Open 51 weeks
Open 7.30am - 6.30pm
Montessori inspired
Outdoor learning
At Townsend Montessori Nursery Maidstone, we know that nursery education has many benefits. Not only does it allow parents to return to work knowing their child is safe and cared for, but evidence shows that it contributes to cognitive, social, and physical development, boosts confidence and independence, and supports children’s preparation for school.
Please contact the nursery team at Maidstone to determine the nursery fee that is correct for your individual circumstances.
Set in the heart of Maidstone, Kent, our beautiful period nursery building is home to more than 80 children each day.
With three outdoor spaces and five rooms, we’re a popular and loved nursery for local Kent families.
Inside our nursery, every corner is designed to inspire curiosity and foster growth. Bright and spacious interiors welcome children into a world of learning and play, filled with vibrant colours and cosy corners that encourage exploration and creativity.
Our carefully curated rooms are equipped with age-appropriate furniture and stimulating resources, ensuring a safe and engaging environment for every child.
From sensory-rich play areas to imaginative role-play spaces, each room is thoughtfully designed to support developmental milestones and ignite young imaginations.
We’re lucky to have three beautifully designed gardens where children embark on exciting journeys of exploration through nature walks, hands-on activities, and imaginative play. Each space is filled with opportunities for discovery and learning all year round, whatever the weather.
Every garden is linked to an age-specific room, with resources and equipment tailored to each developmental stage. From climbing frames, sand and water play, and wide open spaces for physical activity and group games to a dedicated forest area for older children, children learn about their environment through natural play, surrounded by towering trees and the sounds of wildlife that spark curiosity and creativity.
Every child’s journey to school is unique, and at Maidstone, our Next Stop School program is designed to support them at their own pace. By building confidence, independence, and a love for learning, we ensure they step into school feeling happy, excited, and fully prepared for this new adventure.
At Maidstone Nursery the children are led by experienced educators who are passionate about environmental education, our forest class curriculum integrates academic learning with outdoor skills. Children learn about plant and animal life, develop wilderness survival techniques, and gain a deeper appreciation for ecological conservation.
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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.
At Townsend Nursery Maidstone we have numerous extra activities that enhance the All Aboard Approach, our bespoke version of the Early Years Statutory Framework. We also invite outside professionals to join us who provide additional sessions to our children.
Cookery
Music
Rugby Tots
Multi-Sports
Physical Activities
Gardening
Science
Art
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.
At our Maidstone nursery, we embrace Montessori-inspired teaching to nurture independence, confidence, and a love for learning. Children are encouraged to explore at their own pace using real-life materials, carefully prepared environments, and hands-on activities that promote practical life skills, problem-solving and focus.
We believe parents should feel involved in their child’s nursery experience every step of the way. That’s why we share regular updates through our parent app and provide detailed handovers at pick-up time, keeping you informed about your child’s day.
Whether you’d like to discuss your child’s care, development or daily experiences, our team is always happy to help. By building strong relationships with families, we can work together to support every child’s growth and development.
At The Old Station Nursery Maidstone, creating a safe environment for children is at the heart of everything we do. We follow robust policies and procedures across all areas of nursery life, helping us meet the standards set by Ofsted and other relevant health, safety and safeguarding requirements.
Our team receives regular training in areas including safeguarding, health and safety, food hygiene and paediatric first aid, helping us maintain high standards of care throughout the nursery.
Access to the nursery is managed through a secure entrance system, with parents, carers and visitors using a buzzer to gain entry, helping us maintain a safe and secure environment for everyone.
Our dedicated chef and kitchen assistant prepare balanced, nutritious meals on-site, with menus rotated every three weeks to provide plenty of variety.
For older children, mealtimes are about more than food. Children are encouraged to lay tables, serve themselves and help tidy away afterwards, helping them develop independence and confidence while enjoying meals together.
As children grow and move through the nursery, familiar faces and trusted relationships help them feel secure and supported. That’s why every child at our day nursery in Maidstone has a key person who gets to know them well and works closely with their family.
Your child’s key person will keep you updated on their day, answer any questions you may have and support them as they settle into new routines and environments. We also offer settling sessions and room visits to help children and parents feel confident ahead of each transition.
The move to primary school is a big step, and we help children prepare through our Next Stop School programme. At The Old Station Nursery Maidstone, this includes school activities, teacher meet and greets, and graduation celebrations that help children look ahead with confidence.
Families are supported too, with learning journey updates, parent evenings or one-to-ones, and home link learning kits to continue the connection between nursery and home.
Children leaving for primary school in June, July, August and September will also receive a £30 Clarks voucher towards their first pair of school shoes, as a thank you for being part of our nursery family.
Our All Aboard Approach provides the foundation for learning, with activities and experiences tailored to the children who attend the nursery and the environment around them.
By adapting activities to children’s interests and stages of development, we create opportunities for learning that feel engaging, meaningful and fun.
Food, enhancements and consumables are included as part of your nursery fees, helping families understand exactly what’s covered. We also offer fully funded and part-funded sessions for eligible families.
