Northbourne Park Squirrels Nursery

The Old Rectory, Betteshanger, Deal CT14 0NJ
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9.7 32 Reviews
  • Northbourne Park Squirrels Nursery, Deal
Northbourne Park Squirrels Nursery offers a nurturing, secure, and engaging environment where children aged 2 to 4 years flourish and develop, guided by caring and knowledgeable adults.

Located just 10 minutes from Sandwich and Deal, and 20 minutes from Dover, the nursery is set in a charming, rural environment. It features exceptional outdoor learning areas and three bright, spacious classrooms. The Squirrels class benefits from small group sizes, generous staff-to-pupil ratios, and a dedicated team of specialist Early Years and subject teachers who deliver a variety of enjoyable and enriching activities daily, including Forest School, Music, and French lessons.

Operating during term-time for 38 weeks a year, the nursery provides Free Early Education funded hours, flexible sessions, and Wraparound Care options. An extended day at Squirrels Nursery begins at 8:00 AM and ends at 6:00 PM.

Children at the nursery wear a comfortable and practical uniform of jogging bottoms, a polo shirt, and a sweater. Waterproof trousers and wellies are also essential! The nursery places a strong emphasis on healthy eating, providing nutritious hot meals and snacks prepared on-site, ensuring children receive a balanced diet to support their growth and development.

Squirrels Nursery is part of Northbourne Park School, a co-educational day and boarding school for ages 2 to 13. Children participate in school assemblies, workshops, and events throughout the year. The nursery enjoy the wider facilities of the Pre-Prep site, including the Music Room and Library, as well as the Prep School’s extensive grounds. Squirrels Nursery shares in the school’s mission to create a magical childhood for all its pupils, developing ambitious, creative, and free-thinking learners in a nurturing environment where children’s wellbeing is at the core.
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Type of Service

  • Nursery School
  • Open term time
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Owner

  • Northbourne Park School
  • Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned

Person in Charge

  • Nicole Marsh (Head of Pre-Prep)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 10

Registered Charity Number

  • 280048

Total Places for Children

  • 24

Age Range

  • from 2 years 0 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Funding & Fees

  • Fee per session:
    School Day (8.30 AM - 4.00 PM) £63.75
    Morning (8.30 AM – 1.00 PM) £38.25
    Afternoon (1.00 PM - 4.00PM) £25.50


    Fee per term (x3 terms in a year):
    Full time, School Day (8.30 AM - 4.00PM) £3,800.00

  • Up to 30 hours free funding available and childcare vouchers accepted. Restrictions apply. Visit our website for more details.

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 Holidays & School Holidays

Parking

  • Ample parking on site.

Northbourne Park Squirrels Nursery Reviews (32)

9.7

Northbourne Park Squirrels Nursery has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.676) out of 10, based on 7 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Northbourne Park Squirrels Nursery has 32 reviews.

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Total of 32, showing 21-32
Review from Kerry P (Mother of Child) published on 9 November 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This is a breathtaking place I have the privilege of having my children reared in. The nurturing staff just keep on giving.


They are tremendous at providing outstanding levels of care and facilities.


My son counts down the days from Friday to Monday to go back.


I feel very blessed that I can

say that this is my child's childhood. Thank you, Northbourne!
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Review from Lee R (Father of Child) published on 3 August 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter sadly lost her mother (my wife) only aged 3 years old. Since then she has needed extra support and pastoral care.
Northbourne Park nursery and all of the staff have been superb. I could not have asked for any more support from the nursery and my daughter has really flourished since attending
this nursery.
She has had the best start in life at this nursery.
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Review from A R (Mother of Child) published on 24 July 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
A lovely, cosy nursery with beautiful grounds. Just the right amount of structure versus free play. I like the way the children are integrated as part of the school and are involved in all events. A wonderful atmosphere for 3-4 year olds.
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Review from Lisa B (Mother of Child) published on 20 July 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My Son started the nursery, nervous and struggled to keep his attention on anything. With lots of love, care and attention from all the staff he has come on in leaps and bounds! He is a much happier and calmer little boy, ready for and excited to start school. I can't express enough how lovely the staff
are, any problems we have are listened to and sorted out straight away. A huge thank you to them all!
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Review from Kirsty D (Mother of Child) published on 20 July 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Incredible nursery. I cannot recommend enough. My Daughter has moved on so much developmentally thanks to the staff who treat the children as they would their own.
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Review from Kirsty A (Mother of Child) published on 28 February 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
From day one Northbourne Park Pre-Prep School have been informative and helpful - over the phone, by correspondence and in person. Even when we turned up unexpectedly for a visit. The staff were happy to show us around and show all the facilities they have to offer. Our daughter has settled in well
and become more independent. She has become more interested in nature since Forest School. We are very grateful for all the staff's efforts.


Thank you.

