Little Explorers

206c Maidstone Road, Rochester ME1 3EJ
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9.7 14 Reviews
  • Little Explorers, Rochester
Little Explorers Day Nursery & Preschool, rated Outstanding by Ofsted (February 2020), offers quality care and education for children aged 3 months to 5 years in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, as well as the nursery’s curriculum, which values and encourages everyone, promoting respect for others through a strong emphasis on the development of self-discipline and good manners.

The welfare and wellbeing of children is of paramount importance. Great care is taken to provide a safe, secure and stimulating environment which will allow children to develop confidence, independence and good social skills in what will become their second home.

The nursery provides inspirational learning experiences, both indoors and out. The nursery places a great emphasis on spending time outdoors. There is a safe and enclosed garden where children are encouraged to play and learn about the natural environment. There is even a vegetable patch where the nursery grows their own vegetables!

Care Provided by Little Explorers

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Charlotte Stephenson (Nursery Manager)
  • Admission Criteria
    • None
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 16
  • Total Places for Children
  • 41
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 3 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 08:00-18:00
    Tuesday 08:00-18:00
    Wednesday 08:00-18:00
    Thursday 08:00-18:00
    Friday 08:00-18:00
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holiday & 1 week at Christmas

Funding & Fees Guide for Little Explorers

  • Available on request


  • Parking
  • They have parking to the front of the nursery and to the rear, with plenty of spaces for drop off/pick up.


9.7

Little Explorers has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.745) out of 10, based on 8 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Little Explorers has 14 reviews.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The team at Little Explorers are just so wonderful! They have always gone above and beyond to support and develop our little one. They are very knowledgeable and experienced. They have a wonderful rapport with the children which reassured us from day one. They are by far the best nursery we have sent
our daughter to and greatly deserve the 'Outstanding' grading from Ofsted. Thank you!

Reply from Sonny, Marketing at Little Explorers

Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so thrilled to hear how much you value the care and support your little one has received at Little Explorers. Our knowledgeable and experienced team loves building strong connections with children and families, so your words are deeply appreciated. Hearing that we're the best nursery you've attended and that you feel our 'Outstanding' Ofsted rating is well-deserved makes us so proud. Thank you for trusting us. We're delighted to have been part of your journey!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Excellent, attentive, great early feedback. In the short time our daughter has been there she has really flourished. They have made great efforts to get to know her and adapted their care for her.

Reply from Sonny, Marketing at Little Explorers

What a fantastic review, thank you! It's amazing to hear how quickly your daughter has flourished during her short time with us. Our team works hard to tailor care to each child's unique needs, so it's wonderful to know you've felt reassured by their efforts. We're so proud to be part of her growth and can't wait to see what else she'll achieve. Thank you for your kind words-they mean so much!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Little Explorers has genuinely been a revelation for both of my children. They love it and thrive there - this is down to the incredibly hard-working, nurturing staff. They make miracles happen everyday.

Reply from Sonny, Marketing at Little Explorers

Wow, what an incredible review, thank you! It's so uplifting to hear how much Little Explorers has meant to your family. Knowing your children are thriving and loving their time with us is truly the highest compliment. Our team takes such pride in creating a nurturing environment, and your words about them working "miracles" every day have left us smiling from ear to ear. Thank you for being part of our Little Explorers family!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We found Little Explorers after a false start with another nursery. From day one, it's been an exceptional experience all around. The induction was brilliant, my son was happy and I was left feeling confident that he would be safe and well cared for. The senior staff know all the children by name and
are happy to stop and have a chat and I love that so many staff across all the rooms are involved in the children's care. My son is quite full-on for his age and I've appreciated the ongoing conversation with the team about ways to manage various behaviours. His social skills, motor skills, problem-solving and communication have all developed noticeably as a result of the support he has had at Little Explorers. The team have gone out of their way to accommodate us when I've needed additional hours at short notice (they can't always do this, but have been very helpful). We are absolutely delighted to have found Little Explorers and consider ourselves very lucky to have a place here.

Reply from Sonny, Marketing at Little Explorers

We're overjoyed that you found Little Explorers to be such a positive experience after your initial nursery search. It's fantastic to hear how your son's skills have blossomed with our support. Our team loves getting involved and making personal connections with every child. We're delighted to accommodate your needs whenever possible. Thank you for sharing your delightful journey with us!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My two sons previously attended and now my daughter attends.
This nursery has shaped my children into independent, creative and intelligent children.
The staff are absolutely amazing and it feels like they genuinely care for your children.
The nursery manager had my second son as her key child when
she was a practitioner in the baby room. My son has additional medical needs and she went above and beyond to understand all his needs and I felt reassured as she would do her own, in-depth, research.
My children still love the staff. When we collect my daughter, the boys run into the office and have a natter with the deputy manager and the manager. They always have time to talk to the boys and ask them about their day.
My daughter started baby room six months ago and has never cried at drop-off. She happily goes to a member of staff who she absolutely loves. When I go to collect her she doesn't want to leave.
She spends the day doing so many fun, planned activities.
The nursery feels like family.

