Nurseries in Medway

There are 93 nurseries and pre-schools on the Ofsted register in Medway council area, and 27 other childcare settings such as out-of-school clubs.

Inspection grades in Medway

Ofsted report cards: 17 settings (24 Strong standard, 71 Expected standard, 7 Needs attention)
Ofsted grades before November 2025: 59 settings (8 Outstanding, 51 Good)

Grades are shown only where the inspectorate has published the report.

Childminders and home childcarers

172 registered childminders in Medway (Ofsted childcare register, as at 30 June 2026)
53 registered home childcarers in Medway (Ofsted childcare register, as at 30 June 2026)
1 childcare setting in a private home in Medway (Ofsted childcare register, as at 30 June 2026)

Childminders look after children in their own homes. We show how many are registered, not who they are.

Nurseries and pre-schools

1st Friends day nursery and creche Ltd - Day nursery, Gillingham ME8 6BY, ages 0 to 4, 24 places
Ofsted, 3 March 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
2J's Pre-school - Day nursery, Gillingham ME7 1TT, ages 2 to 4, 40 places
Ofsted, 21 May 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
2J's Pre-School - Day nursery, Rochester ME2 2LH, ages 2 to 4, 60 places
Ofsted, 8 February 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Abacus Day Care Limited - Day nursery, Chatham ME5 7NX, ages 0 to 4, 80 places
Ofsted report card, 12 February 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
ABC Pre-School Group - Pre-school, Rochester ME1 3AT, ages 2 to 4, 23 places
Ofsted, 18 October 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Alphabets Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chatham ME5 9EP, ages 0 to 4, 40 places
Ofsted, 20 October 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Benjamin Rabbit Nursery - Day nursery, Chatham ME4 6BA, ages 0 to 4, 84 places
Ofsted report card, 15 June 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Bluebells Day Nursery & Preschool - Day nursery, Chatham ME5 0AA, ages 0 to 4, 48 places
Ofsted report card, 26 March 2026: Needs attention in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Boundary Road Pre-School - Pre-school, Chatham ME4 6UW, ages 2 to 4, 30 places
Ofsted, 5 February 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Busy Bees Day Nursery at Chatham - Day nursery, Chatham ME4 4AF, ages 0 to 4, 79 places
Ofsted, 7 July 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Busy Bees Day Nursery at Gillingham - Day nursery, Gillingham ME8 6AD, ages 0 to 4, 112 places
Ofsted, 18 February 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Busy Bees Day Nursery at Gillingham Brompton - Day nursery, Gillingham ME7 5AX, ages 0 to 4, 92 places
Ofsted, 7 September 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Busy Bees Day Nursery at Hempstead - Day nursery, Gillingham ME7 3QG, ages 0 to 4, 76 places
Ofsted, 19 September 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Busy Bees Day Nursery at Rainham - Day nursery, Gillingham ME8 8EB, ages 1 to 4, 81 places
Ofsted, 28 September 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Buttercups at Little Teddies - Day nursery, Chatham ME5 9LW, ages 2 to 4, 26 places
Ofsted, 7 June 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Cambridge Tuition Centre - Day nursery, Chatham ME4 4RG
Castle View Day Nursery Ltd - Day nursery, Rochester ME2 3PP, 70 places
Ofsted, 26 April 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Cherubs Montessori Day Nursery - Day nursery, Rochester ME2 3PP, ages 0 to 4, 75 places
Ofsted, 11 March 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
City Way Day Nursery - Day nursery, Rochester ME1 2AB, ages 0 to 8, 78 places
Ofsted, 14 January 2025: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Cliffe Pre-school - Pre-school, Rochester ME3 7PU, 29 places
Cliffe Woods Pre-School - Pre-school, Rochester ME3 8UJ, 76 places
Conexus Tuition Broadway Class - Day nursery, Gillingham ME8 6BA
Conexus Tuition Chatham Class - Pre-school, Chatham ME5 7PX
Crestway Preschool - Pre-school, Chatham ME5 0BL, ages 2 to 4, 35 places
Ofsted report card, 12 February 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Dockside Day Nursery & Pre-School - Day nursery, Chatham ME4 3ED, ages 0 to 4, 107 places
Ofsted report card, 19 February 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Eden Childcare Nursery and Preschool - Day nursery, Rochester ME2 2HG, 27 places
Excel Academy - Pre-school, Chatham ME5 9LL
Fairview Fledglings - Day nursery, Gillingham ME8 0NU, ages 0 to 7, 30 places
Ofsted, 13 April 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Growing Minds Nursery and Pre-School - Day nursery, Rochester ME3 9PG, 30 places
