Nursery Advice
Claim Your Nursery

Green Cave Nursery

Ofsted: Inadequate
(Jun 2025)
·
4.2(38 parent reviews) ·10 Vale Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1BP · Kent
Number of places
40 places
Age range
0–3 yrs
Last inspected
Jun 2025
Local authority
Kent

About this day nursery

The Green Cave Nursery, situated in the heart of Tunbridge Wells on Vale Road and conveniently close to the train station, has been providing a family-oriented childcare environment since 2012. The nursery is dedicated to children's development, offering a high standard of care and unique activities such as Yoga, Football, Montessori practices, and a Forest School approach.

Regulated by Ofsted under the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, Green Cave Nursery caters to children aged 3 months to 5 years, with operating hours from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm, Monday to Friday. Excitingly, a second location, a Montessori Pre-School for 3-4 year olds, is set to open in September 2024 at the Great Hall Arcade.

This new facility will boast a yoga and salt therapy room, a wet room for sensory play, and a cooking and art room, along with direct access to Calverley Grounds for outdoor learning. Concurrently, the current Vale Road site will focus on providing traditional nursery care for children aged 3 months to 3 years.

The nursery is committed to offering an exceptional start to each child's educational journey in Tunbridge Wells.

Our ethos

Green Cave Nursery is committed to providing a family-oriented childcare environment with a focus on children's development through unique activities such as Yoga, Football, and a Forest School approach, alongside Montessori practices. They aim to offer an exceptional start to each child's educational journey.

What it's like

There are significant weaknesses at this nursery. The provider does not ensure that safer recruitment procedures are completed in full and that leaders are able to complete induction and individual meetings for staff. They have not effectively risk assessed the environment to ensure appropriate fire safety arrangements are in place. The quality of care and education afforded to children in their earliest years is directly impacted by these aspects.

Family-oriented environmentYoga, Football, Montessori and Forest School activitiesOfsted registeredNew Montessori Pre-School opening September 2024

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
Pricing on request

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

Request pricing →

Key facts

Opening hours

7:30am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday

Age range

3 months - 5 years

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

2019

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Green Cave Nursery

Last inspected 6 June 2025 · Helen Penticost

Overall effectiveness
Inadequate
Quality of education
Inadequate
Behaviour and attitudes
Inadequate
Personal development
Inadequate
Leadership and management
Inadequate

Actions the provider must take

  • ensure that safer recruitment procedures are completed fully for all staff
  • ensure that all staff receive an induction to help them understand their roles and responsibilities
  • ensure that staff receive regular supervision that provides them with support, coaching and training that promotes the interests of children
  • ensure that there is a named deputy who is capable and qualified to take charge in the manager's absence
  • ensure that fire exits are free from obstructions
  • plan a broad curriculum with challenging and enjoyable experiences for each child in all areas of development and build a strong foundation for children's development in the prime areas
  • ensure that the key-person system is effective in making sure that each child's care and education is tailored to meet their needs and that staff are able to offer a settled relationship for the child.

What it's like to attend

There are significant weaknesses at this nursery. The provider does not ensure that safer recruitment procedures are completed in full and that leaders are able to complete induction and individual meetings for staff. They have not effectively risk assessed the environment to ensure appropriate fire safety arrangements are in place. The quality of care and education afforded to children in their earliest years is directly impacted by these aspects.

Inspector highlights

  • Young children settle quickly upon arrival and separate with ease from their parent/carer.
  • Those children who need additional support, such as those who are new to the setting, receive this from the caring staff team.
  • Staff direct children's attention to activities to interest them, such as the baskets full of resources for them to explore.
  • Children enjoy sensory experiences and immerse themselves in the activity.
  • Staff are kind and caring toward children and have an awareness of children's personalities and interests.

Areas to develop

  • 1The provider does not ensure that safer recruitment processes are followed consistently to make sure that all elements are completed and information gathered.
  • 2The provider does not ensure that all staff, including the new management team, receive a full induction to enable them to have a complete understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
  • 3Leaders have not yet been able to offer staff individual meetings to provide the coaching, support and training they require.
  • 4There is no named deputy, who is qualified and capable to take charge in the absence of a manager, as required.
  • 5The provider has not effectively risk assessed the environment to ensure appropriate fire safety precautions and procedures are in place.
  • 6The new leadership team's clear vision for the future of the nursery related to the curriculum and experiences for children has not yet been implemented across the staffing team to ensure staff plan activities based fully upon what children need to learn next.
  • 7The key-person system in place is not fully effective, as staff are not confident in the educational programmes they must deliver due to weaknesses in curriculum planning.
Inspection #10403746 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents report that leaders replicate their children's home routines at the setting. For example, babies sleep according to their home routines and staff understand the differing needs of children, such as their different comforters and how they like to be placed down for a sleep.

