Sessional pre-school in Welling, Bexley
St John's Church Playgroup
St. Johns Church, Danson Lane, Welling, DA16 2BQ · Getting there
Is it good?
Read the Ofsted reportOfsted inspection, before November 2025
Good
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
What does this mean?
This grade is from before November 2025, when Ofsted replaced single grades with report cards. The nursery's next inspection will give a report card, with a separate grade for each area instead of one overall grade.
What Ofsted says it does well
“The staff team are dedicated to their roles.”
“The manager and staff are ambitious for all children.”
“Parents are extremely complimentary of the playgroup.”
What Ofsted says it should do better
“focus more on children who take longer to settle and participate in adult-led group times to further enhance their engagement and concentration”
“use opportunities as they arise to help younger children learn about shapes to extend their vocabulary and learning.”
Exact words from the Ofsted report of 28 February 2023. Read the full report on Ofsted.
Official records
- Ofsted registrationRegistered since October 1992Reference 115370Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Inspections on record1 inspectionlatest 28 February 2023Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Registered places32 placesthe most children it may care for at onceOfsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Food hygiene rating5 (Very good)inspected 17 September 2025Food Standards Agency · checked 13 November 2026
Fees
| Age | Half day |
|---|---|
| All ages | £20 |
From nursery website, November 2026 · see the fees page. Price per hour is the day rate over a 6-hour day, from the nursery's opening hours.
Funded hours: 2-year-olds, 15 hours
Hours and ages
- Mon09:00–15:00
- Tue09:00–12:00
- Wed09:00–12:00
- Thu09:00–12:00
- Fri09:00–12:00
- Ages
- 2 years to 4 years
- Weeks open
- Term time only
- Sessions
- Half day
Getting there
St. Johns Church, Danson Lane, Welling, DA16 2BQ · More nurseries in DA16
Stations
- Welling15 min walk · 0.6 miles
- Bexleyheath24 min walk · 1.0 miles
Buses
3 bus stops within 400 m, including Welling High Street / Upper Wickham Lane and Guy, Earl of Warwick.
Parks and playgrounds
- Danson Park1 min walk
- Playground3 min walk
- Playground8 min walk
© OpenStreetMap contributors, checked 13 November 2026 · Powered by TfL Open Data, checked 13 November 2026. Walking times are rough, from straight-line distance.
Places and next steps
Spaces: not published yet. Nurseries often fill months ahead, so ask early.
In Bexley there are about 3.3 children under 5 for every registered nursery place. Places are how many children nurseries may care for, not free spaces, so this is a guide to demand. Source: ONS Census 2021.
What parents say
Reviews on Toddly
Be the first parent to review St John's Church Playgroup
Reviews come from parents who sign in, and a person reads each one before it goes live. How reviews work
Write a reviewAbout St John's Church Playgroup
St John's Church Playgroup is a sessional pre-school at St. Johns Church, Danson Lane, Welling, DA16 2BQ, in Welling, Bexley. It is registered for 32 children and takes children aged 2 years to 4 years. It opens 09:00–15:00, Mon; 09:00–12:00, Tue–Fri, term time only. Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection in February 2023, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025. It offers funded places for 2-year-olds and the 15 funded hours for 3 and 4-year-olds. It has a Google rating of 5.0 from 2 reviews (November 2026).
A day here
Our summary of the nursery's website and Ofsted reports. Each feature links to where it came from.
Learning
Its website says the playgroup uses a play-based EYFS curriculum, a faith-based ethos, a school readiness programme and early phonics. It also names SEND support, speech and language support, an inclusive setting and children's yoga. At its 2023 Ofsted inspection, the overall effectiveness and quality of education were both graded Good.
- Play-based EYFS curriculumSource: nursery website
- Faith-based ethosSource: nursery website
- School readiness programmeSource: nursery website
- Early phonicsSource: nursery website
Settling in
Its website says the playgroup uses a key person system.
- Key person systemSource: nursery website
- Flexible sessionsSource: nursery website
- Term-time onlySource: nursery website
- Half-day sessionsSource: nursery website
- Toilet training supportSource: nursery website
- Small group sizesSource: nursery website
SEND and inclusion
- SEND supportSource: nursery website
- Speech and language supportSource: nursery website
- Inclusive settingSource: nursery website
Safety
At its 2023 Ofsted inspection, safeguarding was judged effective.
- Online learning journalSource: nursery website
Extras and activities
- Children's yogaSource: nursery website
Getting a place
Its website says to get in touch to express interest or send an application form, after which the playgroup contacts you to arrange a visit. The playgroup has a waiting list. It accepts funded hours for 2-year-olds and the universal 15 funded hours for 3-4 year olds.
