Smilers Ltd
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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 October 2024. Open since 2001, with 70 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
ME2 4JYWhat 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, 29 October 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are highly engaged in their learning. Staff provide a stimulating environment that excites children. They look at what children need to learn next and how they like to learn and use this information to plan next steps in learning effectively. For example, children show an interest in animals. Staff set up an exploration area with books, pictures and an interactive globe. They use this activity to support children to extend their knowledge about animals around the world. Children learn about different animals and their habitats, such as penguins, snakes and turtles. This helps to extend children's knowledge and understanding of the world.
Staff act as good role models. They demonstrate how they would like children to behave and help them to understand the expectations, such as using good manners. Children have made close friendship groups. They show respect and consideration for each other when playing and interacting. For example, when playing a posting game, they share the coins out and take turns to post them in the hole. Staff use positive strategies to help to manage children's feelings and frustrations. For example, they talk to children about their feelings to help support their emotional well-being. Children's behaviour is good.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to use children's emerging interests during self-chosen play to help build on their learning further.
- 29 October 2024Good
- 22 February 2019Good
- 28 April 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Smilers Ltd
- 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.