St Aidans Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Gravesend for children from birth to 8+, open 09:00 to 12:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2025. Open since 1992, with 35 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
DA12 4JLWhat 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, 5 February 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
All children are settled, confident and very happy during their time at the friendly nursery. All staff have a clear understanding of how they successfully implement their challenging curriculum. They know what all children like and dislike, and this helps them plan interesting activities that they know will help keep children motivated to learn. For example, children are keen to explore flowers. Staff teach children about how they grow and talk about their senses as they encourage children to smell them. Children go on to paint flowers and make 'magic potions'
using water and flower petals. Children are confident to communicate and share their ideas with confidence. For example, they use instruments, such as maracas and guitars, and sing enthusiastically into a microphone, as they perform songs to their friends.
Staff teach children about the importance of following good hygiene routines. For example, they talk about the importance of handwashing and discuss oral health, as they become 'dentists'. Staff provide children with good opportunities to build on their physical skills. This is demonstrated when they confidently and safely negotiate climbing and balancing equipment. Children ride bikes with confidence, being aware of the space around them. All children learn to move in different ways.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- help staff gain confidence to consistently provide children with clear explanations of why they are being asked to follow a particular instruction n support staff to consistently provide children with consistent opportunities to complete tasks themselves.
- 5 February 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 24 May 2019Good
- 20 May 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for St Aidans 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.