Dimples Day Nursery Limited
Outstanding★ 4.1 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Darenth for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in November 2022. Open since 2002, with 155 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
DA2 7HTWhat 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, 7 November 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Throughout this vibrant and exciting nursery, children spend their days immersed in the serious business of exploring, investigating and learning. The atmosphere is alive with the sound of laughter, animated discussions and warm interactions.
Children of all ages form strong, trusting relationships with staff. They quickly realise that they will be treated with kindness and respect, and that their needs will be met. This provides even the youngest children with the secure foundation they need to be able to fully enjoy the experiences on offer.
Staff make excellent use of storytelling to enhance children's language skills. They make the absolute most of these activities to extend all areas of learning. For example, those working with the toddlers retell much-loved stories in the outdoor area. Children squeal with delight as they spy animals that staff have hidden along the forest trail. Staff are highly engaging in the telling of the story, and children are captivated and engrossed in the adventure. They make the sounds of the animals they identify, going on to predict the next animal to be found by making the sound before it has been discovered.
- 7 November 2022Outstanding
- 4 July 2018Outstanding
- 10 October 2013Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Dimples Day Nursery Limited
- 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.