Open 51 weeks
Open 7.30am - 6.30pm
Montessori inspired
Outdoor learning
At The Old Station Nursery Montessori Maidstone, formerly Townsend Montessori Nursery Maidstone, children aged 0-5 years old are supported to grow in confidence, independence, curiosity, and concentration through a Montessori approach to early learning.
Set in a beautiful period building on Priory Road in the heart of Maidstone, the nursery has five rooms and three outdoor spaces. We care for more than 80 children each day, with environments designed around different stages of development and opportunities to explore both indoors and outside.
The nursery is open from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. We offer full-time and part-time childcare, as well as government-funded places for eligible families.
Our Montessori approach gives the children meaningful opportunities to make choices, use real-life materials, practise practical skills, solve problems, and work at their own pace. The team observes carefully, prepares the environment thoughtfully, and steps in with guidance when it will help a child move their learning forward.
You’ll also find three gardens, including free-flow outdoor spaces and a dedicated forest area for older children, giving the children time to move, investigate nature, build physical confidence, and continue their learning outdoors.
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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.
Montessori shapes the everyday environment at Maidstone, while a range of additional activities gives the children further opportunities to move, create, investigate, grow, and try something new.
Activities may vary across the year, but can include Cookery Enhancement, gardening, science, art, movement, tennis, and outdoor learning.
Maidstone
Cookery
Music
Rugby Tots
Multi-Sports
Physical Activities
Gardening
Science
Art
Our Montessori approach supports independence, focus, confidence, and a love of learning through hands-on experiences and a carefully prepared environment. The children are encouraged to make choices, use real-life resources, solve problems, and build practical skills at their own pace.
Rather than being a separate session, Montessori is part of how the nursery day is organised and how the team supports children to become increasingly capable and independent.
At Maidstone, we believe every child can become a budding chef! Our cookery sessions blend fun and learning in the kitchen. Whether they’re preparing a nutritious meal or baking a scrumptious dessert, children gain hands-on experience and learn essential skills like measuring, counting, and following instructions.
They also develop a love for nutritious food. Cooking together fosters teamwork and creativity, and the joy on their faces when they taste their creations is truly priceless. It’s more than just cooking; it’s about building confidence and creating joyful memories.
Budding musicians can explore different instruments at our children’s 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.
The Rugby Tots energetic coaches come to our nursery to support our children every step of the way whilst teaching how to catch, pass, kick, run with the ball and play as part of a team.
The lessons learnt by the children are invaluable and help with many other facets of learning and development.
Each week we welcome an external team to deliver tennis lessons to our little ones. These fun and dynamic sessions are designed to advance their tennis skills while building on the micro motor skills introduced in our toddler tennis classes.
Through playful activities and expert guidance, children will develop their coordination, balance, and agility, all while having a great time on the court.
Our Budding Movers program at Townsend Maidstone takes children on an enchanting journey through music and movement. Classes feature musical instruments, sensory play, puppets, and dance, all designed to enhance coordination, creativity, and confidence in an engaging manner. Children eagerly participate, and parents often notice improvements in their social skills and self-expression.
These classes provide a wonderful opportunity for children to explore their musical talents and burn off energy while having a blast!
At Maidstone, we foster a love for nature through our Budding Gardeners program. Rain or shine, our young gardeners eagerly tend to our vegetable planters, finding joy even in the messiest gardens. They learn about different plant growth stages and relish exploring the tastes and textures of the produce they help grow.
These activities teach environmental stewardship and sustainable gardening practices, instilling a sense of responsibility and wonder for the natural world. Witnessing their excitement as they harvest their first vegetables is a joy and a skill they will carry with them for life.
Our Budding Scientists program at Maidstone sparks curiosity and imagination. Children engage in thrilling experiments and hands-on activities exploring various materials and concepts.
From creating imaginative potions to embarking on space-themed adventures, our young scientists are always eager to learn. These activities encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Parents enjoy hearing their children share their discoveries and proudly display their creations at home.
It’s an excellent way to foster a lifelong love of learning and discovery in a supportive and stimulating environment.
Budding Artists at Maidstone is a favourite among the children, and parents often tell us they prefer the mess on our nursery floor rather than at home!
These sessions involve a variety of materials like paint, flour, leaves, playdoh, lentils, shredded paper, and glue, providing children with endless opportunities for creative development and fine motor skill enhancement.
Our nursery environment is designed to support messy play, and we ensure everything is cleaned up and tidy before lunchtime.
Our baby room gives the youngest children a calm place to explore at their own pace. The environment offers sensory experiences, space to move, and a gentle rhythm to the day, with the team close by to offer reassurance and support.
We recognise that every baby has their own sleep, feeding, and comfort routine, so we work closely with parents and carers to keep familiar patterns where possible. The babies also share an age-appropriate garden, bringing fresh air and outdoor discovery into their day from the start.
