Smilers
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Rochester for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in June 2025. Open since 2003, with 52 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
ME3 8LEWhat 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, 30 June 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are greeted with warmth and enthusiasm by kind and caring staff who know them exceptionally well. Children confidently choose resources and activities that capture their interest and keep them engaged in play. For example, younger children are fascinated by the patterns created by wheels in paint and enjoy exploring the colours that blend. Meanwhile, older children experiment through trial and error to determine which car will travel down the drainpipe the quickest based on its shape, size and weight. Throughout the setting, children are fully immersed in their play, benefiting from the supportive interactions offered by the experienced staff.
The setting's curriculum is securely embedded and ambitious for all children. It has a current focus on children's communication and language, and their personal, social and emotional development. Effective assessments across the setting ensure that the curriculum and teaching reflect what children need the most. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are quickly identified, and support is put in place to help bridge gaps in their development. All children are making good progress from their starting points.
Staff maintain high expectations for children's behaviour. They teach children patience and cooperation, with an overarching value that everyone is treated with respect. Staff act as positive role models and are consistent in supporting children to understand the rules. Across the setting, the approaches used are tailored to the children's age and stage of development, supporting them to build their personal, social and emotional skills to align with the curriculum. Furthermore, staff teach children to value and celebrate their individual characters. Inclusion is embedded in daily practice.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to organise some daily routines more effectively so that all children remain engaged in learning n support staff to recognise when excessive noise levels may impact on children's ability to hear during activities aimed at promoting their language.
- 30 June 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 16 January 2025Inadequate Safeguarding: No
- 30 May 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Smilers
- 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.