Halling Community Pre-School - Pre-school, Halling ME2 1BS, ages 2 to 4, 24 places
Ofsted, 8 May 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Happi Feet Nursery - Pre-school, Gillingham ME7 5TJ, 31 places
Hedgehogs Chatham Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chatham ME4 6PX, ages 0 to 5, 32 places
Ofsted, 30 July 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Hedgehogs Hempstead - Day nursery, Gillingham ME7 3QG, 33 places
Hedgehogs Hoo Day Nursery - Day nursery, Rochester ME3 9BE, ages 0 to 4, 40 places
Ofsted, 23 July 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Hedgehogs Rochester Day Nursery - Day nursery, Rochester ME1 1DX, ages 0 to 4, 33 places
Ofsted, 20 December 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Hempstead Pavilion Playgroup - Pre-school, Gillingham ME7 3RH, ages 2 to 4, 24 places
Ofsted, 6 February 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Honeypot Day Nursery Ltd - Day nursery, Chatham ME5 8AJ, ages 0 to 4, 46 places
Ofsted, 19 July 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Hoo Saints - Day nursery, Hoo ME3 9BS, ages 2 to 4, 36 places
Ofsted, 19 January 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
ID PE & Sport's Maundene Holiday Course Centre - Pre-school, Chatham ME5 7QB
Jack and Jill Playgroup - Pre-school, Rochester ME2 3HN, ages 2 to 5, 45 places
Ofsted, 10 November 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Kestrel Under Fives Playgroup - Day nursery, Chatham ME5 8TR, ages 2 to 4, 40 places
Ofsted, 8 February 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Kiddiwinks Pre-school - Pre-school, Gillingham ME7 2LU, ages 2 to 4, 42 places
Ofsted, 25 January 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Kloisters Day Nursery and Pre-School - Day nursery, Rochester ME1 2UR, ages 0 to 4, 87 places
Ofsted, 12 February 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
K.W. Nursery Ltd. (King William Nursery) - Pre-school, Gillingham ME7 1PD, ages 2 to 4, 34 places
Ofsted, 12 May 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Little Acorns - Pre-school, Chatham ME5 0QS, ages 2 to 2, 16 places
Ofsted, 26 April 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Little Acres Day Nursery and Pre-School - Day nursery, Rochester ME3 8GY, ages 0 to 4, 96 places
Ofsted report card, 9 June 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Little Explorers - Day nursery, Rochester ME1 3EJ, ages 1 to 4, 58 places
Ofsted report card, 19 November 2025: Strong standard in 1 area, Expected standard in 5 areas; safeguarding standards met
Little Lights Nursery - Day nursery, Rochester ME1 1BT, ages 2 to 4, 40 places
Ofsted, 30 June 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Little Teddies Walderslade - Day nursery, Chatham ME5 9LW, ages 0 to 2, 12 places
Ofsted, 26 February 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Little Thinkers at All Faiths - Day nursery, Rochester ME2 4UF, 19 places
Lordswood under 5's playgroup - Day nursery, Chatham ME5 8PG, ages 2 to 4, 30 places
Ofsted, 6 September 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Marina Montessori Day Nursery & Pre School - Day nursery, Chatham ME4 4LL, ages 0 to 4, 73 places
Ofsted report card, 19 August 2026: Strong standard in 3 areas, Expected standard in 3 areas; safeguarding standards met
Mini Treasures Day Nursery - Day nursery, Rochester ME1 3JS, 36 places
Myrtle Learning - Day nursery, Rochester ME1 2FA
Nuffy Bear Day Nursery - Medway - Day nursery, Rochester ME2 2SS, ages 0 to 4, 25 places
Ofsted, 26 April 2024: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Owl & Bear Daycare - Day nursery, Chatham ME5 7PQ, ages 0 to 5, 72 places
Ofsted, 20 June 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Parkwood Christian Fellowship Preschool - Day nursery, Gillingham ME8 9PN, ages 2 to 4, 43 places
Ofsted, 4 November 2024: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Parkwood 'Poppets' Playgroup - Day nursery, Gillingham ME8 9PN, ages 2 to 4, 25 places
Ofsted, 8 December 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Parkwood Pre-School - Pre-school, Gillingham ME8 9LP, ages 2 to 4, 51 places
Ofsted, 9 October 2024: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Phoenix Day Nurseries UK Limited - Day nursery, Rochester ME3 8JQ, ages 0 to 4, 59 places
Ofsted, 10 December 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Phoenix Education Day Nursery - Day nursery, Rochester ME2 4DZ, ages 1 to 4, 73 places
Ofsted, 10 January 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Play A Way Activity Centre - Day nursery, Gillingham ME7 1TD, ages 0 to 4, 52 places
Ofsted report card, 23 April 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Play A Way Day Care Centre - Day nursery, Gillingham ME7 5HZ, ages 1 to 4, 35 places
