Nurseries in Bexley

Bexley Council's January 2026 data records 4 private, voluntary and independent providers and 7 childminders in St Mary's and St James ward.

Across the whole borough there are 92 registered day nurseries and preschools and 273 registered childminders, with 208 childminders offering funded places.

For Bexley Village parents, widening the search slightly within DA5 can therefore add childminder options as well as nurseries and preschools.

Yes, but the hours differ sharply between local settings.

Bexley Manor Nursery School on Penhill Road currently operates 7:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday and offers funded places for eligible children.

By contrast, Old Bexley Village Pre school runs 9:30am to 12:30pm Monday to Friday during term time.

A parent working a full day therefore needs to distinguish between a day nursery and sessional preschool rather than comparing them as equivalent childcare.

No. Its current Bexley Council listing states that the premises do not allow it to provide the full 30 hours itself.

The preschool accepts children who use part of their entitlement there and complete the remaining funded hours at another setting.

This makes it a practical option for families using shared childcare, but not for parents wanting all 30 hours delivered at one location.

Yes. Bexley allows funded childcare to be used across up to 2 childcare sites, with no more than 10 funded hours in one day.

This means a child can attend a preschool for part of the entitlement and use a childminder or another nursery for the remaining hours.

If your preferred setting is full, Bexley Council states that you need to apply to another participating provider. A funding code does not reserve a particular nursery place.

Yes. Eligible working families can receive up to 30 funded hours a week from the term after their child reaches 9 months until school age.

The standard entitlement is 1,140 hours across 38 weeks.

Parents must keep their working parent eligibility current. The funded hours can be used at participating nurseries, preschools and childminders.

Usually not on its own.

Bexley school nursery classes commonly provide around 15 hours a week, with morning or afternoon sessions lasting up to 3 hours.

Families eligible for 30 hours can combine provision where necessary, but Bexley Council states that parents generally cannot simply pay to extend a school nursery session. A private nursery or childminder is needed where additional childcare is required.

For children due to start a Bexley school nursery in September 2027, applications open on 16 January 2027 and close on 6 April 2027.

Bexley allows parents to list up to 3 nursery preferences.

School nursery classes can be heavily oversubscribed, so parents who specifically want a school nursery should apply during the main application period rather than relying on a late application.

No. Bexley Council explicitly states that attending a nursery class does not give a child priority for Reception at the same school.

Parents must submit a separate Reception application through the normal primary admissions process.

This is important if you are choosing a nursery mainly because you want your child to attend that school's Reception class later.

Bexley Council reports that around 12% of children in its early years settings have an identified SEND.

Speech, language and communication is the largest identified area of need. The council also reports that early years screening indicates around 50% of children need some additional communication support at some point in their early learning.

Bexley's Early Years Team includes Area SENCOs and specialist officers who support nurseries with inclusion, additional funding, speech and language interventions and referrals to other professionals.

No. Early support should begin according to the child's identified needs rather than waiting for an Education Health and Care Plan.

Bexley's current early years programme includes speech and language interventions such as Early Talk Boost and WellComm, with the aim of supporting children earlier and reducing unnecessary escalation to an EHCP.

Bexley Council delivers children's centre and Best Start Family Hub services throughout the borough rather than only from one building in Bexley Village.

Current 2026 services include baby weighing and developmental reviews, infant feeding support, parenting programmes and early years groups at council run sites around the borough.

Families in Bexley Village can therefore use the borough programme alongside their nursery rather than relying on the nursery for every health or development concern.