St Nicholas Playgroup
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A day nursery in Rochester for children from birth to 5, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 2017, 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 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 4TRWhat 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, 7 October 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Families are warmly welcomed at this home-from-home happy playgroup. Staff offer regular cuddles and comfort to support children's emotional well-being.
Children excitedly explore the activities set up for them, based on their needs and interests. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are provided with stimulating and engaging experiences to support their development.
For example, they delight in using sponges to explore making bubbles, remaining highly focused and involved. Staff immediately respond to their needs, joining in with them to extend their learning. This successfully supports their concentration and understanding.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to recognise when to offer children further encouragement to try to do things independently.
- 7 October 2024Good
- 2 May 2024Inadequate
- 2 October 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for St Nicholas Playgroup
- 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.