Outdoor learning
Open 7.30am - 6.00pm
Open all year round
Community links
At The Old Station Nursery Whitstable, formerly Choochoos Day Nursery Whitstable, children aged 0-5 years old are welcomed into a light, airy nursery within the town’s former railway station. The character of the building, open-plan rooms, and carefully planned spaces create a warm environment where the children can feel settled, curious, and ready to explore.
The nursery is open all year round, Monday to Friday. 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 part-funded childcare, subject to eligibility and availability.
You’ll find us on Railway Avenue, next to Whitstable train station and close to the town centre. The A299 is only a short drive away, and a designated drop-off and pick-up area directly outside the nursery helps make busy mornings and evenings easier.
The nursery combines a separate, cosy baby space with open-plan rooms for toddlers and pre-school children, secure outdoor areas, freshly prepared meals, Montessori-inspired learning, Cookery Enhancement, and a broad mix of movement, music, language, gardening, science, and creative experiences.
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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 run a mixture of extra activities that enhance our All Aboard Approach, our bespoke version of the Early Years Statutory Framework and in-the-moment activities that scaffold the children’s interests at the time.
Cookery
Languages
Yoga
Physical Activities
Art
Music
Gardening
Science
Community
Montessori inspired
Our chef has been with us for nearly 20 years and the children love nothing more than when Chef calls time for ‘cooking around the world’ or works with the children to produce a teatime dessert or baking morning.
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.
We love developing our language at Choochoos Day Nursery Whitstable.
Each week we learn a new sign language sign from the Makaton programme which encourages inclusivity and supports the children’s overall language development.
Breathing and stretching our bodies is a life-skill that sadly us adults often forget about as we age.
Introducing children to yoga poses may help form a lifelong appreciation of the practice and is a good, calming activity in a busy environment.
At Whitstable Nursery our budding movers love Little Kickers football and Rugby Tots each week, delivered by external early-years professionals, as well as daily exercise activities that help the children develop their gross-motor skills.
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.
Music Stars is the name of our weekly group where the children bring out their inner-beat, dance and artistic expression through a whole host of music, stories and rhymes.
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.
The children have lots of questions about the world around them, particularly living creatures and how they change.
Alongside bug hunting, each year we hatch ducklings and watch the lifecycle of caterpillars into butterflies; a much loved and important part of the curriculum.
The local community near our Whitstable nursery is really important to us.
We visit the railway station and watch the trains, visit the harbour, the RNLI and Kent Fire and Rescue Service to name a few.
At our 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.
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 is set within a separate building, creating a calm, cosy, home-from-home space for the youngest children. Sensory play, close interaction, music, movement, and age-appropriate resources encourage babies to explore at their own pace.
The room has access to a garden designed for children under two, allowing outdoor experiences to become a familiar part of the day. 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 toddler room supports free-flow play between indoor and outdoor spaces. The children can move, investigate, create, build, share stories, and explore a wide range of resources while developing confidence and independence.
Everyday routines and warm interactions help the children grow their communication, friendships, physical skills, self-care, and understanding of their feelings.
The pre-school space is arranged across two connected areas, giving the children choice and access to a broad range of child-led and adult-guided experiences. Creative play, construction, stories, puzzles, movement, and practical activities support learning across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
Through Next Stop School, the children practise communication, independence, problem-solving, self-care, and the everyday skills that help the next chapter feel more familiar. Links with local schools support this transition.
Whitstable gives the children a rich local environment to explore. Walks to the beach, harbour, castle, park, and railway station turn familiar places into real learning experiences, with opportunities to notice the weather, wildlife, boats, trains, people, sounds, and changing seasons.
The nursery also builds links across the community through visits and experiences connected with local services and organisations. These moments help the children understand the people around them, build confidence in new situations, and feel that they belong to the town they are growing up in.
Community involvement can also include supporting local causes and spending time with different generations. Together, these experiences bring Wonderful World to life in a way that feels genuinely rooted in Whitstable.
“A big warm welcome to The Old Station Nursery! At Whitstable, we build the foundations for your little one to give them the best start in life. Whitstable has highly qualified staff which are positive and passionate about ensuring every child meets their highest potential. Myself and my team pride ourselves on delivery the highest quality of education and care. No question is silly and we would love to hear from you!”
Danielle Aldridge, Nursery Manager at The Old Station Nursery Whitstable
Whitstable 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 all year round.
The nursery is at Whitstable Railway Station, Railway Avenue, Whitstable, CT5 1QS. It is next to the train station, close to the town centre, and a short drive from the A299, with a designated drop-off and pick-up area outside.
Yes. This is the same setting, formerly known as Choochoos Day Nursery Whitstable. It is now part of The Old Station Nursery.
Yes. Whitstable is open all year round rather than following school terms, apart from the nursery’s stated closure days.
Yes. Government-funded childcare is available for eligible families, subject to availability and local funding arrangements. The nursery team can explain the sessions available for your child.
Yes. You can book a personal tour to meet the team, explore the rooms and gardens, and talk through sessions, fees, funding, meals, and settling in.
Yes. Nutritious meals and snacks are prepared on-site. The nursery can support allergies, intolerances, and other dietary requirements, and fresh ingredients are used with organic vegetables included 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.
The children are encouraged to explore at their own pace, use real-life materials, repeat tasks, make choices, and build practical life skills, concentration, independence, and confidence.
The team creates a language-rich environment through conversation, stories, songs, play, and Makaton signs. This helps the children understand others, express themselves, and build 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. The nursery also builds links with local schools so the move to Reception feels more familiar.
The children can use secure nursery gardens and take part in local outings that make the most of Whitstable’s beach, harbour, parks, railway connections, and wider community.
Activities can include cookery, Montessori-inspired learning, Makaton, yoga, football, rugby, music, gardening, science, messy play, and creative experiences. Activities are adapted around the children’s interests and stage of 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.