As babies become more mobile and communicative, the older babies room offers a spacious, open-plan environment with opportunities to explore, repeat favourite activities, and develop early language and independence.
The team observes carefully and adapts experiences to what the children are showing an interest in. The room shares a specially adapted garden with the younger babies, giving the children safe opportunities to investigate outdoors too.
Our toddler room is a large, lively space where messy play, arts and crafts, practical experiences, and independent exploration are part of the day. The children also have free-flow access to their own garden, allowing them to choose between indoor and outdoor play.
Child-height facilities, including easily accessible toilets, support growing independence and self-care. These everyday experiences sit naturally alongside the Montessori approach, helping the children practise skills for themselves with support nearby when they need it.
Our two pre-school rooms give older children a carefully prepared environment where they can work with increasing independence while building the skills that support a confident move to school.
The children are encouraged to manage more everyday tasks for themselves, from using the toilet independently to self-serving at lunchtime and taking part in “helper days”. These responsibilities help build confidence, decision-making, care for others, and a sense of belonging.
Alongside Montessori learning, our Next Stop School programme supports communication, early literacy, early maths, problem-solving, friendships, and the routines children will meet as they move towards primary school. Pre-school children also have access to a large outdoor space and the nursery’s forest area.
Montessori learning is woven through everyday life at Maidstone. Rather than children simply being told what to do, the environment is prepared so they can make age-appropriate choices, work with purpose, repeat activities, and become increasingly independent.
The children use hands-on and real-life resources that support practical skills, problem-solving, focus, language, early maths, creativity, and care for their surroundings. Furniture and resources are arranged so children can access what they need more independently and take pride in completing everyday tasks for themselves.
You can see this approach in small moments throughout the day. Toddlers can begin managing their own self-care, pre-school children are encouraged to self-serve at mealtimes, and “helper days” give children simple responsibilities that help them feel capable and included.
The role of the team is just as important. By observing each child closely, we can understand what they are ready for, introduce new experiences at the right time, and give them space to practise until they feel confident.
“I feel passionate about helping parents lay strong foundations for their children’s early years and creating a nursery where every family feels welcome. I want Maidstone to feel safe, calm, and supportive, with an open-door approach where parents and carers always feel able to talk to us.”
Nursery Manager, The Old Station Nursery Montessori Maidstone
Yes. Nutritious meals and snacks are provided throughout the day. Menus are developed around NHS Eatwell guidance and can be adapted for allergies, dietary requirements, and special diets, helping children enjoy mealtimes safely and comfortably.
The Old Station Nursery Montessori Maidstone provides full-time and part-time childcare for children aged 0-5 years old, with dedicated spaces for babies, older babies, toddlers, and pre-school children.
The Old Station Nursery Montessori Maidstone is open from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year.
The nursery is on Priory Road in Maidstone town centre, within easy reach of the A229 and A249 and a short drive from Maidstone East train station. Parking is available in the Mill Street car park.
Yes. Maidstone offers government-funded childcare for eligible families, alongside private and part-funded sessions. Eligibility and availability can vary, so please speak with the nursery team about the options available for your child.
Settling is planned around each child. Your child’s key person will help them become familiar with the room, routines, and team at a comfortable pace, while parents and carers are kept closely involved throughout.
Yes. Maidstone is one of The Old Station Nursery’s Montessori settings. Montessori principles are woven through the nursery environment and everyday experiences, supporting independence, choice, practical skills, concentration, and hands-on learning.
The Montessori approach encourages children to learn through hands-on experiences, real-life materials, choice, repetition, and discovery. The environment is prepared so children can become increasingly independent, while the team observes carefully and introduces support or challenge when it will help them progress.
Yes. Maidstone has three outdoor spaces linked to different age groups, with opportunities for climbing, sand and water play, gardening, movement, and nature-based learning. Older children also have access to a dedicated forest area.
Our Next Stop School programme works alongside the Montessori approach to help children build confidence, independence, communication, practical life skills, early literacy, early maths, and positive relationships. These everyday skills help make the move to primary school feel more familiar.
Yes. You can book a personal tour to meet the team, explore the rooms and gardens, see the Montessori environment, and talk through your child’s needs, sessions, fees, and funded childcare options.
Alongside Montessori learning and the All Aboard Approach, activities may include Cookery Enhancement, gardening, Budding Movers, science, art, tennis, and outdoor learning. Activities can vary across the year and are shaped around the children attending the nursery.
Yes. Townsend Montessori Nursery Maidstone has been rebranded as The Old Station Nursery Montessori Maidstone. The new name reflects the nursery’s place within The Old Station Nursery while retaining Montessori as a defining part of the setting.
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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.