Daisychains Nursery

Outdoor space belongs to every stage at Daisychains Nursery: each room has its own outside area, children share a garden, and supervised play extends into the grounds of St George’s Primary School in Minster on Sea. That gives the setting a clear physical character, from babies exploring beside their room to older children playing across the school site.

At its September 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated Daisychains Good and found safeguarding effective, with positive findings on children’s independence and support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Two improvements were required: extending children’s language more consistently and keeping older children engaged during changes of activity.

Daisychains accepts children from three months, with Blossom Room, Buttercup Room and Daisy Room providing successive stages of care. Morning and afternoon sessions sit alongside flexible early and late attendance, with both year-round and term-time contracts.

Rooms and Ages

Blossom Room takes children from three months to two years, combining toys for early exploration with an attached outdoor area and a dedicated, continuously supervised sleeping area.

Buttercup Room serves children from two years to preschool age, mixing quiet play, messy activities and more structured experiences to develop vocabulary, confidence and independence, with a small resting area, its own outdoor space and access to the shared garden.

Daisy Room takes children from three years, using creative activities, language and mathematical resources, shared play and decision-making to prepare children for school, alongside its own outdoor area and the shared garden.

Room moves depend on readiness, with age bands serving as guides rather than automatic birthday thresholds.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage sets the learning, development and care framework: here, children learn through play, choose activities and have their progress recorded by a key person. It is the foundation of the nursery day, with observations informing what staff plan for individual children.

In September 2024, projected fish and leaves drew babies’ attention to the floor, while an interest in bugs prompted older children to examine leaves through magnifying glasses. Play encouraged close observation.

In September 2024, picture choices for refreshments, putting lunch boxes away and checking face-washing in a mirror developed independence. Cars on guttering and beanbags in buckets made counting part of play.

Outdoor and Community Life

All-weather play calls for warm clothes and muddy footwear in winter, shoulder-covering tops and sunhats in summer. Uniform is optional.

In September 2024, blocks and planks became balancing courses for older children; crawling and walking supported babies’ physical development.

Relationships and Communication

Each child’s key person records development in a learning journal throughout nursery attendance. Parents review and contribute to it, connecting home experiences with nursery planning.

Blossom Room settling sessions familiarise babies with nursery and staff with home routines, which they aim to follow closely. A continuously monitored sleep area provides space for rest.

In September 2024, staff shared learning information between stages and used name sounds and letter shapes in school preparation. Healthy-eating recipes and book and bath bags brought school-readiness activities home.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

The SENDCo works with families, practitioners and the child’s key person to agree and review individual targets. Where appropriate, that work can involve a Speech and Language Therapist, an Occupational Therapist or The Specialist Teaching and Learning Service. Parents can raise concerns during settling or later through their key person, manager or SENDCo.

Makaton provides signs alongside spoken words, and a Visual Timetable can help explain what happens next. These give children another way to understand communication and routines. At the September 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that pictures, signing and collaboration with parents and professionals supported children with SEND to make good progress.

Single-level rooms, ramped entrances and accessible toilet and changing facilities support access. A paved path approaches the buildings uphill.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Chequers Road, Minster-on-Sea, Sheerness, Kent ME12 3QU, on the St. Georges CE Primary School site. Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01795 876473 or by email at info@daisychainsnursery.org.uk.

Fixed morning sessions run from 9am to noon; fixed afternoon sessions run from noon to 3pm. Children attend the whole of either fixed session. The flexible Early Morning Session runs from 7.45am to 9am, with starts at 7.45am, 8am or 8.30am. The flexible Late Afternoon Session is listed as 3pm to 6pm, with collection at half-hour intervals from 3.30pm.

Daily opening hours are 7.45am to 5.30pm Monday to Wednesday, 7.45am to 6pm on Thursday and 7.45am to 5pm on Friday. The later session therefore needs to be considered alongside the day-specific closing times, rather than treated as an identical extension throughout the week.

Contracts cover 51 weeks or 38 term-time weeks, with terms aligned wherever possible to the KCC PVI Calendar. Two days’ weekly attendance is recommended for settling, even for short sessions, rather than required.

The admissions pattern is important for planning a start. Outside the baby room, the annual intake is in September, and the request window begins on 1 March or the following working day when that date falls at a weekend. Baby-room requests can be made throughout the year. Siblings receive first consideration, followed by requests in order of receipt.

Getting There

Parking is outside the school gates. The uphill paved approach to the modular buildings matters for families using buggies or mobility aids.

Sharing the school site does not guarantee a Reception place at St George’s Primary School. Families still need to use the local authority admissions process for a school place.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes up to 15 hours for eligible two-year-olds from the term after their second birthday, universal funding of up to 15 hours for three- and four-year-olds from the term after their third birthday, and extended funding of up to 30 hours for eligible three- and four-year-olds. These arrangements are described over 38 weeks, with eligibility confirmation required before the relevant term starts. Additional attendance beyond funded hours is paid privately.

Private fees are invoiced monthly in advance, and booked sessions remain chargeable during sickness or holidays. Invoices are emailed and can also be viewed through the ParentZone App. Arriving after the booked start or collecting before the booked finish does not reduce the session charge. Current prices should form part of the nursery’s written quotation.

A conditionally refundable deposit is required when accepting a place. It is returned on leaving after at least one calendar month of attendance, but can be retained if a child withdraws before starting or leaves without the required notice. Leaving before the move to primary school requires one month’s notice; changes to hours must be requested in writing or through the app, with a month’s notice requested wherever possible.

Bank Holidays and nursery closures are not charged, except for staff development days that coincide with a child’s usual attendance. There are three such days per academic year, scheduled during school terms. The fees and funding information explains these contractual arrangements.

• Language and changes of activity. In September 2024, staff sometimes missed chances to develop vocabulary and conversation, and older children could lose engagement around lunchtime transitions. On a visit, ask how practitioners now extend conversations and organise these intervals.
• Late-session timing. The flexible afternoon session ends at 6pm, while daily opening hours finish earlier on Monday to Wednesday and Friday. Confirm which late collection options apply to the days you need.
• The September intake. Older-room admissions follow an annual September cycle, while baby-room requests can be made throughout the year. Match your intended start to that pattern when discussing joining.
• The funded-place quotation. Funded hours and additional paid attendance are separate arrangements. Ask for a written breakdown covering meals, snacks, nappies, wipes and any other extras alongside your intended sessions.

Daisychains suits families seeking fixed morning or afternoon sessions as well as flexible attendance around them, with a choice between term-time and year-round contracts. Room-level outdoor access, planned baby settling and individual SEND targets give parents concrete arrangements to weigh. The Good judgement from September 2024 is encouraging, balanced by specific work needed on language and transition routines. The annual intake and different daily closing times deserve close attention when choosing an attendance pattern.