Barbies Playschool and Selwyn House Nursery

Coastland exploration and visits to older residents gave Barbies Playschool and Selwyn House Nursery's 2025 programme a recognisably Broadstairs character. Outdoor learning extended beyond the garden, while shared activities with residents brought another generation into children's experience. That year's programme gives concrete examples of learning connected to the local community.

At its July 2025 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good overall and its safeguarding effective. The current age range is two to five, with 70 places in total. Flexible attendance and term-time funded patterns give families several ways to organise childcare.

There is a qualification to the positive picture: teaching did not consistently stretch children's learning in July 2025. The strongest decision is therefore about the everyday experience of the child's own group, alongside the appeal of the wider activities.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guides learning through play. Drawing, painting, water, sand and natural materials give children ways to express ideas, while puzzles and games encourage them to work things out. Story and snack times also provide opportunities to practise concentration. These play-based experiences give children opportunities to express themselves, solve problems and practise concentration.

In July 2025, older children investigated how to free sea creatures trapped in ice. The task combined problem-solving with cooperation: children had something tangible to investigate and a reason to share ideas. Conversation was woven into activities too, including introducing the word Neapolitan while children made ice-cream pictures with coloured foam.

Physical activity had substance at that time. Children explored trees and practised climbing in the forest school, an outdoor setting for learning through exploration. Egg-and-spoon races added coordination practice during sports-day activities. The emphasis was on using their bodies and attempting manageable challenges, rather than simply spending time outside.

Outdoor and Community Life

For Term 6 in 2025, Barbies Coastal Explores used the local coastland for outdoor learning about the environment and community, alongside language, early mathematics and art. Sessions ran weekly for small groups on a rota involving Yellow, Forest and Red class. That rota matters: sessions ran weekly, with participation organised across small groups.

In the 2025 programme, Barbies Maurice Minors @ Maurice House Royal British Legion linked school leavers with residents through shared activities. The 2025 programme included baking, singing, Lego and nature walks. Its practical appeal is the opportunity to spend time with people beyond the nursery's usual age group, with activities that give children and residents something to do together.

The July 2025 calendar also included the annual school-leaver trip to Wingham Wildlife Park and a School Transition day. These added a larger outing and an explicit preparation point for moving on. They are examples from that year's programme, rather than promises about the next calendar.

Relationships and Communication

Taster visits form part of settling in, and children can bring a comforter when they need it. In July 2025, settling arrangements were tailored to the child and family, with attention continuing as children moved between groups and towards school. That makes settling a continuing relationship, rather than a single introductory visit.

Parents have private access to their child's online learning journal and can contribute photographs themselves. This gives families a way to follow development and add experiences from home. In July 2025, staff also exchanged information in person at both ends of the day and updated online developmental records; videos demonstrating the sign of the week offered another connection between home and nursery.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the July 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that staff understood children's individual development and worked with other professionals to support children with SEND and those learning English as an additional language, using visual prompts and signing. In that month, additional funding supported individual help and a sensory circuit, a resource used to help children manage emotions and behaviour.

For ongoing medical needs, the nursery uses an individual healthcare plan and a long-term medication form. Short-term medicine requires parental permission through a medication form, with medicines signed in and out. These are useful practical mechanisms for agreeing how a child's needs will be handled.

Security arrangements include electronic entry and CCTV covering classrooms and the garden. Another adult collecting a child must be identified to the nursery and know the child's collection password. These arrangements describe the collection process; the dated safeguarding judgement remains the relevant assessment of its effectiveness.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 64 St Peters Road, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 2ST. Opening hours are 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. The newer pricing terms describe a 47-week operating year, with breaks at Christmas and in summer.

Flexible hours can be booked within the opening window, and the registration form also allows parents to request AM, lunchtime and PM attendance by weekday. Funded term-time examples include 9am to 2pm over three days or 8am to 3.30pm over two days for the 15-hour entitlement. For the 30-hour entitlement, examples are 9am to 3pm or 8am to 2pm over five days. These are alternative delivery patterns, not a minimum booking requirement for every family.

Enquiries can be made on 01843 862120 or by email to barbiesplayschool@btinternet.com. Places are allocated in application order. Ending a place requires at least one month's written notice, and fees may apply throughout that period even if attendance stops.

Funding and Paid Extras

Free Early Education (FEE) is offered through 15-hour and 30-hour arrangements, subject to eligibility. Delivery can be term-time across 38 weeks or stretched across up to 47 weeks; stretched provision is described for children eligible for 30-hour funding. Funded hours carry no additional fees unless parents choose hours beyond their entitlement, and a registration charge applies when those additional hours are taken.

Parents supply lunch, while an 8am start includes a complimentary cereal-and-fruit breakfast; morning and afternoon snacks are also provided, and the lunch policy asks families to avoid nuts. Dietary needs can be discussed during settling.

Private attendance is paid in advance, including absences and holidays taken during the operating year. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation, so the attendance pattern and any extra hours can be considered together.

• Teaching in the child's group. July 2025 identified inconsistent extension of learning by some staff. During a visit, ask how practitioners build on an activity once a child has mastered the first step.
• Outdoor participation. The 2025 coastal programme rotated small groups from Yellow, Forest and Red class. Ask how coastal activities fit into the programme for the group your child would join.
• Lunch and dietary needs. Families provide packed lunches and the nursery asks for lunches to exclude nuts. Confirm the current allergy arrangements and whether your child's lunch needs can be accommodated.

Barbies suits families seeking flexible hours, morning or afternoon attendance, or funded term-time patterns. Its 2025 programme showed learning beyond the nursery through coastal exploration, intergenerational activities and preparation for moving on to school.

The July 2025 Good judgement provides a positive assessment, with a specific teaching issue to weigh. For parents who value community experiences and an active home-nursery exchange, this is a setting with clear reasons to investigate further.