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Dawes Community Childcare Centre

Ofsted: Good
(Sept 2024)
·
4.0(21 parent reviews) ·The DCA Centre, The Playing Fields, Faversham, ME13 9JG · Kent
Number of places
36 places
Age range
2–5 yrs
Last inspected
Sept 2024
Local authority
Kent

About this day nursery

Dawes Community Childcare Centre, nestled in Faversham, provides a nurturing environment for children spanning from two to eleven years old. The centre prides itself on a team of highly skilled and seasoned childcare professionals dedicated to fostering the development of each child.

Beyond its core pre-school offerings, DCA Childcare extends its services to include vital wrap-around care with both breakfast and after-school clubs, catering to the needs of working families. This ensures a seamless day for children, filled with engaging activities and consistent supervision.

The centre actively supports families in navigating the complexities of childcare funding, readily accepting various government schemes. Their commitment to quality is underscored by a 'Good' rating across all areas in their latest OFSTED inspection, reflecting a secure and stimulating setting for young learners.

The emphasis on experienced educators and a broad age range exemplifies their holistic approach to childcare, from early learning foundations to supporting older children.

What it's like

Children thrive in the nurturing environment created by staff. They use sign language to indicate how they are feeling and discuss what is making them feel happy or sad. Children are very happy, well mannered and friendly towards each other, and staff have high expectations for them to be confident and independent.

OFSTED Rated GoodExperienced EducatorsOffers Breakfast and After School Clubs

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare
Pricing on request

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

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Key facts

Opening hours

pre-school children on Monday to Thursday from 9am to 3pm. The setting also offers a breakfast club everyday from 8am to 8.45am, and an out-of-school club on Monday to Thursday from 3.15pm to 5.30pm and until 5pm on Friday

Age range

2 - 11 years

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Dawes Community Childcare Centre

Last inspected 5 September 2024

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Children thrive in the nurturing environment created by staff. They use sign language to indicate how they are feeling and discuss what is making them feel happy or sad. Children are very happy, well mannered and friendly towards each other, and staff have high expectations for them to be confident and independent.

Inspector highlights

  • Leaders implement an ambitious curriculum that supports all children's learning and development.
  • Staff successfully help children to develop a love of books.
  • Children learn about different cultures and customs.
  • Snack and lunchtime is a lovely social occasion which staff and children enjoy together.
  • Staff benefit from ongoing, good-quality supervisions.

Areas to develop

  • 1strengthen the support for children to follow their own interests and explore their own ideas to embed their learning
  • 2support staff to use language and interactions that encourage fuller responses from children to further encourage their communication and language skills.
Inspection #10351055 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents feedback that children are keen to use the skills at home that that they have learned at nursery.

Parents feedback that they love the homely and family feel of the nursery.

They feel fully supported by staff with changes like toilet training.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Leaders use effective assessment methods to identify those who may need more additional support. Swift referrals mean that children get any additional help they need from other professionals. This prevents them from falling behind and ensures that they make good progress. The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Outdoor space

The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

Parent Reviews of Dawes Community Childcare Centre

4.0
(21)
Gemma Smith
6 years ago

My daughter has left DCA this summer after having an excellent 2 years there. It’s located in a beautiful setting and has a wide range of activities always going on. The nursery has a great outdoor area with pirate ship, water table, mud kitchen etc. All staff are friendly and caring towards the children and very approachable to the parents. My daughters key worker was Chloe and I couldn’t recommend her highly enough, always going that extra mile to make my daughters day at nursery a fun and happy one, always coming home with a smile on her face. I would most definitely recommend this nursery.

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A O
3 years ago

My daughter has been going here for a year and a half now and she absolutely loves it. It’s a smaller setting, so children really have the chance to flourish and build friendships. My daughter’s confidence and speech has really improved since attending DCA. She looks forward to it every morning which demonstrates how much fun she has. Thank you Hanan and Donna in particular for helping my daughter transition into a pre schooler, the early years really do matter!

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Sarah Piercy
6 years ago

A lovely small pre school setting with such experienced and caring staff. My son settled in amazingly quickly and has had the best time over the last year. He is always so happy to go in and enjoys the wide variety of activities that are offered, be it biscuit decorating or card making or playing dinosaurs in the swamp. I would highly recommend if you are local to Hernhill!

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N P
5 years ago

Lovely and warm small village nursery. The staff is very knowledgeable and warm. My eldest daughter went there for breakfast/after school club and still has warmest memories. Youngest is leaving this year to go to primary and absolutely adores Hanan and the team.

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K Monks
6 years ago

DCA is a warm caring childcare setting. Having used it often. The staff are knowledgeable, bubbly, caring, warm and best of all fun. Putting the fun into well planned and prepared learning. The nature walks, open space outside, warm and cosy well thought out inside is just right. They mark special occasions and put a lot of effort in, not just with the little ones but after school children too.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Dawes Community Childcare Centre. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: March 2011

  • September 2024Good
  • October 2018Good
  • April 2016Good
  • May 2013Requires improvement
  • March 2011Good

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