Play A Way Nursery & Preschool

Kidstreet, Unit E Jenkins Dale, Chatham ME4 5RD
Review Us
9.7 16 Reviews
Play A Way Nursery & Preschool gives children quality early years learning experiences in a safe and fun setting.

Children thrive with the support of inspiring early years staff. Children grow in confidence and develop new skills while engaging in lots of play.
Nutritious meals are provided for children.

All of the nursery's team are well-qualified and believe in a friendly approach towards both children and parents, respecting the direction of regulator Ofsted and the key goals of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

The brand new nursery at Jenkins Dale provides a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment for children aged 3 months to 5 years old. All children have access to the well-equipped secure outdoor play area and an indoor soft play facility.
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Person in charge

  • Zoe Gedling (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 8

Total Places for Children

  • 110

Age Range

  • from 0 years 3 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Funding & Fees

  • Day Nursery Children:


    AM/PM Session: 08:30–11:30 (AM) or 12:30–15:30 (PM) - £30.00
    Core Session: 08:30am–3:30pm - £62.00
    Full Day: 07:00am-6:00pm - £72.00
    Half Day: 07:00am–12:30pm or 12:30–6:00 pm - £44.00
    Full week: 5 Full days – (Mon–Fri) - £340.00
    Additional Hour - £10.50

Opening Times

  • Monday 07:00-18:00
    Tuesday 07:00-18:00
    Wednesday 07:00-18:00
    Thursday 07:00-18:00
    Friday 07:00-18:00

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays & 1 Week at Christmas

Play A Way Nursery & Preschool Reviews (16)

9.7

Play A Way Nursery & Preschool has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.701) out of 10, based on 16 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Play A Way Nursery & Preschool has 16 reviews.

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Review from Cecilia K (Mother of Child) published on 18 August 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We have 2 kids at Play-a-Way nursey and Preschool. One in nursery and the other in Preschool. The whole team is very good and pay attention to details. We were new to Chatham and have a child with autism. We were a bit worried to send her to nursery but we are very pleased with the way the staff look
after her and assist in her meeting her needs. Both our kids are very happy at the nursery and we are always confident that they have a wonderful day and receive the best care. The admin team are very friendly and makes us feel valued as parents.

Reply from Zoe Gedling, Nursery Manager at Play A Way Nursery & Preschool

We are very pleased to hear that both of your children enjoy their time here. It has been a pleasure to watch them grow and develop during their time here with us.

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Review from Maia S (Mother of Child) published on 10 July 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Such a lovely nursery and a brilliant team of carers, I feel 100% happy and confident with the care provided for my daughter. My daughter has only ever been around family so I was concerned about leaving her in a strange place but! I'm so glad I did ! My child loves it and her routine seems to be a
lot more stable now. Currently my child is doing 2 core days but I'm definitely considering increasing her days.The staff keep me updated regularly regarding food nap times etc which puts me at ease too.

Reply from Zoe Gedling, Nursery Manager at Play A Way Nursery & Preschool

Thank you for such a lovely review! It is so lovely to see how happy your daughter is while she is here.

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Review from Tamsin J (Mother of Child) published on 23 June 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been attending Play A Way at the Jenkin's Dale site since turning three in March. She is always excited to go and has come along in leaps and bounds in terms of her socialization and communication skills. Staff are always friendly and helpful and welcoming. I find the app really useful
to keep updated through the day. It is great to see pictures of what she is up to and also have updates of what she has eaten.

Reply from Zoe Gedling, Nursery Manager at Play A Way Nursery & Preschool

Thank you for such a lovely review. It it lovely to see how happy your daughter is here with us.

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Review from M A (Mother of Child) published on 11 June 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My child started going to this nursery 2 months ago and i must say i am very impressed with her progress. Staff are very friendly and upon arrival you are welcomed in by member staff , the environment is clean and is secure and is overall a good atmosphere. Staff are also great at updating me throughout
her session and sending observation pictures which is great to see. I would definitely reccomend Play A Way Nursery.

Reply from Zoe Gedling, Nursery Manager at Play A Way Nursery & Preschool

Thank you for such a lovely review. I am pleased to hear how well your child is doing and the fantastic progress she is making.

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Review from Keeleigh G (Mother of Child) published on 10 June 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

my son has been absolutely thriving at Play A Way, he's learnt so many things and the staff are absolutely lovely! they update me throughout the day, giving me loads of details on the family app, i'm very happy with how my son has developed while being there! such a lovely setting and he's made some
friends too! very happy that i chose this nursery, could not recommend enough! it's also very affordable, and they were very understandable when i told them my decision

Reply from Zoe Gedling, Nursery Manager at Play A Way Nursery & Preschool

Thank you so much for your kind review. It is so lovely to see how happy your son is when he attends.

