Bright Start Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Margate for children from birth to 8+, open 07:45 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2022. Open since 2012, with 78 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Kent
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Kent from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
CT9 5QTWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 12 May 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children happily enter the nursery. Staff instantly engage children in conversations about the exciting activities they have ready in the rooms. Children settle very quickly into this family orientated, homely nursery. They enjoy freely selecting their favourite toys to play with. Children confidently explore their surroundings and engage readily with staff. They smile as they cuddle up to their key person.
Children show exemplary behaviour. They are caring, sensitive and kind towards their friends. They enjoy gently brushing each other's hair and giggling while playing hairdressers. Children like to show each other new skills, such as rolling play dough and making play dough 'surprises' for each other. They focus on activities, listen well and participate fully to benefit from the learning opportunities on offer.
Staff provide a range of interesting activities. Younger children have fun exploring with paint and water activities. Older children enjoy sensory ice play and learn how to care for animals. Staff have high expectations for all children. They ensure all children can benefit from the activities on offer, including those with special educational needs/and or disabilities (SEND). The curriculum is skilfully planned to build on what children already know and their current interests. For example, they use the children's love of dinosaurs to create a sand play activity, freeing dinosaurs from blocks of ice and painting dinosaur fossils.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: - strengthen practice to ensure that all staff make the most of all opportunities to extend children's communication and language.
- 12 May 2022Good
- 30 January 2017Good
- 12 June 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Bright Start Nursery
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.