Ofsted report card, 9 September 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Play A Way Day Nursery - Day nursery, Gillingham ME7 4AD, ages 0 to 4, 42 places
Ofsted, 13 June 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Play A Way Nursery & Pre-School - Day nursery, Chatham ME4 5RD, ages 1 to 6, 126 places
Ofsted report card, 8 July 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Poppins Pre-School - Day nursery, Gillingham ME7 5BU, ages 2 to 4, 52 places
Ofsted, 27 January 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Prima Montessori Day Nursery - Day nursery, Gillingham ME7 3JQ, ages 0 to 4, 132 places
Ofsted report card, 17 April 2026: Strong standard in 4 areas, Expected standard in 2 areas; safeguarding standards met
Rainbow Pre-School and Out of School Club - Day nursery, Gillingham ME8 8JR, ages 2 to 4, 30 places
Ofsted, 27 January 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Rainbows Day Nursery - Day nursery, Strood ME2 4JA, ages 2 to 4, 30 places
Ofsted, 29 January 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Rochester Preschool - Day nursery, Rochester ME1 3DG, ages 2 to 4, 40 places
Ofsted report card, 23 April 2026: Strong standard in 1 area, Expected standard in 5 areas; safeguarding standards met
Scallywags (Medway) Limited - Day nursery, Gillingham ME8 7RJ, ages 0 to 4, 104 places
Ofsted, 7 June 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
SENter Light Childcare - Day nursery, Rochester ME2 3EJ, 18 places
Smilers - Day nursery, Rochester ME3 8LE, ages 0 to 11, 52 places
Ofsted, 30 June 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Smilers Ltd - Day nursery, Rochester ME2 4JY, ages 0 to 4, 70 places
Ofsted, 29 October 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Sprites Woodland Nursery Ltd - Day nursery, Chatham ME5 7NH, ages 2 to 4, 20 places
Ofsted report card, 3 December 2025: Strong standard in 1 area, Expected standard in 5 areas; safeguarding standards met
Stagecoach Strood - Pre-school, Rochester ME3 9HH
St Luke's Pre-School (Rochester) - Pre-school, Rochester ME1 2BQ, ages 2 to 4, 30 places
Ofsted, 8 March 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
St Mark's Preschool - Pre-school, Gillingham ME7 5JA, ages 2 to 3, 34 places
Ofsted, 9 December 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
St Mary's Day Nursery - Day nursery, Rochester ME2 4DG, ages 1 to 7, 40 places
Ofsted, 30 May 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
St Nicholas Playgroup - Day nursery, Rochester ME2 4TR, ages 2 to 4, 35 places
Ofsted, 7 October 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
St Stephens Playgroup - Pre-school, Chatham ME4 6JE, ages 2 to 4, 30 places
Ofsted, 12 December 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
St Williams Pre-School - Pre-school, Chatham ME5 9LR, ages 2 to 4, 40 places
Ofsted, 14 January 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Sunshine Thames View Pre-School and Out of School Club - Day nursery, Gillingham ME8 7DX, ages 2 to 11, 50 places
Ofsted, 25 April 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Swallow Risers Playgroup and Out Of School Club - Day nursery, Chatham ME5 7QB, ages 2 to 4, 30 places
Ofsted, 5 July 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Teeny Feet Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chatham ME5 8BP, ages 0 to 4, 30 places
Ofsted report card, 19 February 2026: Strong standard in 1 area, Expected standard in 5 areas; safeguarding standards met
The Gillingham Nursery - Day nursery, Gillingham ME8 0RR, ages 0 to 4, 67 places
Ofsted report card, 10 February 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
The Hundred of Hoo Nursery & Kids Club Ltd - Day nursery, Rochester ME3 9HH, ages 0 to 4, 99 places
Ofsted, 12 March 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
The Nest Nursery - Day nursery, Rochester ME1 2QA, 38 places
Tiny Tugs Medway Trust Day Nursery - Day nursery, Gillingham ME7 5NY, ages 0 to 4, 55 places
Ofsted, 15 December 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Top of the Hill Pre-school Ltd - Pre-school, Rochester ME1 2NB, ages 2 to 4, 44 places
Ofsted report card, 14 January 2026: Strong standard in 1 area, Expected standard in 4 areas, Needs attention in 1 area; safeguarding standards met
White Road Preschool - Pre-school, Chatham ME4 5UN, ages 0 to 4, 39 places
Ofsted, 6 December 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Witty Kiddies Gillingham - Day nursery, Gillingham ME7 1YL, ages 0 to 4, 70 places
Ofsted, 13 May 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Witty Kiddies Strood - Day nursery, Rochester ME2 3BA, ages 0 to 4, 55 places
Ofsted, 23 March 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective

