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Smilers Pre-school

Ofsted: Good
(Oct 2024)
·
5.0(4 parent reviews) ·Walderslade Baptist Church, Catkin Close, Walderslade, ME5 9HP · Kent
Number of places
20 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Oct 2024
Local authority
Kent

About this day nursery

Smilers Pre-school, located in Walderslade, operates as a non-profit organisation under the umbrella of a charity. Its core mission is to provide a high-quality, secure, and stimulating environment for children, ensuring financial accessibility for all families.

The pre-school prioritises maintaining exceptional standards and long-term viability through a transparent fee policy. Fees are reviewed annually by the committee, taking into account the pre-school’s financial health and broader economic and social factors.

Smilers Pre-school aims to support families by offering various government funding options, including schemes for working parents of two, three, and four-year-olds. They also accept additional funding such as Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) and Free for 2 (FF2).

The pre-school emphasises open communication with parents regarding fees, offering alternative arrangements in cases of genuine financial difficulty.

What it's like

Children arrive at the pre-school happy and eager to learn, quickly engaging in self-registration and creative activities like building train tracks. Staff act as positive role models, fostering polite and courteous interactions, and gently guiding children's behaviour when needed, allowing issues to be resolved quickly. Staff are strategically deployed to various activities, extending learning through engaging discussions, such as exploring jungles and habitats while children paint.

Charity-runNon-profit making

Pricing & funding

Fees are charged on a sessional basis, with an optional lunch club add-on. A holding fee is due upon the offer of a place. A voluntary contribution is added to invoices per session to cover sessional snack times. Rates are effective from September 2025.

Funding accepted

15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)

Good to know

  • A holding fee is due when a child is offered a place.
  • A voluntary snack contribution is added to invoices per session.
  • Fees listed are effective from September 2025.

Key facts

Opening hours

Full day – 9am-3.30pm; Morning session – 9am – 12.00; Morning session – 9.00 – 12.30pm; Afternoon session – 12.00 – 3.30pm; Afternoon session – 12.30pm – 3.30pm

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Established

1991

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Smilers Pre-school

Last inspected 16 October 2024

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Children arrive at the pre-school happy and eager to learn, quickly engaging in self-registration and creative activities like building train tracks. Staff act as positive role models, fostering polite and courteous interactions, and gently guiding children's behaviour when needed, allowing issues to be resolved quickly. Staff are strategically deployed to various activities, extending learning through engaging discussions, such as exploring jungles and habitats while children paint.

Inspector highlights

  • Staff plan an effective curriculum for all children, observing and tracking their progress.
  • Staff place a high priority on counting, using positional language, and exploring shapes.
  • Children develop a love of books, as staff frequently read to them and encourage independent exploration of the book area.
  • Staff have lots of conversations with children to support their developing vocabulary.
  • Staff support children to learn about the importance of healthy lifestyles.
  • Children learn about the world around them through regular community visits, such as to the woods, local cafe, and shop.
  • Staff develop good relationships with children, who approach them for reassurance and support.
  • Staff feel supported by the pre-school management, who are approachable and caring and support staff learning.
  • Partnership with parents is good, with regular sharing of children's learning and ideas for home-based continuation.
  • The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with an open and positive culture that prioritises children's interests.

Areas to develop

  • 1allow children sufficient time to respond when asking questions to enable them to share their ideas before offering answers
  • 2strengthen the arrangements for collecting information from parents about children's backgrounds to ensure staff have the most accurate picture to reflect and build on individual background and experiences.
Inspection #10367144 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

All children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress in their learning.

Outdoor space

Children enjoy playing outside. Children explore a range of activities that staff have carefully planned to develop their physical skills. They dig in the mud, climb, crawl and balance on larger equipment.

Parent Reviews of Smilers Pre-school

5.0
(4)
Bec Hillier
7 years ago

Lovely staff, very welcoming nursery who truly care about the children, we will miss u all!

Read on Google
Katie Vinten
2 years ago

Really appreciate all the aunties hard work with the children. Lovely pre school

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Smilers Pre-school. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: February 2005

  • November 2024Good
  • October 2024Good
  • March 2019Good
  • February 2019Good
  • April 2016Good
  • March 2016Good
  • October 2011Outstanding
  • September 2011Outstanding
  • December 2007Good
  • February 2005Good

Frequently asked about Smilers Pre-school

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