionate staff team strives to provide high-quality care to enable all children to achieve the best possible outcomes. Children have warm and affectionate attachments with staff and demonstrate that they feel emotionally secure. The captivating and welcoming environment inspires children. They show enthusiasm, curiosity and engagement in all they do. For instance, the youngest children show remarkable independence and maturity when exploring their surroundings and choosing resources to enhance their play. Children are thriving in this community-based setting.
The provider, along with the staff team, has developed a highly ambitious curriculum for all children, which is well embedded and effective. It builds on children's personal, social and emotional development, physical development and communication and language to underpin these key aspects of children's learning.
The curriculum for personal development is truly inspiring and is worthy of being shared with other providers. For example, staff offer a rich array of engaging opportunities that foster children's curiosity while promoting independence, selfcare and a deeper understanding of their friends, their community and the world around them. Children are building firm foundations for their future learning.
- 29 April 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 7 June 2019Outstanding
- 7 May 2015Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Rocking Horse Montessori Kindergarten
- 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.