Curious Explorers Nursery & Preschool, Bromstone

The grounds of Bromstone Junior School give Curious Explorers Nursery & Preschool, Bromstone its defining setting. Based on Rumfields Road in Broadstairs, it takes children aged two to five, with play, growing independence and preparation for school shaping the experience. This is care for toddlers and preschool children rather than babies.

At its July 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective. The detail behind that judgement matters: children chose activities independently, explored imaginative play and practised everyday tasks for themselves. There were also two clear areas requiring attention, concerning consistent boundaries during play and the purpose of group activities.

Attendance is term-time only, with morning, afternoon and all-day patterns alongside short Early Bird Session and Late Session options. The practical fit needs careful attention because the opening and session times differ across the nursery's current information.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: here, children learn through play, make choices and spend time in organised activities as well as pursuing their own interests. It is the foundation of the provision, rather than an additional programme. Regular routines give the day a recognisable shape while leaving children room to decide what to explore.

Activities respond to individual development, and staff build on what a child can already do. That makes the approach relevant to families who want learning to grow from their child's interests. The balance between self-chosen play and structured periods also means that independence and participation both have a place in the day.

In July 2023, the physical environment included a station for making things with dough, a home corner and quieter spaces for sharing books. These offered different ways to participate: making, pretending and spending calmer time with another child. Children could choose between activities rather than follow a single whole-group task throughout their play.

Dinosaur play supplied a concrete example in July 2023. Children used sticks, leaves and chia seeds to create imaginary habitats, while adults introduced descriptive language and shared related books. An interest in prehistoric creatures became an opportunity to connect texture, storytelling and conversation. The materials did useful work.

Independence also reached snack time in July 2023. Children could collect tableware themselves, attempt to cut fruit and vegetables, and count spaces before choosing a seat. These are manageable responsibilities with a clear purpose, helping children practise decisions through ordinary routines rather than only through planned activities.

Outdoor and Community Life

Bromstone Junior School provides the grounds in which the nursery is based. Outdoor play is part of the clothing arrangements: families provide suitable cold-weather clothes and Wellingtons, with a sun hat and shoulder-covering clothing for summer. Messy activities include paint and glue, so an apron bearing the child's name is recommended. Uniform is optional.

Relationships and Communication

First Days At Our Pre School provides an individual approach to settling. Parents can remain during the first session until their child is comfortable, and staff telephone after the parent leaves to explain how things are going. That gives the first separation a concrete follow-up rather than leaving a family waiting until collection for news.

Ongoing communication takes several forms. Families can exchange information at the end of sessions, receive newsletters explaining curriculum themes and attend parents' evenings to discuss observations. Daily observations inform planning, so conversations can connect a child's experiences with what staff plan next. For parents, this provides both immediate contact and a fuller opportunity to discuss development.

Preparation for school sits within that communication. Newsletters explain the term's learning, while parents' evenings provide time to consider children's experiences and development. The useful emphasis is on understanding the child and their next steps, rather than treating school readiness as a separate event at the end of preschool.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

In July 2023, a special educational needs coordinator had been appointed to organise arrangements for children requiring additional support. The nursery's current approach also takes account of individual needs relating to language, religion and culture when planning children's experiences. The practical starting point is the individual child.

Health arrangements carry consequences for family routines. Children with a temperature or infectious illness should stay at home, and vomiting or diarrhoea requires an absence lasting 48 hours after symptoms stop. Staff aim to contact parents immediately following an accident, arrange medical attention when needed and communicate even minor incidents. These are concrete procedures families can plan around.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Bromstone Cp School, Rumfields Road, Broadstairs, CT10 2PW. Attendance follows school terms, with school holidays excluded. This makes the nursery a practical option for families whose childcare needs follow the term calendar; holiday care needs a separate arrangement.

The morning session runs from 8.45am to 12.15pm. Afternoon attendance runs from 12.15pm to 3.45pm and includes the lunch hour. All-day attendance is also offered. The Bromstone setting additionally names an Early Bird Session from 8.30am to 9am and a Late Session from 3pm to 3.15pm.

Opening hours need clarification alongside those booking choices: the Bromstone schedule gives Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm, while the funding arrangements give an opening window of 8.30am to 4pm. The decision point is addressed below. Application forms can be collected or requested by post, and enquiries use the nursery's telephone or email contact.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes the 15-hour Free Education Entitlement and Free for 2 funding for eligible families, plus extended 30 hours funding for eligible working families. Delivery is term-time, with the 15-hour entitlement described across 38 weeks. Taking the full 15 hours requires attendance on at least two days.

Bromstone's funding terms specify afternoon sessions for the first 15 funded hours. Families considering a morning or all-day pattern should distinguish the attendance choice from how funding is applied. Funding entitlement does not guarantee a particular attendance pattern or a place with this provider.

Private hours are charged when attendance exceeds the funded entitlement or a child has not yet reached the relevant funding cut-off. A registration charge applies to non-funded children, covers administration and settling, and may be paid in instalments where hardship applies. Families should obtain current prices in a written quotation; the funding and registration information explains the charge structure.

Sharing Bromstone Junior School's grounds does not guarantee a Reception place. Families still use the local authority admissions process for a state-school place.

• Timetable fit. The Bromstone opening schedule and funding timetable give different hours, and the afternoon session extends beyond the Late Session's finishing time. Confirm which timetable applies to your intended booking before committing.
• Afternoon funding. The Bromstone-specific funding condition assigns the first 15 funded hours to afternoon sessions, with the full entitlement spread over at least two days. This matters if mornings are central to your family routine.
• Boundaries and group activities. In July 2023, staff needed to give more consistent guidance about safe play and sharpen the learning purpose of group activities. During a visit, ask how these two aspects now work in practice.
• Your child's daily supplies. For a morning, afternoon or all-day booking, ask what families need to provide for lunch and personal care, and how any related charges apply to funded attendance.

Curious Explorers Bromstone suits families seeking term-time preschool care through morning, afternoon or all-day attendance, with short additional sessions also part of the offer. Individual settling arrangements and regular exchanges with parents give the relationship a practical shape. The July 2023 examples of imaginative play and everyday independence add substance to its educational character.

The timetable and afternoon funding condition deserve close attention before a booking. For families whose routines fit those arrangements, the appeal is a preschool experience built around play, manageable responsibilities and a gradual move towards school.