Sunrise Day Nursery, Harrietsham

A former station master’s house, a downstairs baby room capped at six children and a separate preschool classroom give Sunrise Day Nursery, Harrietsham a recognisable shape. Beside Harrietsham railway station, the setting combines rooms across two floors with outdoor areas surfaced for use through the seasons. The youngest children have their own space; preschool children use a classroom beside the outdoor play area.

The nursery accepts children from six months to five years. At its 31 January 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated it Outstanding and found safeguarding effective. That is a dated judgement, rather than a description of a recent visit, but it gives parents a substantial account of the care and education assessed then.

Current arrangements include a key person allocated before settling begins, additional settling sessions according to the child’s needs and daily information shared through an online journal. These are useful practical supports for families making their first move into nursery care.

Rooms and Ages

The downstairs baby room accommodates up to six children aged six months to two years, while three upstairs rooms serve children aged two to three and a separate preschool room, in a mobile classroom beside the play area, accommodates up to ten children from age three. The baby-room cap is the useful size detail for parents of younger children: it describes that room’s maximum, rather than how many children attend on a particular day.

The preschool classroom stands apart from the main house. Parents comparing the stages should therefore consider the change in physical setting as well as the age band. This is a nursery with different spaces for successive stages of childhood, rather than one room serving the whole age range.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children’s learning, development and care. In everyday terms, learning and care belong together: conversation, play, movement and growing independence all contribute to the nursery day.

In January 2022, babies investigated colours and textures, while older children planned and made masks, using scissors and fastening ribbons. Stories also became play: children explored a bear hunt outdoors and served imaginary tea to a tiger. These examples show how a book or a creative task could lead into language, physical coordination and imaginative thinking rather than remaining a separate activity.

Mathematical ideas appeared in practical problems that January, including using a tape measure and counting the people in a room. Children also developed stories together with toy castles and dragons. The useful thread is participation: children had opportunities to make decisions, explain ideas and work with one another.

Outdoor and Community Life

Paving and artificial grass provide separate outdoor surfaces for younger and older children, with outdoor access throughout the day and year. A public footpath opposite the house provides a route for walks into the surrounding area. Outdoor time can therefore include both play on site and exploration beyond it.

In January 2022, the outdoor space supported riding, crawling, running and climbing, alongside construction with tyres, planks and large blocks. The materials gave children something to build and change, as well as somewhere to move.

Relationships and Communication

Settling starts with parents, their child and the allocated key person spending time together at a stay-and-play visit. Free settling sessions lasting two hours then give the child time at nursery without their parent; further sessions can be arranged around the child’s needs. The sequence allows familiarity to build before ordinary attendance begins.

A familiar member of staff acts as a buddy when the key person is away. The key person also works with parents on an individual plan covering care, wellbeing and learning, so information about home routines has a place in everyday planning.

Tapestry Learning Journal is the online platform for sharing experiences and development with families. It also carries sleep, meals and nappy-change records, accident forms and development reports each term. Parents can follow practical care alongside learning, rather than receiving only photographs of activities.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the January 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that staff extended learning for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those learning English as an additional language, while maintaining detailed communication with parents about learning at nursery and at home. This is the strongest assessment of support in the nursery’s inspection account.

Current staffing arrangements include independent vetting, access to training in child protection and behaviour management, a first aider in each room and designated safeguarding roles. These describe the arrangements in place; the safeguarding judgement remains the dated one above.

In January 2022, everyday independence included babies learning to feed themselves and older children pouring drinks and serving food. Dressing, handwashing and toileting were also part of the preschool children’s developing self-care. Such routines make care itself a learning opportunity.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is The Station House, Station Road, Harrietsham, ME17 1JA. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closure on bank holidays and for one week at Christmas.

Afternoon sessions form part of the attendance choices. Children are encouraged to be in before 9am for the morning’s shared start, and attendance twice a week is recommended for continuity. This is a recommendation, rather than a stated compulsory minimum.

Enquiries can be made through the contact form, which takes the child’s date of birth, proposed start date and required attendance pattern. Once the nursery has agreed it can meet a family’s requirements, joining involves a registration form and signed fee terms; both can be completed electronically.

Getting There

Parent-allocated parking is provided, and the nursery sits next to Harrietsham railway station. The position is useful for families considering rail travel, while the parking arrangement gives drivers a specific feature to weigh when planning their routine.

Funding and Paid Extras

Invoices are sent monthly in advance, with payment due within seven days; fees remain payable when a child is absent through illness or holiday. Joining carries a registration charge and a refundable deposit, and current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation.

Zebedees supplies lunches, while staff prepare snacks and teas on site; weekly menus are shared each term. The dietary arrangements cover most allergy, intolerance, medical and cultural needs, with individual requirements discussed with families.

Parents supply nappies, wipes and formula milk where needed. Children begin wearing uniform when they move into the nursery room, with a clothing list supplied to parents.

• The move between spaces. Babies use the downstairs room, children aged two to three use upstairs rooms, and preschool has a separate classroom. On a visit, ask how transitions between these spaces are introduced to your child.
• Attendance rhythm. Twice-weekly attendance is recommended, and the nursery encourages a morning start before 9am. Consider how that shared start fits your working pattern and your child’s routine.
• Dietary needs. Lunches come from Zebedees, with snacks and teas prepared on site. Families managing allergies should confirm current arrangements for their child with both parts of the food provision.
• Funded attendance. When discussing your proposed pattern, ask which funded entitlement can be used and how meals and other charges would apply to it.

Sunrise suits families seeking care from babyhood through preschool, including those planning afternoon attendance or care across the nursery’s opening day. The capped baby room, separate preschool space and year-round outdoor access give parents concrete features to compare.

The January 2022 judgement provides the quality benchmark. For the current offer, the most useful details are the planned settling sequence, familiar buddy cover and Tapestry communication. Together, they give families practical ways to build continuity between home and nursery.