Kiddie Kapers Neighbourhood Nursery
Good★ 4.4 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Ashford 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 Good by Ofsted in December 2023. Open since 2004, with 77 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
TN23 4EYWhat 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.
- 31 May 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 19 December 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy as they play and learn. Recent improvements to the way in which the curriculum is planned are having a positive impact on the outcomes for children. They become independent learners, which helps to prepare them for moving on through their education. They eagerly explore the resources on offer and concentrate well on activities. For example, children under two years have great fun as they play alongside their friends, covering a large sheet of paper with paint. Older children benefit from a balance of freely chosen and adult-led activities. For example, they engage in role-play games, creating stories as they take on different characters. They also learn how to follow instructions as staff demonstrate how to make play dough.
Children behave well. They form strong bonds with staff and approach them readily for attention and emotional support. Babies enjoy reassuring cuddles and respond well to the warm, friendly interaction from their trusted key person. Older children confidently engage in charming conversations with staff. They talk about their experiences as they make links between activities at the nursery and their home lives. For example, when making the play dough, they note that their parents use some of the ingredients when cooking. Staff recognise this opportunity to ask relevant questions to build on what children already know to extend their learning.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to further refine their skills in planning and delivering activities to avoid setting overly complex learning intentions and to consider practical issues such as group sizes and noise levels.
- 19 December 2023Good
- 26 June 2023Inadequate
- 6 October 2022Needs improvement
- 11 November 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 4 graded inspections.
Still missing for Kiddie Kapers Neighbourhood 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.