Opening hours
St Mary's Bay: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm (46 weeks/year), Dymchurch: Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm (38 weeks/year, term time only)
Sunshine & Showers 1
Ofsted: Good
(Jul 2025)
Number of places
30 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jul 2025
Local authority
Kent
About this day nursery
Sunshine & Showers 1 is a day nursery in Romney Marsh, Kent, providing care for children from birth to four years old. It is open on weekdays from 8am until 6pm, for 46 weeks of the year. In its inspection of July 2025, Ofsted rated the day nursery as Good. The inspector found that children are happy and content in a friendly setting where staff greet them with smiles and support their emotional well-being. The report notes that children demonstrate positive behaviour and are supported in their developing friendships.
Staff plan interesting activities that develop children’s confidence, language, and mathematical understanding. Children's physical skills are supported through outdoor play, including riding bikes and climbing. According to parents who spoke with the inspector, children also experience outings to the beach, the nearby train station, and shops. Ofsted observed that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported, with staff working with parents and other professionals on individual plans.
What it's like
Children are happy and content at this friendly and welcoming nursery school. Staff greet children with smiles and cuddles, supporting their emotional well-being. Staff plan interesting and motivating activities, developing children's confidence and self-esteem. Children demonstrate good behaviour and are supported in their developing friendships.
Two Locations (St Mary's Bay & Dymchurch)Flexible HoursHighly Qualified StaffLarge Outdoor Play AreasOfsted "Good" ratings
Pricing & funding
Fees are charged at an hourly rate which varies depending on the child's age and the specific nursery location (St Mary's Bay or Dymchurch). Standard rates apply to any hours attended in excess of the government funding entitlements.
Funding accepted
15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
Good to know
- Government funding (15 or 30 hours) is applied to eligible hours.
- Hourly fees apply to any additional hours attended over entitlements.
Key facts
Session types
flexible booking hours, from a minimum of three hours per week
Age range
6 months to 5 years
Term time / All Year
Mixed
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Sunshine & Showers 1
Last inspected 1 July 2025
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 content at this friendly and welcoming nursery school. Staff greet children with smiles and cuddles, supporting their emotional well-being. Staff plan interesting and motivating activities, developing children's confidence and self-esteem. Children demonstrate good behaviour and are supported in their developing friendships.
Inspector highlights
- Leaders and staff have worked hard since the last inspection to make effective improvements to practice and provision.
- Children demonstrate positive behaviour, sharing toys and waiting patiently.
- Staff support children's understanding of being safe successfully, talking about sun safety and hygiene.
- Children benefit from activities that are planned to support their physical and movement skills, such as riding bikes and climbing.
- Staff work well with parents to develop individual plans to support children with SEND and liaise effectively with other professionals.
- Staff provide children with a range of activities to support their developing language and communication skills, and mathematical understanding.
- Staff encourage children's independence, allowing them to make choices and put away their artwork.
Areas to develop
- 1strengthen information-sharing with parents so that they fully understand how to further support their children's learning at home.
Inspection #10397667 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents talk highly of the experiences their children have, for example, going to the beach, nearby train station and shops.
Parents appreciate the support they receive themselves and the flexible sessions offered.
They praise the kind and caring staff.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. Staff work closely with parents to promote children's individual needs effectively, meaning all children make good progress from their starting points. Staff work well with parents to develop individual plans to support children with SEND. Staff liaise effectively with other professionals to share information about children to help them settle in.
Outdoor space
Children enjoy playing a game of snakes and ladders outside, learning to count forwards and backwards. Children remind their friends to wear their hats outside. Children benefit from activities that are planned to support their physical and movement skills. For example, older children enjoy riding bikes, learning to manoeuvre them outside.
Google Reviews of Sunshine & Showers 1
5.0
(2 Google reviews)
Darren Cayley
11 years ago
Both of my children attended this nursery and from day one they settled in with ease. I found it to be a very nurturing and caring environment for my children to be in. I always found the staff approachable, and their primary concern was the well being and development of my child on and individual level. Would definitely recommend this nursery to any parent looking to find a nursery in the area.
Read on Google
j j
7 years ago
Reviews from Google for Sunshine & Showers 1. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: September 2010
- July 2025Good
- July 2025Good
- April 2025Inadequate
- March 2025Inadequate
- August 2019Good
- August 2019Good
- April 2016Good
- March 2016Good
- April 2015Requires improvement
- April 2015Good
- January 2011Good
- September 2010Good
Frequently asked about Sunshine & Showers 1
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