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Shooting Box Day Nursery

Ofsted: Good
(Dec 2022)
·
5.0(7 parent reviews) ·Broad Oak Road, Woodstock Park, Sittingbourne, ME9 8AE · Kent
Number of places
26 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Dec 2022
Local authority
Kent

About this day nursery

Shooting Box Day Nursery, situated in Sittingbourne, Kent, provides a nurturing environment for children from 3 months to 5 years old. Housed within a charming converted manor, the nursery benefits from its location adjacent to Cromers Wood, offering frequent outdoor exploration opportunities for all ages.

The nursery has been operating for over 30 years, with the current ownership in place since 1989. The facility includes a dedicated baby unit for infants aged 3 months to 2 years, accommodating up to six babies daily with two qualified staff members.

For children aged 2 to 5 years, there are two spacious playrooms, one of which directly accesses a newly renovated garden featuring a climbing frame, sandpit, and vegetable patch. Meals are provided in the large playroom.

The nursery prides itself on its 'Good' Ofsted rating and is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, for 51 weeks of the year, closing only for Bank Holidays and the week between Christmas and New Year.

What it's like

Children are confident and develop close bonds with staff, who greet them warmly, supporting their self-assurance and sense of belonging. They thoroughly enjoy stories, actively participating and showing a thirst for knowledge. Children also learn to form close friendships, including younger children in activities.

Converted Manor HouseAdjacent to WoodlandDedicated Baby UnitRenovated Garden

Pricing & funding

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

8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the Year. Closed all Bank Holidays and for the week between Christmas and New Year.

Age range

3 Months to 5 Years

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

1989

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Shooting Box Day Nursery

Last inspected 20 December 2022

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 confident and develop close bonds with staff, who greet them warmly, supporting their self-assurance and sense of belonging. They thoroughly enjoy stories, actively participating and showing a thirst for knowledge. Children also learn to form close friendships, including younger children in activities.

Inspector highlights

  • Children learn to develop self-help skills early on.
  • Children show ever-increasing imaginations through role play and small-world play.
  • Staff know how children learn best and provide challenges to extend their thinking and play.
  • Children's language and speech are promoted well throughout routines and activities.
  • Staff are eager to improve their professional development.

Areas to develop

  • 1provide children with opportunities to explore a range of media and materials to help further support children's imaginations in art and design
  • 2extend staff's knowledge and practice to support children with SEND to have space for their play, and develop staff's strategies to fully support their needs and promote their ongoing development.
Inspection #10262978 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

The ongoing learning for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is not always linked to their interests or preferences in play. Staff do not always know what strategies to use to fully support the next steps in their development. The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND.

Outdoor space

Young children have everyday play outdoors, exploring natural materials such as water, mud, and sand. Staff use these experiences to encourage social skills, dexterity, and extend their language, and encourage children's particular strengths, such as demonstrating new skills like scoring goals.

Parent Reviews of Shooting Box Day Nursery

5.0
(7)
Lisa whitehead
8 months ago

My daughter loved this nursery, she started when she was 2 and made a lovely connection with all the staff there, everyone was very welcoming and friendly. She loved her walks around the woods, especially to pick blackberries and make cakes afterwards. Her new teacher at school commented on how well she knows her letters, and I have the nursery to thank for that because they taught them a new letter every 2 weeks :) The garden area is beautiful which is a bonus. My youngest started at 9 months and has settled in really well, I was worried how she'd settle as shes still quite young but she's definitely made herself at home 😂

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Lauren Doerr
8 months ago

My daughter has gone to shooting box since 9 months. And she’s just over 2 now and loves it so much. She showed so much improvement very early on. She was also breastfed and they had no issues with that and she only took a bottle of expressed milk from her key worker Hannah. My daughter and Hannah have a special bond and it’s because she done a home visit before starting and that allowed my daughter to get to know Hannah before starting and not feeling too alone. Everyone that works here is fantastic, our new key worker Rihanna is amazing and my daughter lover her. All the team are fantastic and so friendly . Clare does a great job manager the whole team xx

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lukerebecca parker
8 months ago

My son has been at shooting box for just over a year. And can honestly say he absolutely loves everyone there. He is always so happy to go in and still gets excited about going. All of the staff are so lovely and caring. I love all of the different activities they do and also all the different subjects they learn about. My 2 year old comes home and tells me so much that he’s learnt that day. Their outside play area is so fun and they are always adding new fun things for the children.

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Claire Frewin
2 years ago

I, like many of my friends in the local area, went to the Shooting Box as a child. It is still a lovely, special place. The staff are so kind and nurturing for the children and my son loves it here. With home cooked food and a homely atmosphere as well as plenty of fresh air and a great outdoor centre I cannot rave enough about Claire and her wonderful team. Nursery staff are working so hard against the odds these days and honestly, the Shooting Box goes above and beyond. Here's to another 37 (I feel very old saying that) years of the Shooting Box 💕

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Tanya Hopkins
2 years ago

I love this nursery and so happy my children got to go there! the girls are all so helpful and caring towards the kids but also supportive of parents. the nursery itself is a beautiful setting being near the woods and love that the children are outside as much as possible. Highly recommend

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Shooting Box Day Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: September 2004

  • January 2023Good
  • December 2022Good
  • May 2017Good
  • April 2017Good
  • April 2015Good
  • March 2015Good
  • March 2011Good
  • February 2011Good
  • June 2007Good
  • September 2004Good

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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