Nurseries/pre-schools around Crofton Infant vs. Warren Road

[mai5]

Hi everyone! We're considering relocating to Orpington with our 1-year-old daughter and have a budget of around £600k. We've been exploring Petts Wood, Crofton, and Chelsfield neighborhoods, particularly those within the catchment areas of Crofton Infant School and Warren Road Primary School. Both schools have excellent reputations, but having affordable nurseries/pre-schools within a 10-15 minute walk is essential for us. Consequently, we're more inclined towards Crofton Infant, as it appears to have a wider range of nearby nurseries and pre-schools. We would appreciate any input from well-informed parents in the area to confirm our understanding.

When looking around Warren Road and focusing on homes strictly within the catchment area (about 0.37 miles), our options for nurseries/pre-schools seem limited to Little Angels Montessori Pre-School, Bright Sparks at Orpington Hospital, and Chelsfield Preschool-Nursery. With very limited online information about these, we'd like to know if they are reliable and affordable schools.

We would be grateful for any input or advice from local parents in the community!

Sorry I don’t have information on these as DD is now 18. She did go to the nursery one day a week that is opposite Crofton school and it was good and they had a roof garden but they was a lo mg time ago. If you have questions about PW happy to answer those, it is a great place to bring up a family

within 0.3mil if warren

0.36mil seems not that secure?

Thanks for the info @PettsWoodParadise @elto!

@PettsWoodParadise would appreciate your insights as a long-time local resident on the family and children friendliness, noise and safety, and educational aspects (nurseries and primary) of the following neighborhoods. While we have found some information online, your firsthand experience would be particularly valuable to us.

• Petts Wood East: St Johns Road, Beaumont Road
• Petts Wood West: Towncourt Lane, Ryecroft road, Derwent Drive, Rolleston Avenue, Heath side
• Crofton: Woodcote Drive, Allington Road.

@elto I'd also love to learn any insights you have about any of these areas surrounding Warren Primary School: Cloonmore Avenue, Adcock Close, Chestnut Close, Pinewood Drive, and Northlands/Southlands Avenue.

I know St John’s Road and Beaumont Road well. Beaumont has the railway on one side which may bother some but it does make the houses more affordable. It is a perfect distance in my mind, short walk to shops and station and Beaumont in some parts is so close to the school it really helps with admissions to Crofton. There is a footbridge between numbers 99 and 101 that goes over the railway and there is a lollipop lady on the other side.

Towncourt Lane is a busy road with buses and traffic. One side also has the railway behind it. Some parts are so close to the school you will hear the playground noise. I don’t mind playground noise but some may. Ryecroft is a mix of houses and maisonettes. And is convenient for the shops etc. I think the slightly higher density compared to the East side puts pressure on parking so do check that.

Woodcote and Allington are in what I’d call the Place Farm Estate. Mostly 1960s. Some are lovely, some not so well built so do check energy ratings and if it has wood cladding etc how recent was it repaired or replaced. You tend to get more for you money due to the Tylee of house and distance to station. You have the advantage of being close to not only Crofton but often also in catchment for Darrick for secondary. Can get jammed with traffic.

good luck!

cloonmore and Warren Road, a very nice street, mostly 1930s semi with large garden, 15-20mins walk to the station, 5 mins walk to co-op

Adcock close? Do you mean adcock walk and dryland ave?
if so, do have a look on flood map

Chestnut Close, mostly flat roof, I personally don’t like it

north, southlands ave, your budget could find some spacious terraced, 3 or even 4beds, 1000+ sq fts

i would say there are no “rough area” in chelsfield, just a family friendly town

And if you’re targeting on Warren Road school. i think you’re also thinking about grammar school right?

@elto We are not really thinking about grammar schools now as our DD is still very small, only 1 year old. We're mainly thinking about primary schools and, most importantly, nurseries for the next 2-3 years. That's where I feel Chelsfield might be a bit difficult as I haven't been able to find nurseries within close walking distance (10-15 mins) there.

If I want to live within 0.3 miles of Warren Road Primary, do you have any local experience with good nurseries/pre-schools that would fit out needs? Our online research suggests 3:

• Bright Sparks nursery/pre-school located at Orpington hospital. We had really hoped this could be an option, but a few days ago we called them and learned that it's for children of NHS staff only, so they won't accept our DD.
• Chelsfield Preschool-Nursery. We called them and learned that they take kids >= 2 years old only.
• Little Angels Montessori Pre-School. Not that much online info. and it is unclear whether the religious affiliation might influence the care/educational approach. We prefer to bring up our children with a secular perspective.

Thanks @PettsWoodParadise

> Towncourt Lane is a busy road with buses and traffic

We saw this now. We recently visited a home on this street and were quite fond of it. The noise from vehicles and trains wasn't too bothersome. However, we did have concerns about the traffic, envisioning difficulties with entering and exiting the driveway, and worrying that our young child could accidentally wander onto the busy street. Cars were traveling quite quickly, at speeds over 30 mph. It did make us feel very uneasy, think it might impact the home's resale potential later as others could share similar apprehensions.

Hey there. Out of interest how do you know Warren road catchment distance?? Thanks.

It changes every year (birthrate, number of siblings, etc) so you won't know how far it comes out for the year you are applying but can make an informed guess.

Bromley Council produce a booklet every year that includes last distance offered where distance is a deciding factor, the 2024-25 guide is here https://www.bromley.gov.uk/downloads/file/28/primary-education-in-bromley-2024-2025. For Warren Road last distance offered in 2023 was 0.638 miles (it may end up further as this is usually the info on offer day or a few months later), the data for the other years will usually be upto start of school year, so 2022 it was 1.183 miles and 2021 it was 0.668 miles. The number of siblings who got places can affect the number of non-sibling places, this used to get published but I can't see it on the current booklet.

I have to ask — why look on flood map?

Thank you. That’s so helpful. Does that mean 0.638 miles was the furthest distance someone lived and got a place through appeal? Sorry, first time doing this! Ha.

Ok think I read that wrong. Just means furthest distance. I think we live approximately 0.628 miles and was wondering whether we’d have any chance of getting our daughter in Warren road.