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Play A Way Activity Centre

Ofsted: Expected standard·
4.9(7 parent reviews) ·Christmas Street, Gillingham, ME7 1TD · Medway
Number of places
52 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Apr 2026
Local authority
Medway

About this day nursery

Play A Way Activity Centre, established in 2018 in Gillingham, offers childcare for children aged 0-8 years. The centre operates year-round from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays.

The dedicated staff, which includes a special educational needs coordinator, are committed to providing a supportive environment. The centre implements the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, focusing on developing good physical and social skills.

Children are eager to engage with a variety of activities, from imaginative play indoors to balancing on tyres outdoors, fostering curiosity and independence. The centre prides itself on strong partnerships with parents and effective support for children with special educational needs and those who speak English as an additional language, ensuring all children thrive and make good progress in their development.

Our ethos

We pride ourselves on providing a safe, happy and caring environment where children grow and develop their full potential during the crucial formative early years. Your child will learn through play in a caring and nurturing environment. We adopt a flexible approach and work with you to suit your needs in childcare.

What it's like

Children of all ages are eager to come into the centre to interact with staff and friends. They are happy and confidently explore the interesting range of activities on offer. Babies are curious and eager to investigate the environment, with staff helping them develop communication and language skills through positive interactions.

Eager childrenGood physical skillsHigh expectations for behaviourStrong parent partnershipsAttentive staff

Pricing & funding

Fees are charged monthly in advance by direct debit. The nursery does not charge a registration fee or require a deposit. Full charges apply for bank holidays when the nursery is closed, and no refunds or fee reductions are offered for sickness or holidays.

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds

Good to know

  • No registration fee is charged.
  • No deposit is required.
  • Fees are payable monthly in advance by direct debit.
  • Normal charges apply for bank holidays when the nursery is closed.
  • No refunds or discounts are given for child sickness or holidays.

Key facts

Age range

3 months to 5 years (nursery children), 5-11 years (school-aged children for holiday club, breakfast club, after school club)

Session types

AM/PM Session, Core Session, Full Day, Half Day, Extra hour, Holiday Club – Full Day, Holiday Club - Half Day, Breakfast Club, After School Club

Opening hours

7:00am - 6:00pm, Monday to Friday (Excluding Bank Holidays)

Term time / All Year

All_year

Established

2018

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Expected standard

Last inspected Apr 2026

Headline: Expected standard

Grade summary

Exceptional
—
Strong standard
—
Expected standard
Needs attention
—
Urgent improvement
—

Each dot represents one of the six inspection categories. Headline is the average of the six grades, rounded up.

Category grades

AchievementExpected standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesExpected standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
InclusionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Age range
0 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Play A Way Activity Centre

Last inspected 23 April 2026

Safeguarding effective

What it's like to attend

Children of all ages are eager to come into the centre to interact with staff and friends. They are happy and confidently explore the interesting range of activities on offer. Babies are curious and eager to investigate the environment, with staff helping them develop communication and language skills through positive interactions.

Inspector highlights

  • Children of all ages are eager to come into the centre to interact with staff and friends.
  • Children are happy and confidently explore the interesting range of activities on offer.
  • Babies are curious and eager to investigate the environment and develop communication and language skills through positive interactions.
  • Children of all ages develop good physical skills, learning about different ways they can move their bodies.
  • Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour, fostering good social skills and teaching them to share and take turns.
  • Partnerships with parents are good, with staff sharing information and encouraging parents to view children's online records.
  • Staff are attentive to children's needs, helping them master new skills and encouraging independence.
  • Management and staff recognised the need for additional support for children's emotional and social well-being following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Areas to develop

  • 1Strengthen and fully embed support for staff to improve their skills and knowledge to help further extend children's learning.
  • 2Strengthen planning and delivery of the curriculum to make better use of focused activities.
Inspection #10190380 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, management and staff recognised the need for more support with emotional and social well-being. The special educational needs coordinator works closely with families and other professionals to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Outdoor space

Children delight in their outdoor play; for example, they skilfully walk across different sized tyres as they learn to balance.

EAL / language support

The special educational needs coordinator works closely with families and other professionals to support children who speak English as an additional language.

Parent Reviews of Play A Way Activity Centre

4.9
(7)
Manisha Bhusal
a year ago

My boys have been attending Play Away Nursery for a few months now, and I couldn’t be happier with their experience. The staff are absolutely wonderful,caring, attentive, and always making sure the children are safe and engaged. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. It’s clear that the team genuinely cares about the children’s development, and I’ve seen such positive growth in my boys since they started. I highly recommend Play Away Nursery to any parent looking for a nurturing and supportive environment for their little ones.

Read on Google
Chelsea
a year ago

Amazing nursery. Could not fault this nursery at all, they are truly amazing with both my children. My little boy hasn’t been going long and has already come a long way, he adores it! Clean, friendly and safe environment! Would highly recommend

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Play A Way Activity Centre. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: January 2022

The most recent inspection point has been hidden because the parsed entry didn't match the headline Ofsted rating (Good). We're re-checking it against the original report.

  • March 2022Good
  • January 2022Good

Frequently asked about Play A Way Activity Centre

About the setting

Play A Way Activity Centre registered in 2018 and is located in Gillingham, Kent. The centre operates all year round from 7am to 6pm. The provider employs 19 staff to work directly with children. Of these, seven staff hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3 and three hold a qualification at level 2. One member of staff has achieved early years teacher status. The setting provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

URN
EY556709
Registered person
Play A Way Nurseries Limited
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises

Nearby day nurseries in Gillingham

Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Play A Way Activity Centre.

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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