St Francis Pre-School

St Francis Pre-School is a small, sessional early-years setting in St Francis Church Hall, West Wickham. It has capacity for 24 children and is sessional preschool provision rather than all-day nursery or wraparound care.

Ofsted judged the setting Good at its inspection on 13 September 2023 and found safeguarding effective. That dated judgement gives parents a useful independent benchmark, while the sessional model may appeal most to families seeking a focused preschool routine. It should not be read as a promise about today’s vacancy position or timetable. Those practical details can change much faster than an inspection cycle.

Capacity is modest. Twenty-four places make this a limited-capacity setting, although the figure does not reveal how many children attend on each day or how groups are organised. A preschool morning may leave gaps for families who need longer childcare, depending on the timetable.

The registered subtype is sessional day care. Current room names, age bands and bookable session times are not documented. As an English early-years provider, its statutory framework is the Early Years Foundation Stage, which turns children’s play and routines into progress in communication, physical development, relationships and early learning. The preschool’s own approach within that framework is not documented.

For a parent, that means looking beyond a list of activities. The important question is how adults notice a child’s starting point, choose the next small step and share progress with home. In a church-hall setting, room layout also matters: active play, books, creative work and quieter moments all need usable space, while resources may have to be set out and packed away around sessions. The evidence does not describe that organisation, making it unsafe to assume how the space works.

The same applies outdoors. No location-specific outdoor area, community visit or named programme is documented. For families who prioritise daily outdoor play, access, frequency and the poor-weather plan are material decision points.

Safeguarding was effective at the September 2023 inspection. Key-person arrangements, settling, SEND support, meals, sleep and parent communication are not documented. These are not minor details. A clear key-person and settling plan helps a child build one dependable relationship, while useful parent communication makes it easier for home and preschool to respond consistently to language, toileting, food or emotional needs.

The Early Years Register is the relevant regulatory scope here; the setting is not listed on the compulsory or voluntary Childcare Registers. The practical unknowns are who coordinates special educational needs, how individual support is planned and how outside professionals are involved when necessary. Allergy, medication and first-aid procedures cannot be inferred from the dated safeguarding judgement.

The setting is registered at St Francis Church Hall, Ravenswood Avenue, West Wickham, BR4 0PW. Its official record gives capacity for 24 children. This figure describes the setting’s size, not its live vacancy position.

Session times, accepted ages, funded-entitlement delivery and the treatment of meals and non-food consumables are not documented. A current attendance schedule and written quotation are therefore essential. The quotation should separate any funded hours from extra private hours and make clear what is included. This matters because a nominal entitlement does not, by itself, explain the days offered, term-time pattern or additional costs.

The church-hall address is the only verified location detail. Journey planning therefore rests with the family. A sessional timetable can make punctual collection especially important where the premises has other uses later in the day.

Sessional scope. This provider is sessional day care, but its current booking patterns are not documented. Confirm days, clock times, minimum attendance and term dates against your childcare needs.

Costs and funding. The current funding and charge structure is not documented. Ask how funded hours are delivered and what families need to budget for or bring from home.

Visit questions. Current room organisation and care routines are not documented here. Ask to see how the hall is arranged for play, quiet activity, toileting and outdoor access, and discuss settling, SEND and communication arrangements.

This is a compact, sessional preschool with a Good September 2023 inspection judgement and capacity for 24 children. It may suit families seeking part-day early-years provision in West Wickham, provided the current timetable, age range and funding arrangements fit. Those needing full-day or wraparound care cannot rely on this record to provide it.