Nurseries and childcare in Dover
We know of 31 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Dover. Most nurseries are private, voluntary or part of a school, and Ofsted inspects those too: every one has a report on Ofsted’s website.
Nurseries and childcare by area
A few to start with
- Burgoyne Heights Pre School Preschool Alamein Cl, Dover, CT15 5 Call
- Creative Minds Nursery Preschool 25 Stanhope Rd, Deal, CT14 6AD 5 Call
- Kingdom Pre-School Preschool Graceworks House, Willingdon Rd, Dover, CT16 5 Call
- Tots r us preschool Preschool Elvington , Dover, CT15 5 Call
- Treetops Preschool Preschool Mill Rd, Deal, CT14 9BD 5 Call
- Busy Bees Pre-School Preschool Worth Village Hall, The Street, Worth, Deal, CT14 Call
- Casper Breakfast Afterschool Club Day care preschool Capel Le Ferne Primary School, Capel Street, , Folkestone, CT18 7HB Call
- Discovery Nursery Ltd Preschool Dover Discovery Centre, Market Sq, Dover, CT16 1PH Call
- Kaleidascope Childcare Home service Ackholt Rd, Canterbury, CT3 Call
- Kaleidascope Dover Day care preschool Methodist Church Hall, Bartholomew St, Dover, CT16 2LH Call
- New Century Nursery Preschool 45-53 Western Rd, Deal, CT14 6RX 4 Call
- Next Steps Preschool Preschool Next Steps Preschool, St Martins Church Hall, Church Rd, Dover, CT17 5 Call
- River Pre-School Preschool Common Lane, Dover, CT Call
- School House Nursery Preschool School Rd, Sandwich, CT13 9HT Call
- See-Saw Preschool Preschool School Ln, Canterbury, CT3 1BD Call
- Sheperdswell Pre School Preschool 2 Dorchester Cottages, Dover, CT15 7NN Call
- Spring Childcare Home service 17 Dover Rd, Sandwich, CT13 0BS Call
- St Barts House Preschool 17 Dover Rd, Sandwich, CT13 0BS Call
- Staple Pre School Preschool Hall, Canterbury, CT3 1LB Call
- The Old Station Nursery Dover Preschool Crabble Road, Dover, CT17 0QD Call
- Whitfield Wise Owls Preschool Preschool Whitfield Village Hall, 78 Sandwich Rd, Dover, CT16 3LY 5 Call
- Brambles Nursery School Preschool Blossom Children's Centre, 193 Downs Road, Deal, CT14 Call
- Bright Sparks CCC Preschool School Warden House School Birdwood Ave, Deal, CT14 Call
- Inchwater Home Care Child care and day care 1-3 Waterloo Crescent, Dover, CT16 1LA Call
Choosing a nursery
- Read the latest Ofsted report. Search by name or postcode on reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Private nurseries and childminders are on it as well as school nurseries.
- Visit, and ask about the day. Ratios of staff to children, how they settle a new child in, food, naps and time outdoors.
- Ask about funded hours and extra charges. Some nurseries charge for meals, nappies or trips on top of funded hours.
- Check waiting lists early. Popular nurseries fill months ahead, especially for babies.
Questions people ask
What do Ofsted grades mean for nurseries?
Until late 2025 Ofsted gave one overall grade: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate. Newer inspections give a report card instead, grading each area on a scale from exceptional to urgent improvement. Older grades stay on a nursery’s record until its next inspection.
Can I get free childcare hours?
In England every three and four year old can get 15 hours a week of funded childcare in term time. Working parents can get up to 30 hours a week from when their child is nine months old, if each parent earns at least 16 hours a week at the minimum wage and under £100,000 a year. Check and apply at childcarechoices.gov.uk.
How do I check a nursery’s Ofsted report?
Search for it by name or postcode on reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Every registered nursery and childminder in England has a page there with its inspection reports.
How many nurseries are there in Dover?
We know of 31 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Dover. Childminders working from home don’t always appear on maps, so there may be more.
Other things people look for
Nursery school inspections from Ofsted, Open Government Licence. Listings from Overture Maps, the Food Standards Agency and © OpenStreetMap contributors. Missing one? Tell us.