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Jack in a Box Nursery

Ofsted: Good
(Jul 2023)
·
4.9(10 parent reviews) ·Aycliffe CP School, St. Davids Avenue, Dover, CT17 9HJ · Kent
Number of places
20 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jul 2023
Local authority
Kent

About this day nursery

Jack in a Box Nursery, located in Dover, is dedicated to fostering a love for learning in children within a nurturing and home-like setting. The nursery emphasizes a flexible approach, responding to each child's unique interests and encouraging exploration, imagination, and creative expression through the Curiosity Approach.

They offer a stimulating environment with a blend of indoor and outdoor spaces, including free-flow areas and a Woodland School where children engage in nature-based learning with a trained Forest School Practitioner. The staff are highly trained and committed to providing individualised care, ensuring children feel safe and supported.

The nursery aims to reinforce home routines and works closely with families to understand each child's needs. They also incorporate unique offerings like children's yoga classes to promote relaxation and development.

Jack in a Box Nursery is designed to be a community where children thrive and grow in a supportive and engaging atmosphere.

Our ethos

The Curiosity Approach embodies a dynamic and inventive approach to fostering child development during the early years. With a strong emphasis on placing children at the centre of the learning journey, it offers countless avenues for exploration, imagination, and creative expression. This approach opens doors for children to engage, discover, and shape their own learning experiences. The innovative method nurtures and empowers children, allowing them to flourish and grow.

What it's like

Children are very excited to enter the setting and settle quickly in the calming home-from-home environment. They display good social skills, helping one another and playing happily together. Staff support children's early writing skills and deepen their knowledge in specific learning areas.

Forest SchoolCuriosity ApproachFree flow playWoodland School

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-oldsTax-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

Monday - Friday, 9am - 3pm (Breakfast Club: 8am - 9am, After-school Club: 3pm - 4pm)

Session types

Full day 9am – 3pm, Morning session 9am – 12pm, Afternoon session 12pm – 3pm

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Established

2004

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Jack in a Box Nursery

Last inspected 12 July 2023 · Jasmine Nelson

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 very excited to enter the setting and settle quickly in the calming home-from-home environment. They display good social skills, helping one another and playing happily together. Staff support children's early writing skills and deepen their knowledge in specific learning areas.

Inspector highlights

  • The manager has created a meaningful curriculum based on each child's needs.
  • Staff use the outdoor space effectively to teach children about how things grow.
  • Children develop their physical skills, showing high levels of enjoyment in building towers and learning to manage risks safely.
  • Communication and partnership with parents are key strengths of the nursery.
  • The manager acts as a good role model, encouraging staff to regularly engage in reflection tasks to enhance the quality of experiences for children.

Areas to develop

  • 1enhance opportunities for all children to fully extend their speech, language and vocabulary, particularly children with delayed speech
  • 2support staff to further develop children's self-care skills and help them take more responsibility for themselves.
Inspection #10301547 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

The report mentions supporting children with delayed speech, suggesting that the setting caters to children with special educational needs, particularly in communication.

Outdoor space

Staff use the outdoor space effectively to teach children about how things grow, planting various vegetables and flowers. Children show pride in their achievements and develop a sense of responsibility by learning to care for plants and grow fresh, healthy foods.

Parent Reviews of Jack in a Box Nursery

4.9
(10)
Sammi Clark
2 years ago

We couldn't of asked for a better nursery for our son over the 2 years that he was there. Staff were always supportive, friendly & welcoming. On a personal level they have worked so very hard for our autistic son & to support him & us all as a family. Highly recommended nursery, they are amazing! We are now part of the nursery family again with our daughter and yet again they have all given us such help, understanding and support with her needs. Both of our children have been treated with such care and love, as I said above I highly recommend Jack In A Box nursery to anyone! We will forever be greatful for all their hard work and dedication as well as treating us as a family with such respect, we will always be part of the family as they are ours! So much love and appreciation to each and every single one of the Nursery Team!

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Al
2 years ago

Absolutely brilliant place! The staff is very polite friendly yet professional, arranging plenty of activities for the little ones to enjoy The facility has an annex forest as well as a court yard ,which it means lot of outdoor adventures and discoveries My son never been so happy to get ready in the morning Last but not least, prices ,super affordable! Which is definitely a bonus

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Kirsty Wales
2 years ago

Cannot recommend this nursery enough, they treat all the children like family and my son loves going every week. They are so supportive, especially with nervous or upset newstarters. They offer fun activites and venture out into the community to the beach or other local places.

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Gemma Howells
12 years ago

The Education and Learning is to the highest standard, tailored to meet your child(s) individual needs. Great Owner who has a great team behind her. The Staff are great with the children and fully support your child from the moment they walk through the door!!!! for us this gives us peace of mind that when you leave your child at this nursery your child's every needs will be met and they will have so much fun Playing and Learning the time for them will fly by. I guess if it is run by Parents that Care and have the passion and experience. Who is better placed to care and be that supporting hand when you are not there! thanks for caring and Educating!

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Jasmine
3 years ago

We couldn't recommend this nursery more! They have been amazing with our little boy and us as a family. They go above and beyond for all the children and families that they work with. We couldn't have felt more comfortable leaving our little boy with them, they've treated him like their own and we couldn't of wished for better. He absolutely loves everyone there and already misses it like mad.. Thank you for being such a huge part of his journey

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Jack in a Box Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: November 2009

  • July 2023Good
  • January 2018Good
  • March 2015Good
  • November 2009Outstanding

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