Parent Reviews of Green Cave Nursery

4.2
(38)
Andrea Costa Mendez
a year ago

The Green Cave – From Outstanding to Unacceptable This used to be one of the best nurseries in the area – caring staff, lovely atmosphere. Unfortunately, that has completely gone downhill. Since they let go of the original team, the quality has dropped drastically. The yoga sessions were scrapped, and what’s left feels disorganised and neglected. We often picked up our son to find him in dirty clothes or just a t-shirt, despite spare outfits being packed in his bag. On several occasions, his nappy was full when we arrived – I had to change him myself. They no longer answer the phone, which makes it impossible to communicate if you’re running late or need to get in touch. One evening I arrived to find three staff members sitting and eating snacks while a group of toddlers sat in front of a silent Paw Patrol episode on a tablet. It was completely lifeless. After several conversations with the manager and giving them the opportunity to improve, nothing changed. We made the difficult decision to move our son to another nursery – because frankly, this one is no longer meeting even the basic standards of care. It’s a real shame. What used to be a wonderful place has become something we can no longer trust with our child.

Read on Google
emma greagsby
7 months ago

Was a lovely nursery and my son loved it untill everything went down hill, So when the nursery closed my child wasn't in that day so I was never able to collect his belongs and about 4 months later I still havnt been able to collect his stuff I've contacted ofsted nothing, sadly i don't have any numbers or emails for the owner or anyone to help with collecting items and I'm worried ild never fet his items back 😔

Read on Google
Yasin Mammeri
7 months ago

They took £400 from us back in April. We didn't have any service delivered (they got shut down by safeguarding). We've been chasing for our money ever since. Not a single response. So I'd say they stole £400 from us. If that's reflective in anyway of how they deliver their service, I'd avoid them at all costs.

Read on Google
Fierce Imagination
2 years ago

1. Charlie has been lovely, understanding and supportive, helping my daughter to settle and make friends. She would always say how proud she was as my daughter confidence grew and she began to do new things. 2. Green Cave ensure the children go outside to play at the local parks. They also go to the local shopping centre to go on the rides, soft play, and do baby yoga. My daughter loved being able to play on the swings most days and learn at forest school. 3. Since being at Green Cave I can see a real difference in my daughters’ independence and development. The baby led play allowed her to explore the environment and join in at her own pace. 4. The food is nutritious and varied, with lots of fruits and veggies. My daughter loves food so it is great that she has been able to try lots of new foods and has begun to eat things she wouldn’t at home. 5. The app is very good and allows you to communicate with the staff, I can send emails (although response to these can be a little slow) or add notes onto the daily diary. I loved the observations and all the photo’s that would be sent from Charlie and reading about what my daughter had done that day. I would like to say thank you and iterate how amazing Charlie has been with my daughter, she is an asset to the nursery, and I wish her well in her career.

Read on Google
Shunhan Chang
2 years ago

My son absolutely love going to Green cave. Was worried about his settling changing from childminder to the nursery but it turned out I was over thinking! The staff gave great care of him as I can see him going there happily ever time I drop him off. He seems to develop great bounding as well with his main carers, which is really sweet to see. I also love the outdoors learning activities Green cave provides to the kids. I can see loads of fun indoor activities as well on the app (thanks to those help capturing those precious moments!) All in all, we are really pleased with Green cave! Thanks to those who work hard to provide fun learning environment to the kids!

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Green Cave Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Ofsted records show this provider has closed and was never graded. There's no inspection history to display.

Frequently asked about Green Cave Nursery

Nearby day nurseries in Tunbridge Wells

Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Green Cave Nursery.

Are you the owner of this nursery? Claim this listing to manage photos, hours and contact details.

Claim listing

Share this nursery

Send to a partner, friend or family member.

This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more