Open 51 weeks a year
Opening times 07:30am - 6:00pm
Fully funded places
Outdoor learning
At The Old Station Nursery Dover, formerly Choochoos Day Nursery Dover, children aged 0-5 years old are welcomed into a spacious, friendly nursery in River, on the outskirts of Dover. The nursery has two open-plan ground-floor rooms and a home-from-home feel where the children can settle, build secure relationships, and grow in confidence.
The nursery is open Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year. Full-day care runs from 8am to 6pm, with an early start available from 7.30am. Morning and afternoon sessions are also available, alongside private, funded, and partly funded childcare, subject to eligibility and availability.
You’ll find us on Crabble Road, just off the A256 beside the River Dour and close to Kearsney railway station. Free on-site parking helps make drop-off and pick-up easier for families travelling by car.
The nursery combines generous indoor space with a large garden, free-flow play, fresh meals prepared on-site, Cookery Enhancement, Little Kickers sessions, gardening, music, science, creative experiences, and our Next Stop School programme.
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The All Aboard Approach is unique to The Old Station Nursery Group and is our advanced approach to the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and core pedagogy. It differs from traditional nursery teaching methods by providing real-life opportunities to enhance children’s natural curiosity, with emphasis on hands-on experiences, child-led learning, and whole development.
The six core areas promote active engagement and critical thinking whilst encouraging exploration, creativity, and collaboration. Each child learns at their own pace and is challenged and extended at appropriate times.
The best place to see the All Aboard Approach in action is via our local nursery Facebook page, where each post explains which part of the curriculum the children are working on. Our parents also receive updates on the Parent App too.
We are lucky to have such a large outdoor space at our nursery in Dover where we spend lots of time being active. We hold numerous extra activities that enhance our All Aboard Approach, our bespoke version of the Early Years Statutory Framework.
Cookery
Physical Activities
Art
Gardening
Science
Music
With the aid of a ‘cool touch’ oven, child-safe equipment and the children’s chef’s hats and aprons we follow a set curriculum to learn about the joys of cooking and gain lifelong skills such as measuring, counting and following set instructions.
Little-Kickers early years professionals come to our Dover nursery to show the children the enjoyment of ball skills and activities that they will enjoy in P.E class at primary school, and perhaps inspire the next world-class football players!
Messy Mornings is a firm favourite for the children and our parents tell us they would rather have the mess on our nursery floor rather than on the home carpet! These activities can include anything from paint to flour to leaves, playdoh, lentils, shredded paper and glue to name a few.
In essence, Messy Mornings uses items that the children love to get their hands on, bringing their creative development and fine motor skills to the fore. Our nursery environments are designed to support messy play and we can easily tidy up, spik and span in time for lunch.
Come rain or shine, we tend our vegetable plots, teaching the children about the different stages of growth cycles and exploring the different tastes and textures of the produce.
As Budding gardeners, children learn about the environment and gain lifelong sustainable growing skills and enjoyment, which they will carry with them throughout their lives.
Children learn so much during their early years and take great joy in exploring the world around them. At our nursery they’re immersed into the world of Science through age appropriate hands-on experiments and activities designed to spark their curiosity.
Budding musicians can explore different instruments at our Dover nursery, as well as enjoying rhythmic games, and participating in interactive sing-along sessions. They’ll discover the joy of creating melodies, understanding beats, and expressing themselves through music. Each activity is carefully crafted to inspire a love for music and develop their auditory skills in a fun and engaging environment.
Click here to view the nursery Fee Schedule and Funding Guide. Please contact the nursery manager to discuss availability and nursery fees that are correct for your individual circumstances.
The baby room offers a bright, sensory-rich environment where the youngest children can explore safely at their own pace. Music, movement, textures, stories, and warm interaction support early communication, physical development, and curiosity.
Babies have direct access to a garden designed especially for children under two. The team works closely with parents and carers to understand sleep, feeding, comfort, and care routines, helping each baby feel safe, known, and settled.