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Review from Charlotte S (Mother of Child) published on 3 June 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter started here in April and I have never had a problem with her. She loves it there and the staff always keep me up to date on what she has been eating, what she has been doing, how she is and I have no worries when I drop her off or pick her up they are very easy going especially as the reason
she goes to nursery is so I can go to work which was not easy for me but I felt so supported by all staff. She has come on leaps and bounds with her communication and her knowledge learning every day and showing us little things when she gets home like trying to sing the songs they have sung at school. I will recommend this nursery to everyone as it means so much to me that my daughter is so happy being there

Reply from Zoe Gedling, Nursery Manager at Play A Way Nursery & Preschool

Thank you for such a lovely review! It has been lovely watching your daughter grow and develop and see how much she enjoys her time here.

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Review from Squig R (Mother of Child) published on 25 April 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Really friendly staff, lovely place,caring and understanding,they look after my little girl so well,really like getting updateds and pictures of her day when I'm at work,they really help my little one grow and thrive

Reply from Zoe Gedling, Nursery Manager at Play A Way Nursery & Preschool

Thank you for such a lovely review. I am so thrilled to hear that you are happy with the progress your daughter is making, we look forward to seeing her each week.

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Review from Carmel T (Mother of Child) published on 27 March 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We are absolutely thrilled with our experience at the play a way nursery! The staff has gone above and beyond to make our son feel comfortable and settled. Their dedication, warmth, and patience have truly made a difference, and it's clear they genuinely care about his well-being and development. We
couldn't be happier with the nurturing environment they've created, and we highly recommend this nursery to any parent looking for a caring and supportive place for their child. Thank you for everything.

Reply from Zoe Gedling, Nursery Manager at Play A Way Nursery & Preschool

Thank you for such a lovely review! I am so pleased to hear you are happy with the progress your son has made since starting with us.

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Review from E B (Mother of Child) published on 14 March 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My child started at the playgroup in February, this being her first one I was worried how she would get one. She absolutely loves it, she has been speaking a lot more she is now almost fully potty trained which I wouldn't have been successful in doing without the staff help whilst she's there. They
update me regularly on what she's doing and eating which is also super helpful

Reply from Zoe Gedling, Nursery Manager at Play A Way Nursery & Preschool

Thank you for such a lovely review. We're so pleased with the progress your daughter has made since starting with us.

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Review from Aderonke M (Mother of Child) published on 13 March 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

From my first impressions, the nursery prioritises health and safety, particularly with precautions around the stairs leading to the rooms upstairs.
The environment is clean and serene, which is always a plus.
Lastly, the staff are incredibly polite and respectful. They pay close attention to detail,
which is something I value highly when choosing a care provider.

Reply from Zoe Gedling, Nursery Manager at Play A Way Nursery & Preschool

Thank you for such a lovely review. I am pleased to hear that your first impressions are so positive and that you and your child are happy here.

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Review from Georgina P (Mother of Child) published on 13 March 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We have been really impressed with the nursery, the communication on a day to day basis is great and the manager is really responsive to emails and proactive in getting things done and making our sons time there as good as it possibly can be. The staff are wonderful and really caring, my son has SEN
and the nursery really work hard to make sure his needs are met and work with us to ensure he's happy and making positive progress. They have a soft play inside which my son loves and the rooms are all clean, spacious and modern. They do lots of activities with the children and change them up regularly. Would recommend.

Reply from Zoe Gedling, Nursery Manager at Play A Way Nursery & Preschool

Thank you so much for such a positive and warming review. It is a pleasure to have your son here and we look forward to seeing the progress he makes here at the nursery.

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Review from A H (Mother of Child) published on 7 March 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Great Nursery and Pre-School, they offer a range of activities to the children developing different skills. The staff are lovely and I feel happy to leave my child within their care. Great communication from them in all aspects. I was apprehensive as it's my first Child and first experience however
all has gone so well and my child has settled in amazing. My child especially loves the soft play which is something I've not seen offered within this type of care environment.I receive daily updates and pictures which is great too. Would highly recommend.

Reply from Zoe Gedling, Nursery Manager at Play A Way Nursery & Preschool

Thank you for such a lovely review! I am so pleased that your child has settled so well.

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Review from J O (Mother of Child) published on 7 March 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son started here when they opened and he has really enjoyed himself. He had been out of nursery for a little while and when we first viewed it he was really looking forward to starting, especially getting to play in the soft play area.
Staff are lovely, and always approachable if you have any questions.
He has made so many friends already including staff and is really happy to come here.
I am updated throughout the day on the family app to show what he has been up to during that session which is lovely to see.

Reply from Zoe Gedling, Nursery Manager at Play A Way Nursery & Preschool

Thank you for such a lovely review! I am so pleased that your he has settled so well and enjoys his time here.

