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Footprints Day Care

Ofsted: Good
(Apr 2024)
·
5.0(9 parent reviews) ·2A Britannia Lane, Kingsnorth, Ashford, TN23 3SU · Kent
Number of places
104 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Apr 2024
Local authority
Kent

About this day nursery

Footprints Preschool, located in Ashford, provides a stimulating and nurturing environment for children from two and a half years old until they transition to school. Emphasising learning through play, the nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.

They boast distinct rooms tailored for various ages and activities, alongside a spacious one-acre garden that encourages exploration and learning. The preschool aims to foster self-confidence and independence in children, while also developing crucial social skills like sharing and turn-taking.

Their dedicated and fully qualified staff are committed to meeting the individual needs of each child. Footprints Preschool operates without rigid session times for 3 and 4-year-olds, offering flexible booking options to accommodate families' varying routines, including a large car park for easy drop-off and collection.

For younger children, specific session times are available. The nursery is open year-round, closing only for Bank Holidays, and provides fully inclusive pricing covering food, nappies, and wipes.

Our ethos

Footprints Preschool emphasises learning through play and follows the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. They aim to foster self-confidence and independence in children, alongside developing social skills.

What it's like

Children are happy and confident at this home-from-home nursery, separating from parents with ease and keen to seek out friends. They approach staff for support and have developed secure friendships, engaging in role play and showing determination to learn new skills. Staff provide encouragement and praise, promoting children's mastery of new skills.

Learning through playLarge outdoor spaceFlexible bookingAll-inclusive pricing

Pricing & funding

Fees are charged on a half-hourly basis and are fully inclusive of all meals, snacks, nappies, and wipes. For funded hours, a daily surcharge applies to cover these consumables, though parents have the option to supply their own instead.

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare
  • Hourly rate (3-5 years, Sep 2025)£7.50 / hour
  • Hourly rate (3-5 years, Sep 2026)£8.00 / hour
  • Hourly rate (3-5 years, Sep 2027)£8.50 / hour
  • Hourly rate (2.5-3 years, Sep 2025)£8.50 / hour
  • Hourly rate (2.5-3 years, Sep 2026)£9.20 / hour

Good to know

  • Fees are inclusive of meals, snacks, nappies, and wipes.
  • Funded hours incur a £6 daily surcharge for consumables, or parents can provide their own.
  • A deposit of 4 weeks' fees is required if weekly fees total £100 or more.
  • Charges are applied half-hourly, with a £5.00 fee per 15 minutes for early drop-off or late collection.
  • Accounts are settled monthly, with payments accepted weekly or monthly.
  • Accepts childcare vouchers and Tax-Free Childcare.

Key facts

Food

All meals and snacks are included in the price. Parents can provide food on funded days if they opt out of the surcharge.

Session types

Flexible (3-4 year olds), Session-based (2.5-3 year olds): 8am-2pm, 9am-2pm, 8am-6pm, Term-time only, All year round

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, 7:30am - 6:00pm

Age range

2.5 to 5 years

Term time / All Year

All Year

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Footprints Day Care

Last inspected 23 April 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 are happy and confident at this home-from-home nursery, separating from parents with ease and keen to seek out friends. They approach staff for support and have developed secure friendships, engaging in role play and showing determination to learn new skills. Staff provide encouragement and praise, promoting children's mastery of new skills.

Inspector highlights

  • The managers inspire staff with their passion and drive for all to achieve, maintaining clear oversight of activities and teaching quality.
  • Staff consider how the environment supports children's early writing skills, with materials available and regular support for mark making and letter recognition.
  • Staff prioritise supporting children's communication and language skills through consistent interaction, key words, books, songs, and rhymes.
  • Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported by a knowledgeable SENCo and team who devise plans with outside professionals.
  • Parents receive regular information from their child's key person regarding development, learning, and the curriculum, and are provided with opportunities to speak to staff and provide feedback.

Areas to develop

  • 1review and improve the arrangements for group times to more effectively support children's engagement and learning.
Inspection #10337908 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. The knowledgeable special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) and her team work well together. They devise plans and next steps in conjunction with outside professionals. This ensures children are provided with the level of support they need to progress.

Outdoor space

When outside, children persevere with the exercise hoops, trying to balance them on their hips to swing them around. Furthermore, children use clipboards and pencils to draw what they are seeing in the environment.

Parent Reviews of Footprints Day Care

5.0
(9)
James Booker
4 years ago

Over the last 6 years, both of our daughters have attended Footprints It's the most wonderful, friendly and caring nursery you could hope to find. Its size means it enjoys facilities and resources that perhaps some smaller nurseries don't have available - yet they don't lose any charm or personality for being a larger set up. Every member of staff we've ever dealt with has been kind, personable, caring and professional. Our girls have absolutely loved their time at Footprints - we'd highly recommend this nursery to anyone.

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Janet Falayi
7 years ago

Great, highly recommended childcare, clean, safe and spacious building and garden area, lovely staff including management, my daughter settled in straight away and shes under 2!!!, no issues or concerns, took her out of childminding and now my mind is just at rest when shes there! Can ring anytime to find out how your child is doing and see your child on the camera behind reception once you've left the room. Makes you feel confident in them as they have nothing to hide! Its not my local nursery but they are that excellent and of a great standard that I'm willing to travel a little further from home and know my daughter is safe, comfortable and happy!

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Sarah Bolt
6 years ago

Footprints have been amazing with both me and my daughter. The staff were brilliant at settling my daughter in, so patient with her and letting her find her feet in her own time. She's really thrived there. The nursery is clean, do lots of activities with the children and has a lovely big garden for plenty of outside play. The nursery have also be fantastic in being understanding and accomodating of our own family circumstances. Thank you :-)

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Susana Zarzo Llobell
8 years ago

If you would like the little people you love the most in your life to be looked after like you, as a mum, would do it yourself, then you have arrived to the right place. Lucy, Carol, Diane, Lesley and their AMAZING TEAM, definitely go the extra mile to make sure your mind is at rest while you are at work. I cannot be grateful enough for ALL these INCREDIBLE PEOPLE have done and currently do for us. YOU ARE WORTH MILLIONS!! xxx

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AM W
10 months ago

Fantastic. Cannot fault the Preschools support of SEN / SLCN children either. Superb and supportive SENCO.

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Reviews from Google for Footprints Day Care. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: November 2009

  • April 2024Good
  • January 2019Good
  • March 2016Good
  • April 2015Good
  • November 2009Good

Frequently asked about Footprints Day Care

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