Pre-Schools / Nursery Schools in Reigate

[planestrainsautomobiles]

We are currently planning a move to Reigate and having now sold ours (STC) and found somewhere we are expecting to move in July.

My DS1 was 3 in January and currently attends a wonderful montessori pre-school 3 days a week in SW London.

Can anyone offer any advice on pre-schools in Reigate - I have found lots of playgroups but wonder if these offer similar activities to a pre-school.

My research so far:

Parish Playgroup - need to register at birth to be guaranteed a place, I've added him to the waiting list but no hope for getting a place

High Street playgroup - awaiting form, he will be 3 3/4 yrs in September so maybe he has more chance of getting a place as I think they prioritise by age? Does anyone have any experience of this playgroup - do they get a good grounding in phonics / writing, etc. or is it more playing?

Bramble House Montessori - its not in Reigate but it gets an outstanding, assume its hard to get a place.

Kindergartens / Nurseries attached to prep schools - St Marys, Hawthorns, Micklefield. Does anyone have any idea if I would be able to get a place for nursery starting in September or are these heavily over-subscribed? Also, can you pay using childcare vouchers (I'm guessing not?)

I also have a 12 month old so need to start thinking about him - I'm keen for him to start attending a pre-school from 2 yrs old part-time. Does anyone know which pre-schools take children from 2 yrs. I've just registered him with Parish Playgroup but again think I'm too late.

TIA (and sorry for long post)

Can't help with the Parish sorry, but here is my knowledge for you

Brambly house - a way out of Reigate to the North so about 10mins away dependant on where in Reigate you are. Ususally completely over subscribed. Couldn;t get ds in when he was 14 months.

There is a Daisy Chain Montissori in south Reigate, lovely nursery , again oversubscribed but seems to have movement when children move to the private kindergartens.

St Marys, just opened new section 'green shoots' for joining in term turn 3, and the progress to Kindergarten in Sept after 3. Usually oversubscribed, but with most pre-preps there are parents that register and then withrdraw as circumstances change.

Micklefield, relatively new nursery no idea about places. Have a toddler group too

Hawthornes, seem to have spaces, but it is a way out of reigate, to the north ish so would depend where you live. Also have a toddler group.

There is also a new nursery opening in the autumn on the A217 as you come out of Reigate to the south (near Cannons). But for the life of me cannot remember the name"!

Hope that helps, enjoy living in Reigate!

Thanks Bellie for the quick response. I've phoned Daisy Chain and I'm going to visit them on Friday morning, just read through the Ofsted Report and it sounds really great so keeping my fingers crossed that it works out.

I'm also going to see Reigate High Street Playgroup which also sounds nice so will be good to have a comparison.

Think I'll hold off contact St Marys, Micklefield and Hawthorns until I've seen Daisy Chain and the High Street Playgroup.

Thanks soo much for your quick response!

I have a dd at Micklefield Nursery and she absolutely loves it. I would highly recommend it, they take children from the term in which they are 3. They are currently full for my daughters year (those going to reception in Sep) in the Nursery but they may have spaces for the year below either now or in September. One of the reasons we chose it over St Mary's (My dd wouldn't have started there til nearly 4)was this, Parish playgroup starts at 2.5 but very hard to get into as you say. I think the Hawthorns starts at 2 but I'm not sure.
Good luck with your decision

Hope you get on Ok on Friday - my ds is not there on a Friday so I wont get to stalk meet you. Ds loves it and the staff there are lovely.

Thanks Woolleybear - think I'll try to get an appointment to view Micklefield and also St Marys - it seems that St Marys is now accepting from Sept after 3.

Bellie - thanks for the information about Daisy Chain really looking forward to my visit tomorrow!!

Feeling a little less concerned about finding places now that I've started ringing round.

Hi Planestrainsautomobiles - hope that the visit went well to Daisy Chain (nosey!!) have found info on the other new nursery that is opening sometime this month - Shapes Nursery 01737 221441 www.shapesdaynursery.co.uk.

Hope you are finding something to suit.