Roselands Pre-School Highamwood

Two open-plan rooms and a garden made usable through the seasons give Roselands Pre-School Highamwood a clear identity: play, outdoor activity and growing independence within the grounds of Woodlands Primary School. The canopy and outdoor matting make the garden more than a fair-weather space. This is preschool provision for children from two and a half to statutory school age, with capacity for 50 children in total.

Ofsted rated the setting Outstanding on 10 July 2024, with observations of children persevering, forming friendships and taking responsibility for everyday tasks. Those examples give the judgement substance. Children were learning to manage their coats and footwear, rather than having adults complete each task for them.

Attendance is term-time, with morning, afternoon and full-day choices and a minimum of two sessions each week. That makes the setting relevant to families building a preschool routine around shorter sessions as well as those wanting a whole day.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for learning, development and care: here, children learn through play alongside activities directed by adults. Roselands combines periods of child-chosen play that can continue uninterrupted with adult-led experiences. The practical value is time to pursue an interest, alongside opportunities for staff to introduce something new.

In July 2024, books were readily accessible and staff regularly read with children. Adult-led activities encouraged conversation and developed vocabulary and early literacy. Regular reading and adult-led activities both supported children's developing language skills.

Persistence also showed up in ordinary tasks. In July 2024, children who had put coats on incorrectly tried again, while outdoor play involved changing footwear and returning boots to their storage place. Independence was being practised through small, achievable responsibilities. For families, that is a useful picture of preparation for school beyond formal learning activities.

Outdoor and Community Life

The fenced garden has a canopy and play matting, supporting its use throughout the year. Alongside the two large rooms, it gives children an outdoor setting for play rather than making the day depend entirely on indoor space.

In July 2024, the outdoor area supported digging, running, climbing and pedalling. A mud kitchen also gave children a reason to put on boots and manage their own footwear afterwards. Physical activity and practical independence met in the same experience.

School preparation continues through work on social and emotional development, movement skills and independence. Parent information also encourages families to continue practising these skills at home. The emphasis is on what children can do for themselves and how they relate to others, making the next educational step a shared task between home and preschool.

At the July 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and described close monitoring, prompt referrals and carefully targeted additional funding for children with SEND as supporting rapid progress. That is meaningful detail for families whose child may need extra help: support involved identifying needs and acting on them.

A SENCo lead role and supporting SENCo roles are part of the team structure. Designated safeguarding lead and deputy roles are also in place, alongside staff with paediatric first aid training. The SENCo structure gives additional support a clear point of coordination.

In July 2024, staff helped children cooperate through calm guidance and a consistent response to sharing, taking turns and expectations. Close relationships with key children and detailed communication about development also featured in that account. The practical thread is continuity: familiar adults helping children understand both their learning and the social demands of a group.

Parents can arrange a meeting or callback through the office to speak with their child's key worker or another team member. This gives families a direct route for a fuller conversation about their child, rather than relying solely on brief exchanges.

Sessions and Attendance

Roselands operates during term time, Monday to Friday, with ordinary opening hours of 9am to 3.30pm. Morning sessions run from 9am to noon, afternoons from 12.30pm to 3.30pm, and a full day from 9am to 3.30pm. Children must attend at least two sessions per week.

The funded full-day window is 9.30am to 3.30pm; starting that day at 9am incurs an additional charge. A paid early-start period runs from 8.30am to 9am, and lunch attendance can be added to a morning or afternoon booking for an extra charge. These distinctions matter when matching funded attendance to the hours a family needs.

Applications go onto a waiting list, with contact in the term before the intended start. Intakes take place in September, January and April. Returning an application does not secure a place, and sessions cannot be held. Completed forms can be returned in person or emailed to roselandsoffice@btconnect.com.

Getting There

The address is Higham School Road, Tonbridge, TN10 4BB, within the Woodlands Primary School grounds. Families are asked to use surrounding residential roads for parking and continue on foot, using the school entrance on Hunt Road.

Sharing the grounds does not create a school admissions entitlement: attending Roselands does not guarantee a place at Woodlands Primary School. Families apply through Kent County Council.

Funding and Paid Extras

Roselands accepts two-year-old working-family funding and Early Learning funding from two and a half, universal funding for three- and four-year-olds, and additional working-family funding for eligible three- and four-year-olds. Funding is delivered during term time; the universal entitlement is 15 hours over 38 weeks. Private hours are also offered, with the attendance and charge structure explained on the fees page.

Children staying for lunch bring their own food in a named bag and a drink. The additional charge for extending a morning or afternoon booking covers the lunch session. Parents apply sun cream before attendance, and staff reapply it after lunch for children staying all day. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Term-time planning. Roselands' calendar can differ from the primary school's dates because of its funding pattern. Compare the preschool dates with your family's holiday-care arrangements.
• Funded-day timing. The funded full day starts at 9.30am, while a 9am start and the earlier 8.30am period carry additional charges. Establish which combination fits your routine before choosing sessions.
• Shared grounds, separate admissions. A place here does not guarantee entry to Woodlands Primary School. Keep the Kent County Council application separate from the preschool booking.
• Lunch and personal supplies. Children staying for lunch bring their own food and drink. At a visit, ask how snacks and non-food consumables are supplied and charged for your child's attendance pattern.

Roselands suits families seeking term-time preschool through morning or afternoon sessions, as well as those choosing a full day. The two-session minimum gives that choice a clear boundary. Its garden, open-plan rooms and attention to practical independence provide a recognisable setting for children approaching school age. The Outstanding judgement from July 2024 adds weight, while the separate funded-day timings and school application process deserve careful planning.