Hedgehogs Chatham Day Nursery
Good★ 3.7 on GoogleBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Chatham for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 18:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2024. Open since 2021, with 32 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 Medway
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Medway 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
ME4 6PXWhat 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.
- 3 April 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 6 April 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 30 July 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff welcome children and families with warmth at this 'home-away-from-home', inclusive environment, where children are at the heart of what they do. Staff are affectionate and attentive to the children, offering encouragement and praise regularly, which nurtures children's self-esteem and confidence. Staff prioritise children's safety and well-being effectively. They help children to choose sun hats from the 'summer shop', discussing with them how to keep themselves safe in the sun. This helps children develop a positive understanding of how to keep themselves healthy.
Children benefit from a wide range of inspiring activities designed to meet their interests and needs. Older children sustain high levels of engagement when exploring how to 'catch' gems in water. Staff encourage them to remember previous learning following their interest in volcanoes. Younger children delight in playing peekaboo with staff, giggling as they wait to open their eyes. This helps develop their attention and listening skills effectively. Staff foster a positive learning environment, encouraging children to water the fruits and vegetables they have planted, which enhances their sense of responsibility. Children are well behaved, promptly assisting in tidying up and gathering toys when asked. Those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive effective support. All children flourish.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to recognise when children can attempt to do things more for themselves, to support their developing independence skills further n strengthen processes for using information from parents, including other languages spoken at home, to aid settling-in processes.
- 30 July 2024Good
- 31 October 2023Needs improvement
- 29 November 2022Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 1 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Hedgehogs Chatham Day 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.