The spacious toddler and pre-school room supports free-flow play between indoors and the garden. The children can move, build, investigate, create, share stories, and choose from a broad range of resources that encourage independence and a zest for learning.
Everyday routines and thoughtful interactions help the children grow their communication, friendships, physical skills, self-care, emotional understanding, and confidence.
Pre-school learning combines child-led interests with carefully planned experiences that build strong foundations for the next stage. Stories, early mark-making, movement, problem-solving, practical routines, and group activities support learning across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
Through Next Stop School, the children practise communication, independence, listening, self-care, and the everyday skills that help Reception feel more familiar. The team works closely with families as this next chapter approaches.
The nursery’s setting in River gives the children space to notice and explore the natural world. With the River Dour nearby and countryside around the local area, changing weather, plants, wildlife, water, and the seasons can become part of everyday conversations and discovery.
The large garden offers different ways to move and play. The children can enjoy the grassed area, ride bikes, practise balance, and use the flat rubber surface for active games, while free-flow access helps indoor ideas continue outside.
Gardening, outdoor science, physical play, and careful observation bring Wonderful World and Super STEAM to life. These experiences help the children build confidence, coordination, curiosity, and respect for the environment on their doorstep.
“At The Old Station Nursery Dover, we like to ensure we offer a home from home experience. Building up a positive and secure relationship with the parents, children and key person is vital to create a safe and secure environment. When children feel secure, natural learning is established. Children will naturally grow, learn and develop if they feel happy.”
Hayley Simpson, Nursery Manager, The Old Station Nursery Dover
Dover provides full-time and part-time childcare for children aged 0-5 years old.
Full-day care runs from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with an early start available from 7.30am. Morning and afternoon sessions are also available, and the nursery is open for 51 weeks of the year.
The nursery is on Crabble Road, Dover, CT17 0QD, in River on the outskirts of Dover. It is just off the A256, beside the River Dour, close to Kearsney railway station, and has free on-site parking.
Yes. This is the same setting, formerly known as Choochoos Day Nursery Dover. It is now named The Old Station Nursery.
Yes. Government-funded childcare is available for eligible families, subject to availability and local funding arrangements. Funded, partly funded, and fully funded options may be available, and the nursery team can explain the current choices.
Yes. You can book a personal tour to meet the team, explore the rooms and garden, and talk through sessions, fees, funding, meals, and settling in.
Yes. Free on-site parking is available, helping make drop-off and pick-up simpler for families travelling by car.
Yes. Fresh meals and snacks are prepared on-site. The nursery can support allergies, intolerances, and other dietary requirements, and organic vegetables are used whenever possible.
Yes. The children use a cool-touch oven and child-safe equipment to measure, mix, follow instructions, and prepare food. Cookery supports early maths, communication, coordination, teamwork, and confidence.
Dover has a large garden with a grassed area and a flat rubber surface. The children can ride bikes, practise balance, enjoy active play, garden, investigate nature, and move between indoor and outdoor experiences.
Yes. Little Kickers sessions introduce age-appropriate ball skills and games that support movement, coordination, listening, teamwork, and confidence.
Settling sessions are planned around each child. Their key person will spend time getting to know their routines, interests, comfort needs, and family, while keeping parents and carers closely updated.
Next Stop School helps the children build confidence, independence, communication, self-care, and social skills through practical routines and familiar school-related experiences.
Activities can include cookery, Little Kickers, gardening, science, music, messy play, stories, imaginative play, and daily outdoor movement. Experiences are adapted around the children’s interests and stage of development.
The team shares verbal updates at pick-up and regular information through the Parent App. Parents and carers can also speak with their child’s key person about routines, interests, learning, and development.
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Please note that this is not a confirmation of your tour. One of our nursery team will endeavour to get back to you ASAP to confirm your date and time. Thank you.
If you are looking to arrange a tour within the next 48 hours, we recommend calling the nursery directly.