View our Fee Schedule and Funding Guide for full details, or speak to our nursery manager to discuss availability and the options available for your family’s circumstances.
Our baby room is designed to inspire our youngest children to explore and grow at their own pace. Here, the babies can freely investigate their environment, with our caring staff always on hand to guide and support them as needed. The room is filled with a variety of activities and experiences that cater to their natural curiosity, boundless energy, and developing minds.
We maintain a gentle routine to provide structure to their day, including morning and afternoon nap times. However, we also accommodate each baby’s individual routine to ensure they feel comfortable and secure. Every child can thrive and enjoy their unique journey of discovery.
This room is a spacious, open-plan area designed to foster learning and development. The environment is thoughtfully arranged to create rich learning opportunities that advance each child’s knowledge and understanding. Attentive staff are always observing, ready to enhance and support areas where children need it most.
This stage is crucial for language development, and we incorporate activities to encourage communication skills within our daily routine. We maintain a gentle structure throughout the day, including morning and afternoon nap times, to provide a balanced and nurturing experience for all our little ones.
The children in the Ducklings’ Room share a specially adapted garden with the babies in the Caterpillar Room. This outdoor space is tailored to their age group, offering plenty of exploration and play in the fresh air.
Our toddler room is a large and exciting classroom to explore and learn, where messy play and arts and crafts are among the children’s favourite activities. They also have their own free-flow garden that they can access all day, filled with fun activities designed to spark their interest and help them explore the world around them.
To encourage independence, we have a set of easily accessible toilets and a separate changing area, ensuring that each child feels confident and comfortable as they grow and learn.
In the pre-school, we have two rooms where a more structured approach is implemented to prepare children for school.
Throughout the day, we provide numerous opportunities for the children to become more independent. For example, the toilets are conveniently located next to the room, and children are encouraged to use them whenever they need.
We also promote independence during lunchtime by encouraging the children to self-serve, teaching them about healthy choices and appropriate meal portions. Additionally, each child gets to experience “helper days,” where they take on small tasks and enjoy the responsibility of being the leader for the day.
Our children have access to a large outdoor space and our forest class, offering them ample opportunities to explore and connect with the environment around them.
"I feel passionate about assisting parents in laying a solid early year's foundation for their children and am committed to my vision of making our setting feel like a safe haven for all, by enhancing our friendly and welcoming atmosphere and delivering outstanding care. Please feel free to pop in and say hi anytime, I have an open door policy and am always here to help!"
Rachel Carpenter, Nursery Manager Townsend Maidstone Montessori
Yes. Nutritious meals and snacks are provided throughout the day at our Maidstone nursery. Our menus have been developed around NHS Eatwell guidelines, and can be adapted to accommodate allergies, dietary requirements and special diets, helping every child enjoy mealtimes safely and comfortably. Meals are prepared using fresh ingredients and are designed to support healthy growth and development.
We help new children settle in by creating a welcoming and familiar environment where they can build confidence at their own pace. Through settling-in sessions and support from their key carer, children are given time to get to know their surroundings, make new friends and feel comfortable in their daily routine. We also work closely with parents throughout the process, helping the whole family feel confident about the transition to nursery.
Yes. Families at our Maidstone nursery may be eligible for government-funded childcare, including up to 30 hours of funded childcare for eligible working parents of children aged 9 months to 4 years. Funding eligibility and availability can vary, and our team is happy to explain the options available and answer any questions you may have.
School readiness at our Maidstone nursery is supported through our Next Stop School programme and Montessori-inspired approach to learning. Children are encouraged to develop independence, confidence and practical life skills through hands-on activities and everyday experiences, helping them feel prepared for the transition to school.
Our Montessori approach encourages children to learn through hands-on experiences, exploration and discovery. Children are given opportunities to make choices, solve problems and develop practical skills, helping them build confidence and independence as they learn. By following each child’s interests and stage of development, we create an environment where children can grow, explore and develop a lifelong love of learning.
At our nursery in Maidstone, we help children build confidence and independence by giving them opportunities to make choices, solve problems and learn through hands-on experiences. With support from our team, children are encouraged to explore their interests, develop new skills and take pride in their achievements as they grow into confident and capable learners.
Townsend Montessori Nursery Maidstone supports children’s learning and development through a combination of hands-on experiences, interactive activities and opportunities to follow their interests.
Our team takes time to understand each child’s strengths, interests and stage of development, helping them build new skills and confidence as they learn. We also keep families updated on progress through face-to-face conversations and regular updates via our parent app, allowing parents to celebrate milestones and support learning at home.
Townsend Montessori Nursery Maidstone provides full time and part time care for children aged 0 – 5 years.
Townsend Montessori Nursery Maidstone is open Monday to Friday, 51 weeks.
The children at Townsend Montessori Nursery Maidstone have been getting creative, making their own playdough snowmen while practicing...
Brothers and Sisters Get Free Day Nursery Care in Maidstone
Working parents of children from nine months old can now access 15 hours a week of free childcare...
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.