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Review from R C (Mother of Child) published on 4 March 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Great first impressions!
My son has recently started at this new nursery, and so far, we're really happy with the experience. The staff are warm, welcoming, and attentive, making the transition smooth for both children and parents. The environment is clean, well-organized, and engaging, with plenty
of activities to keep little ones busy. It's still early days, but I'm already seeing positive signs of my child settling in well. Looking forward to seeing how he grows and develops here!

Reply from Zoe Gedling, Nursery Manager at Play A Way Nursery & Preschool

Thank you for such a lovely review. I am so pleased that your son has settled well and is enjoying his time here.

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Review from Courtney T (Mother of Child) published on 21 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My child started Play A Way Chatham when it first opened, I had been searching for a nursery for a while but none felt like the right fit, upon viewing the nursery I instantly felt at ease. The nursery rooms themselves are bright airy and inviting, immaculately clean and a great environment for a child
to play and learn. My child goes 5 days a week for the morning session, I get multiple updates every day about when she is signed into and out of the room, what food she has eaten, nappy changes and plenty of pictures of the different activities she has done. She always does such a range of things while at nursery and she especially loves the soft playroom! The staff are all so welcoming, professional and friendly always full of smiles and give me plenty of information. It really is just a brilliant environment, they make it feel like a home from home, my child wakes up so excited every morning and eager to get into nursery. I would highly recommend this nursery to everyone!

Reply from Zoe Gedling, Nursery Manager at Play A Way Nursery & Preschool

Thank you for such a lovely review. I am so thrilled that your child has settled so well and they are enjoying their time here.

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Review from K S (Mother of Child) published on 19 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter started this nursery recently, this is the first nursery she's ever been to and she's been having an amazing time. She runs straight to the teaching assistants when I take her in and is always happy for me to leave her with them. I have two other children both with severe needs so this has
been her first interaction with other children more like her and it's been a life changer, she is so happy. I would highly recommend this nursery to anyone with a little child especially if they have brothers or sisters with extra needs. Thank you to everyone who takes care of my little one, I really appreciate it.

Reply from Zoe Gedling, Nursery Manager at Play A Way Nursery & Preschool

Thank you so much for your amazing review. We are pleased that your daughter has settled with us and it is lovely to see how happy she is when she arrives each day.

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Current Review Score: 9.7 (9.701)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.7 (9.701) out of 10 for Play A Way Nursery & Preschool is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 16 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.7 out of 5 from 16 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:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.974 for Play A Way Nursery & Preschool is calculated as follows: ( (187 Excellents x 5) + (5 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 192 Ratings = 4.974

  • b) 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 4.727 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Play A Way Nursery & Preschool is based on 16 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 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 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 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 110 number of registered child places is 22. 16 Positive Reviews ÷ 22 = 0.727

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

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Meet the Team (2)

Zoe

Zoe Gedling

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 2023

I have been employed at Play-a-Way since September 2023 and I am currently the Manager at Play-a-Way Nursery and Preschool in Chatham. I was initially employed as Deputy Manager and Preschool Room Lead at Play-a-Way Day Care Centre in Gillingham.

I have a Teaching Degree in Primary Education, specialising in Early Years. I started my career managing a nursery and then I moved on to primary education. I love to explore every individual child’s interest and always want to make learning as fun as can be. I am passionate about allowing children to develop independence, creativity and lifelong skills through play.

I look forward to meeting the Play-a-Way families and getting to know all the wonderful children.
... Read more
Nikki

Nikki Barrs

Job Title: Pre-School Room Lead

Joined: 2022

I have been working at Play-a-Way for almost 2 years and moved to the new Play-a-Way in Chatham to broaden my experiences.
I started working at Play-a-Way as a work experience student, whilst training for my Level 3 in Children’s Play, Learning and Development. I have worked my way up to become Pre-School Room lead. I enjoy promoting children’s independence and supporting them to create strong relationships. I enjoy working closely in partnership with parents and look forward to meeting new parents and their children.
... Read more

Frequently Asked Questions about Play A Way Nursery & Preschool

What is the Age Range of Children that Play A Way Nursery & Preschool accepts?

Play A Way Nursery & Preschool accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Play A Way Nursery & Preschool Open?

Play A Way Nursery & Preschool is open: Monday 07:00-18:00, Tuesday 07:00-18:00, Wednesday 07:00-18:00, Thursday 07:00-18:00, Friday 07:00-18:00.

How many Children does Play A Way Nursery & Preschool have capacity for?

Play A Way Nursery & Preschool has capacity for a total of 110 Children.

How far is Play A Way Nursery & Preschool to the centre of Chatham?

0.4 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.

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