Compare nurseries nearby
| Nursery | Ofsted | Full day from | Hours | Ages | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St John's Church PlaygroupThis nursery | Good | not shared yet | 09:00–15:00 | 2–4 yrs | This nursery |
| Bexley Day Nursery LimitedFull-day nursery | Not yet inspected | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 0.2 miles |
| Little Wings Big Dreams NurseryFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 07:30–18:00 | 3 mo–5 yrs | 0.4 miles |
| Super Kiddies Day Care.Sessional pre-school | Good | not shared yet | 08:45–14:45 | from 18 mo | 0.4 miles |
| Wonder Zone NurseryFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 07:30–18:30 | not shared yet | 0.4 miles |
| Monkey Puzzle WellingFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 07:30–18:30 | 3 mo–5 yrs | 0.5 miles |
| First Step Daycare & Nursery LtdFull-day nursery | Report card 2026 | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 0.6 miles |
A dash means the nursery hasn't published it yet. Distances are in a straight line.
- All nurseries in Welling8
- All nurseries in Bexley93
- All nurseries in DA1616
- Nurseries near Welling station
Nearby areas
Schools nearby
- Danson Primary School Primaryages 4–11Ofsted: Improved significantlyinspected May 2025 0.3 miles
- Foster's Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: School remains Good (Improving)inspected February 2024 0.5 miles
- Hook Lane Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: School remains Goodinspected May 2023 0.5 miles
- Aspire Academy ages 5–11Ofsted: Goodinspected March 2023 0.5 miles
- St Stephen's Catholic Primary School Primaryages 5–11Ofsted: Report cardinspected April 2026 0.5 miles
- Crook Log Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: School remains Goodinspected April 2024 0.6 miles
- Barrington Primary School Primaryages 4–11Ofsted: Standards maintainedinspected July 2025 0.6 miles
- St Michael's East Wickham Church of England Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Goodinspected November 2022 0.8 miles
Straight-line distances. Places depend on each school's admissions rules. From the Department for Education and Ofsted.
Questions parents ask
Got a question? Ask and get an answer straight away.
How much does St John's Church Playgroup cost?
St John's Church Playgroup publishes these fees: half day £20 for all ages (nursery website, November 2026). Funded hours and Tax-Free Childcare can reduce what you pay.
Does St John's Church Playgroup offer 15 funded hours?
Yes. St John's Church Playgroup offers the 15 funded hours for 3 and 4-year-olds.
Does St John's Church Playgroup take funded 2-year-olds?
Yes. St John's Church Playgroup offers funded places for eligible 2-year-olds.
What are St John's Church Playgroup's opening hours?
St John's Church Playgroup opens 09:00–15:00, Mon; 09:00–12:00, Tue–Fri.
Is St John's Church Playgroup open all year?
No. St John's Church Playgroup is open term time only.
What ages does St John's Church Playgroup take?
St John's Church Playgroup takes children aged 2 years to 4 years.
What is St John's Church Playgroup's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated St John's Church Playgroup Good at its inspection on 28 February 2023, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.
How many children can St John's Church Playgroup take?
St John's Church Playgroup is registered with Ofsted for up to 32 children at any one time.
What approach does St John's Church Playgroup follow?
St John's Church Playgroup's website describes its approach as: Play-based EYFS curriculum, Faith-based ethos, School readiness programme and Early phonics.
Does St John's Church Playgroup have outdoor space?
St John's Church Playgroup lists: Own garden.
Does St John's Church Playgroup support children with SEND?
St John's Church Playgroup lists: SEND support, Speech and language support and Inclusive setting.
What is the nearest station to St John's Church Playgroup?
Welling is the nearest station we know of, 0.6 miles away in a straight line.
How do I contact St John's Church Playgroup?
You can call 07719 341984 and visit www.stjohnschurchplaygroup.com.
Tools for parents in Bexley
- Childcare cost calculatorMonthly cost with funded hours
- Funded hours checkerWhich schemes you qualify for
- Funded hours start dateWhen your child's hours begin
- Tax-Free Childcare calculatorThe 20% top-up on your bill
- Visit checklist for this nurseryPrintable questions, pre-filled
- Cost of nursery in BexleyFees by age in Bexley
About this information
- Registration and inspections: Ofsted · 30 June 2026
- Fees, hours and features: the nursery's website (www.stjohnschurchplaygroup.com) · 11 November 2026
- Rating and review themes: Google · 11 November 2026
- Schools: DfE Get Information about Schools · 4 November 2026
- Contains Ofsted data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Quotes from Ofsted inspection reports, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains Department for Education data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains Ofsted data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right; contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right.
- © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Powered by TfL Open Data
- Food hygiene rating from the Food Standards Agency, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Read reviews on Google
- From the nursery's website, with the page link and date checked
Last checked 11 November 2026 · Ofsted URN 115370 · Plain-text version · Report a mistake
Is this your nursery? Claim it free to correct details, add photos and answer parents' questions.
Claim it free