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Review from Leanne W (Mother of Child) published on 15 February 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Northbourne Park Nursery is an exceptional nursery within the pre-prep part of Northbourne Park School. The grounds are extensive with lots of woodland area and plenty of play equipment to explore. The staff are extremely kind and caring towards the children. The school organises many trips to all sorts
of interesting places for the children as well as fun days and activities within the school. I could not recommend enough.
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Review from Emily A (Mother of Child) published on 9 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We agonised about whether to move our daughter to Northbourne Park Pre-Prep School for her pre-school year from the (very good) nursery she had been in since she was 10 months old. We made the move and have not regretted our decision in any way. It is fabulous - the setting is beautiful and the nursery
manages to be both warm, friendly and nurturing yet challenging, stimulating and fun. Our daughter has benefitted hugely from the varied learning environment they provide and she is happy and fulfilled. I cannot recommend the place more highly.
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Review from Sanaz H (Mother of Child) published on 20 March 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Wonderful nurturing environment. Great development and learning opportunities. Outdoor facilities and environment are crucial to this nursery and are amazing. Teachers and staff are dedicated, experienced and very caring. Belief independent encouragement confidence and fun are paramount to the individual
care and development.
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Review from P S (Mother of Child) published on 20 March 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Outstanding nursery. Great facilities fantastic forest school and friendly staff.
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Review from Fenella F-P (Mother of Child) published on 16 March 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
All four of our daughters have been lucky to have started their educational life at Northbourne Park. They all have such fond memories of their time in the nursery, our youngest has only just moved up this year. The staff are very kind, very dedicated and there is so much in a child's day to enjoy at
Northbourne. They educate the children in such a fun, caring way and the children never forget what a happy time they have had.
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Review from Kate S (Mother of Child) published on 20 May 2016 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have nothing but praise for the way in which this pre-prep nursery department have cared for and nurtured my two girls over the past few years. Not only are the staff understanding, caring and approachable; they clearly approach my child's development needs with a passion for teaching and supporting
children into the school environment. I have been amazed on a daily basis what my children have been able to learn, academically and socially at such a young age. The grounds and setting of the school is beautiful, of which the children are encouraged to explore and learn about. The nursery children are included in school trips and receive a hot meal at lunch time and are included as children of the overall school, which is hugely beneficial in making their transition to school easier. My girls have left the nursery, confident, interested and passionate about life and learning.
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Current Review Score: 9.7 (9.676)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.7 (9.676) out of 10 for Northbourne Park Squirrels Nursery is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 7 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.7 out of 5 from 7 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:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.976 for Northbourne Park Squirrels Nursery is calculated as follows: ( (81 Excellents x 5) + (2 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 83 Ratings = 4.976
  2. 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 4.7 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Northbourne Park Squirrels Nursery is based on 7 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 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 = 3.7
    2. 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 24 number of registered child places is 4.8, which has been reached with 7 Positive reviews. Points = 1
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (1)

Meet the Team (2)

Nicole

Nicole Marsh

Job Title: Head of Pre-Prep Joined: 2020

With a teaching career that began in 1996, Nicole brings a wealth of experience to her role, having worked in various schools and settings. She has spent the last 8 years specialising in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and has been leading the Pre-Prep department at Northbourne Park School for the past 3 years.


Nicole holds a B.Ed. (Hons) in Teaching and Geography, and her extensive career includes roles across EYFS, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2. She has also served as the Children Missing Education and Elective Home Education Coordinator for the local council, showcasing her commitment to supporting children’s education in diverse capacities.


In her current role, Nicole’s proudest achievement is fostering an environment where children are genuinely happy and thriving. She believes in providing children with as many opportunities as possible to explore the world around them and to express their individuality. Nicole is a strong advocate for hands-on experiences, which are abundantly offered through the school’s exceptional setting and grounds.


Nicole’s ethos is centered on creating a nurturing and stimulating environment where every child can flourish. She is passionate about ensuring that each child has the chance to be themselves and to engage in meaningful, explorative learning.


Nicole says, "Every child deserves the chance to explore, discover, and be themselves. Our role is to provide the environment and opportunities for them to do just that.”

Laura

Laura Kingsland

Job Title: Squirrels Nursery Room Leader Joined: 2024

With over 12 years of experience in Early Years education, Laura brings a diverse and rich background to her role as the Squirrels Nursery Teacher. Throughout her career, she has excelled as an Early Years Practitioner, Room Leader, and registered childminder, demonstrating her dedication to the Early Years in various educational settings.


Laura holds a BA (Hons), an MA, Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS), and an Early Years Educator Level 3 qualification. Her academic journey highlights her commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.


Passionate about nature, sports, literature, and lifelong learning, Laura’s interests deeply influence her teaching philosophy. She believes in empowering children to take charge of their own learning. By allowing them the freedom to explore, she nurtures their innate curiosity, helps them develop essential skills such as problem-solving, builds resilience, and instils a lifelong love of learning.


Laura says, “Seeing children arrive and leave with smiles on their faces is incredibly rewarding! I take great pride in their enthusiasm for our termly topics and their ability to rise to the challenges of our dynamic curriculum.”

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Northbourne Park Squirrels Nursery to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Northbourne Park Squirrels Nursery has an Enhanced Service - more info.