ABOUT US

High Quality Childcare and Education

Our Ethos and Values

A child’s early years are the most important years of their lives. Therefore, we strive to provide high quality childcare and education for all children that is appropriate to their individual needs and interests. This is provided for in a positive, respectful environment, by supportive adults sensitive to the individual needs of the child and their family.

Working in partnership with parents/carers is vital for effective holistic learning and development for the child. This is achieved by building relationships with the child and family through the Key Person Approach. The Key person will support each child’s learning and development by helping to ‘stretch’ the child but not push them beyond their capabilities.

We engage the children by adapting the environment to their current interests and this can change a lot! We love natural, open-ended resources! The children can use them in any which way they want to, they become more curious, more intrigued and they become critical thinkers. We let children find out things by themselves, but as the adults we support and extend on what they discover. What? I wonder, will they learn today?

Large Roof Top Garden

A unique, safe and secure rooftop garden with views across Chatham Maritime Marina. Bespoke wooden garden furniture and apparatus that conforms to RoSPA standards and a large selection of resources tailored to meet the needs of children for each age and stage encompassing the seven areas of learning in the EYFS 2017.

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Key Person Approach

Children thrive from a base of loving and secure relationships. A key person is a named member of staff at Dockside Day Nursery with responsibilities for a small group of children who helps those children in the group feel safe, supported and cared for. The role is essential to the well-being and development of young children in early years settings. Your child's key person responds sensitively to your child's feelings and behaviours and meets emotional needs by giving reassurance, comfort and support.

Your child's key person will support physical needs such as nappy changing and toileting, feeding and sleep routines when they are younger and is the familiar person who is a point of contact for parents and carers to build a relationship and feedback about each child's day, working together to promote learning and development.

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What Do Our Parents Say?

'Dockside Nursery is fantastic. The staff are absolutely amazing, and my son loves going to nursery. He is progressing so well and excited to go to "school" every day. He takes part in so many activities and the staff create special activities for him based on the things he likes. I couldn't ask for better staff to take care of my child. They were so reassuring when my son first started, taking everything at a pace both me and my son were comfortable with. The continuing care and support is amazing. I honestly can't praise this nursery enough.'

Beckie M (Mother of Child)

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'Excellent caring staff! My daughter has been at home with me 2 years so I thought it would be stressful to start her at nursery, which it was naturally, but she quickly formed close relationships with the staff as they are all caring and patient. She enjoys herself and I have to say everyone reassured me as well! I’m now starting my 1 year old. I know they are in good hands and all the children here play together really nicely. Definitely recommend.'

Ashlea C W (Mother of Child)

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'We were nervous about sending our son to a nursery due to the fact that he had never spent any long periods of time away from home and also because he has multiple food allergies. We viewed a few nurseries but as soon as we viewed Dockside we knew it was the right one for us! The staff are lovely and very experienced and knowledgeable, and the facilities are excellent. We were very impressed by the wide range of meals provided and the fact that every allergy was catered for and taken seriously. Another worry of ours was whether our son would get enough 1-2-1 attention and how the staff would handle the fact that he is very difficult to get to sleep! We needn't have worried as they all have so much time for him and take as much time as needed to get him to sleep. He has very quickly formed a close attachment to his key worker and the nursery manager and that's all we can ask for. I am very pleased we chose this nursery for our son.'

Tania B (Mother of Child)

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'I absolutely love this nursery. My daughter started a few months ago. She is 3 years old and this is the first nursery she has attended. I was very uptight about leaving her and the nursery she would attend. When finding Dockside Day Nursery I surely didn’t hesitate to book a viewing. I can honestly say my daughter is so happy here and I have no worries leaving her on a daily basis. The resources are brilliant as they are very much age and stage of development based to reassure every child’s development is stimulated daily. My daughter has learnt so much within a few months and her speech has improved greatly. Upon collection, my daughter's Keyworker spends time talking me through my daughters day, their activities, and mealtimes, I cannot fault them in any area. the setting is also very clean and the security would reassure anybody. I couldn’t have asked for a better team that are so lovely, welcoming, helpful and enthusiastic. Dockside Day Nursery is defiantly a 5 Star!'

Demi S (Mother of Child)

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