Reply from Sid, Senior Marketing Executive at Little Explorers

Thank you for your lovely review! We are delighted to hear about the positive impact Little Explorers has had on your children. It's wonderful that they've become independent, creative and intelligent individuals through their time at the nursery. We appreciate your kind words about our dedicated staff, especially the care and support provided to your son with additional medical needs.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My grandson has been here for just under a year now and the changes are so positive. He is thriving in all areas and is extremely happy here. He looks forward to seeing his friends and staff alike.
The staff have always been so caring and supportive throughout a really tough time in my grandson's
life as well as teaching him and communicating with myself in all areas.
I always get updates on the app about what he has eaten or been participating in. I am fully aware of any events planned through this too, meaning I can plan around work in plenty of time.
Being at Little Explorers is like having extended family and they are all such a big part of my grandson's life.
The nursery managers really care about each and every child and they go over and beyond to make sure they are happy in their setting.
I would recommend Little Explorers 100%.

Reply from Sid, Senior Marketing Executive at Little Explorers

Thank you for your lovely review! We are delighted to hear that your grandson is thriving and happy in our care. It's heartening to know that our staff have been caring and supportive during challenging times and we appreciate your kind words about the communication and updates through the app.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Overall, a very good nursery. All Staff go above and beyond to make sure my son is well looked after, even down to learning, he’s come a long way since being at Little Explorers. On the days my son attends, they always update what he’s done in the day, followed along with pictures. The manager is very
good and handles all the staff and the children that attend very well. My son loves being at Little Explorers.

Reply from Sid, Senior Marketing Executive at Little Explorers

Thank you for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that your little one is having a lovely experience at our nursery and appreciate your kind words about the team.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Excellent nursery in every way. Play areas are well equipped, staff are friendly and know all about my child. At the end of each update we get a digital update with developmental observations tracked.
Our child is very happy there.

Reply from Sid, Senior Marketing Executive at Little Explorers

Thank you for your lovely review! We're thrilled to hear that you find our nursery excellent in every way. It's great to know that the play areas are well-equipped and that our staff is friendly and knowledgeable about your child. We're delighted that you appreciate the digital updates with developmental observations, providing you with valuable insights into your child's progress.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Outstanding nursery. A wonderful family feel, both of my daughters flourished here. The team made great headway with their development and ensured they were nurtured in a caring environment. Would highly recommend.

Reply from Harjit, Digital Marketing Executive at Little Explorers

Thank you for the review and saying you would highly recommend us. We love caring for all the children.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Amazing nursery. My husband and I have been so happy with the staff, great facilities and excellent care for my child. My boy is so happy there. I cannot recommend you enough. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5

Our previous reviews for this nursery have always been exceptionally positive, with little or no cause for suggestions for improvement. Sadly, since the new ownership we feel there has been a significant drop in the quality of administrative communication from the office - i.e. numerous emails not being
responded to. We were also not informed that our child was being introduced to pre-school and only found out weeks later. Also, not having a sports day, particularly after such a difficult couple of years and missing out on so much already, simply because the staff have too much admin work to do now is unacceptable. Despite the many negatives now, we feel the practitioners continue to be hard-working, committed and interested in the development of our child. We also previously really liked the app and being able to share photographs and experiences of our child that the practitioners showed an interest in. This has never been suggested or encouraged since the change.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been at Little Explorers for over a year now and he has been very happy there. I have found the staff to be wonderful, energetic, friendly and very accommodating. They have worked well with me on any special requests that we may be working on at home. And offer me great support and advice
when I have asked. My son has thrived there and I think there is a great balance of learning and playing and especially playing outside.


I love the little extras that happen there, like Christmas concerts, sports days and Easter parade. I don't know many other nursery's that do that. It makes the parents feel included and great that the kids have a big group project to work on.


I can tell that he feels very loved at school, and I trust the teachers completely. I will be very sad to be moving on to big school later this year.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter absolutely loves attending the nursery. In the mornings she literally runs from the gate towards the nursery staff. The entire staff is extremely attentive, caring and polite. They always provide us with a detailed overview of our little one's day. I am amazed by the various structured,
interesting and educational activities they provide on a daily basis. The space they have is used in the best way possible. The other most impressive thing is they have a kitchen and provide freshly cooked food - something we never had with my other child's nursery and I had to bring cooked meals which then would get microwaved - something which I am really not fond of not to mention the option of dry sandwiches. The cleanliness - is beyond amazing! Support with initially changing nappies and subsequently toilet training - amazing! Thank you!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter has been attending Little Explorers for over two years. She joined from another nursery, and Little Explorers is head and shoulders above them. The facilities are top-notch, the staff are all fantastic, and my daughter absolutely loves going there. They spend loads of time outdoors as well
as having loads of stuff to do indoors, and I can see how much my daughter has improved in all aspects of her development since joining the nursery. Would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a nursery.

Reply from Harjit, Digital Marketing Executive at Little Explorers

Thank you for the review. It is great to see your daughter loves coming to nursery and is growing and developing here at Little Explorers.


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Current Review Score: 9.7 (9.745)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.7 (9.745) out of 10 for Little Explorers is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 8 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.8 out of 5 from 8 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.969 for Little Explorers is calculated as follows: ( (93 Excellents x 5) + (3 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 96 Ratings = 4.969

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 4.776 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Little Explorers is based on 8 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 3.8

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 41 number of registered child places is 8.2. 8 Positive Reviews ÷ 8.2 = 0.976

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Little Explorers

What is the Age Range of Children that Little Explorers accepts?

Little Explorers accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Little Explorers Open?

Little Explorers is open: Monday 08:00-18:00, Tuesday 08:00-18:00, Wednesday 08:00-18:00, Thursday 08:00-18:00, Friday 08:00-18:00.

How many Children does Little Explorers have capacity for?

Little Explorers has capacity for a total of 41 Children.

How far is Little Explorers to the centre of Rochester?

1.2 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.