Merry Go Round Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Sandwich for children from birth to 5, open 09:15 to 17:45, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2024. Open since 2004, with 26 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
CT13 0QPWhat 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, 6 February 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The manager of this family-oriented pre-school is passionate about providing children with a good start in life. Staff welcome children in with a guiding hand or a cuddle. Children come in happily and enjoy the many activities set out ready for them. Staff sit close by children and support them to play together and to feel settled. Staff are clear with their expectations of children's behaviour. Consequently, children behave well towards one another and know how to use the equipment safely.
The manager and staff have a good understanding of what children need to learn and why. They work hard to involve all children in learning by listening to their interests and including these in their planning. Staff understand that all children are unique and learn differently. Most staff work well to provide the right level of support to each child to meet their needs. Indoors, children enjoy practising their fine motor skills with diggers in the sand and tweezers in the water tray. They thoroughly enjoy using the garden space, where they smile and giggle as they swing, climb, ride and build.
Staff focus on supporting children to build the fundamental skills to support them in their next steps of learning. They use clear instructions and patiently allow children to try and practise new skills themselves. Children grow in independence and confidence and their social skills blossom.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen the arrangements for staff supervision, coaching and training to ensure consistency in the quality of teaching across staff n review and improve transition periods so that children are consistently engaged in meaningful learning.
- 6 February 2024Good
- 16 May 2018Good
- 7 October 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Merry Go Round Pre-School
- 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.