Out-of-school clubs and other childcare

Beresford Pre-School - Out-of-school club, Rochester ME1 2QX, 26 places
Camp Beaumont - King's Rochester - Out-of-school club, Rochester ME1 1UB, 148 places
Conexus Tuition Gillingham Class - Out-of-school club, Gillingham ME7 4PU
First Class Learning Gillingham South Ltd - Out-of-school club, Gillingham ME8 7SG
Hakuna Matata After School Club - Out-of-school club, Rochester ME3 8TF, 20 places
ID PE & Sport's Fairview Holiday Course Centre - Out-of-school club, Gillingham ME8 0NU
Julie's Holiday Club - Out-of-school club, Halling, Rochester ME2 1ER, 30 places
Junior Adventures Group @ Maundene ME5 - Out-of-school club, Chatham ME5 7QB, 30 places
Lordswood Leisure Centre - Out-of-school club, Chatham ME5 8YE, 100 places
MFSE - Out-of-school club, Chatham ME4 6QX, 40 places
MFSE - Out-of-school club, Rochester ME2 4QN, 30 places
MFSE - Out-of-school club, Gillingham ME7 4HG, 30 places
MFSE - Out-of-school club, Gillingham ME8 8ET, 30 places
MFSE - Out-of-school club, Chatham ME4 5QD, 20 places
MFSE - Out-of-school club, Rochester ME1 1US, 20 places
MFSE - Out-of-school club, Gillingham ME8 6JH, 20 places
MFSE - Out-of-school club, Rochester ME2 4UF, 20 places
MFSE - Out-of-school club, Rochester ME1 3LF, 20 places
MFSE - Out-of-school club, Rochester ME1 1YF, 15 places
MFSE - Out-of-school club, Rochester ME1 2UR, 20 places
NexGen Sports - Out-of-school club, Chatham ME4 6RH, 20 places
NexGen Sports - Out-of-school club, Rochester ME1 2QA, 20 places
Parklands Resource Centre Childcare - Out-of-school club, Gillingham ME7 4BY
Roffa Limited, King's Rochester Sports Centre - Out-of-school club, Rochester ME1 3QJ
RTC Rochester - Out-of-school club, Rochester ME1 1XZ
Stay & Play @ New Horizons - Out-of-school club, Chatham ME4 6NR, 100 places
Tecnis Academy Chatham - Out-of-school club, Chatham Maritime ME4 4YG

Nursery groups with settings here

Busy Bees Nurseries Limited (5 here)
Hedgehogs Early Years Ltd (4 here)
Play A Way Nurseries Limited (3 here)
Sea Shells Nursery (Dockside) Limited (3 here)
Little Teddies Nursery Basildon Ltd (2 here)
Witty Kiddies Nurseries Ltd (2 here)
Little Thinkers Pre-School & Nursery (1 here)

Ofsted report cards (England, from November 2025)

Since 10 November 2025 Ofsted has graded nurseries and pre-schools on a report card. There is no single overall grade. Instead, each of six areas gets one of five grades: Exceptional, Strong standard, Expected standard, Needs attention, Urgent improvement.

The six areas are inclusion; curriculum and teaching; achievement; behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines; children's welfare and wellbeing; leadership and governance. Safeguarding is judged on its own, as met or not met.

Expected standard means the setting does what Ofsted expects of every setting. Strong standard and Exceptional are above that; Needs attention and Urgent improvement mean Ofsted found things the setting has to put right.

Source: Ofsted reports

Ofsted grades before November 2025 (England)

Inspections before November 2025 gave one overall grade on a four-point scale: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement, Inadequate. Ofsted also graded the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management, and said whether safeguarding was effective.

Settings keep their last grade until Ofsted visits again, so many nurseries still show a grade from this older scale.

Source: Ofsted reports

Funded childcare hours in England

All 3 and 4 year olds in England can get 15 hours of free childcare a week, for 38 weeks of the year.

Working parents of children aged 9 months to 4 years old can get 30 hours of free childcare a week for 38 weeks of the year (Free Childcare for Working Parents), if they meet the earnings rules. You confirm your details every 3 months.

Some 2 year olds can get 15 hours a week when the family gets certain kinds of extra support.

The hours are used at a registered provider that offers them, so ask each nursery how it offers the funded hours.

Source: GOV.UK: Free Childcare for Working Parents, check if you're eligible · GOV.UK: Free childcare and education for 2 to 4 year olds (checked 31 October 2026)

Towns in Medway

Schools in Medway

Schools in Medway council area
All Faiths Children's Academy - Primary
All Saints Church of England Primary School - Primary
Balfour Infant School - Primary
Balfour Junior School - Primary
Barnsole Primary School - Primary
Bligh Primary School (Infants) - Primary
Bligh Primary School (Juniors) - Primary
Brompton-Westbrook Primary School - Primary
Burnt Oak Primary School - Primary
Byron Primary School - Primary
Cedar Children's Academy - Primary
Chattenden Primary School - Primary

Sources: Ofsted, registers as at 30 June 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.