Testimonials from parents
“Even from the time we were looking around St George’s before our daughter was born, we were warmly welcomed and the setting felt like a home from home. In the years since, this has continued to be true as our daughter has been looked after with so much care by the fabulous St George’s team. She spends fun filled days there and is always excited to report back to us about what she has been up to and, in particular, show us her artistic creations. The children engage in a wide range of activities and spend plenty of time in the garden, whatever the weather. The staff have been so kind throughout and are always happy to speak to parents if you have any concerns. We couldn’t recommend the setting more and it has been a pleasure to see our daughter be nurtured and develop in such a happy environment over the last 2 years”. May 2024
“Both my two daughters attended St George’s Childcare and it has always felt like a ‘home from home’ to them both. My youngest daughter has additional needs and has attended from the age of 10 months – the support she has received from nursery has been phenomenal. Staff in the babyroom were instrumental in identifying her additional needs and supported us with NHS referrals. Then over the last few years nursery has supported our family throughout the long process of diagnosis and with putting reasonable adjustments in place for her. Today at the age of 4 and a half she has a full programme of support in place in nursery, an EHCP in place and a place secured at a specialist school for September, due to the help and support of nursery. My daughter has a lot of health professionals visiting her at nursery and St George’s Childcare have always welcomed them with open arms, taken on all their advice and implemented all the changes suggested. The management are approachable and open minded. Many of the ‘reasonable adjustments’ and interventions put in place for my daughter have now become part of the daily routine in the preschool room. For example, Attention Autism ‘bucket time’ is now used with the whole preschool group each morning as an attention building exercise which all the children love; and the staff have become experienced with using visual symbols and communication boards to support all children with their communication. This demonstrates a flexibility of approach and the nursery’s dedication to helping all children achieve their potential.
The door is always open at St George’s. Parents are welcome to speak to management at any time without appointment or to drop in and speak to room staff. What sets St George’s apart from other nurseries is its ‘family feel’ albeit in a larger setting with superb facilities. Staff and management listen to parents and are open to new suggestions. As parent of a child with additional needs I feel I have a real partnership with the nursery, we have regular meetings about my child and are working together to aid her development. I Parent/staff communication is excellent. There are also social and fundraising events organised throughout the year and a real community feel. Children benefit immensely from the fabulous adventure playground, allotment, mud kitchen and outdoor activities as well as visiting music and yoga teachers. Both my daughters have been extremely happy at St George’s Childcare and I would highly recommend it to other parents”. April 2024
“We absolutely love St George’s! Both our boys started at 8 months old, and we’ve felt happy, reassured and confident that they are receiving the best care, attention, and learning and development at each age range. The keyworkers always go beyond their role – they have nurtured and encouraged independence in our sons, and also have supported us as parents with interactive updates and one-to-one feedback. The catering staff continue to provide high quality nutritious meals and the office team are responsive and knowledgeable. My eldest, who has now left, still talks fondly of St George’s, and our youngest is thoroughly enjoying all that St George’s has to offer. A true example of first class childcare”. April 2024
“We feel like we’ve struck Gold!
From our initial encounter with St. George’s, it was evident that this nursery was exceptional. Stepping into the building, we were immediately enveloped by a serene, nurturing atmosphere—a culture that continues to resonate with us every time we drop off or pick up our son, even after nearly two years. What truly stood out during our first visit was not only the warmth and hospitality of the nursery and office staff but also the introduction to the nursery chefs. Their grandmother-like affection for our newborn reassured us that every individual at St. George’s deeply values the wellbeing of every child.
Our son embarked on his journey in the Squirrels room at just nine months old. During his time in Squirrels he had two different key workers, and we witnessed him flourish with both. They not only listened attentively to our parenting preferences but also went the extra mile to accommodate them. For example from birth we’ve sat our son on a potty during transition times like waking from a nap and changing his nappy. Initially I was dubious on whether any nursery would be able to accommodate and replicate what we did at home however both Vicky and Andrew were brilliant. I feel their dedication along with continued support from staff in the hedgehogs room played a pivotal role in his successful potty training by the age of two.
The transition to the Hedgehogs room posed some initial challenges for our son, yet the staff handled it with remarkable skill and sensitivity. Through carefully planned drop-in sessions, they eased his adjustment, paving the way for his blossoming confidence, language acquisition, and social interactions. Katie, Darcy, and Emma’s warm embrace and commitment to his development has made the transition seamless, and now, I barely get a cuddle before he rushes to greet them every day.
Moreover, the communication from the entire St. George’s team has surpassed all expectations. Our key workers have been exemplary in providing regular updates and capturing precious moments from our son’s day, fostering a strong sense of connection even when we’re apart. The monthly newsletters, community events, and open mornings have further strengthened our bond with the nursery, creating a supportive network that we never anticipated when we first enrolled our son. In every aspect of care, learning, and development, St. George’s epitomizes excellence.
From its inspirational environments, like the new garden to what seems to be an incredibly supportive environment for staff to develop and grow. The nursery embodies a standard of quality that is truly commendable. It is our firm belief that St. George’s deserves to be recognized for its unwavering commitment to providing the highest standards of care and education for young children. Winning this award would not only be a testament to the nursery’s outstanding achievements but also a testament to the positive impact it has had on our family and the wider community. St. George’s is not just a nursery; it is a beacon of excellence and we’re incredibly grateful we found it”. April 2024
“My daughter enjoyed holiday club so much, she was always excited to go and didn’t want to leave when I picked her up, she is still talking about it a month later and fostered a great relationship with some staff members over the short time she was there. The activities for the children were great and my daughter loved having her face painted. She enjoyed her lunch and was said to have eaten all of it every day. I am so greatful for the help this provided me over the summer”. Minnie G
“We will really miss the nursery. Alice has grown to love it and (as an EYFS/KS1 teacher), I cannot speak highly enough about the staff and management. All the variety of the activities you provide are amazing and the staff so friendly, approachable and caring. She will really miss Otters. Thank you for all you do.” Louise J
“St George’s paved a beautiful path for our son. And our new younger son will be walking in exactly the same footsteps to this friendly, professional and comforting school.” Mariners M
“I’ve been blown away by how well St George’s has adapted to the pandemic and how resilient the staff have been. My children only started in August and we were very concerned what it would be like for them starting a new nursery in a ‘strange’ as well as different environment. We needn’t have worried; it seems the staff have made the procedures that keep the children and staff safe completely natural and part of the day-to-day routine so that the children are not even aware of them as different. It must be so tough on the staff to come down to the front doors to pick up or drop off the children to parents but I have never seen a single staff member look flustered or rushed – they still give our children the very best care and take the time to communicate properly with the parents. Even if there is a queue of other parents waiting, they always handle that calmly and professionally and never complain about all the stairs they must be climbing! With less time in the garden it seems they’ve only been more creative with other activities. In short, our children are incredibly happy which just shows how wonderful St Georges is and that is a blessing during this otherwise very difficult time. A huge well done to all the team and a massive thank you from us.” Jenny and Oli
When we moved from Tunbridge Wells to Biddenden we decided to keep our youngest at St George’s. We knew that would mean two 34-mile round trips every day and having to juggle this with heavy work commitments but, for us, it was a no-brainer.
No other nursery that we visited compared. Of course the later 6.30pm pick-up option helped, but it’s more than that. We always loved the fact that St George’s isn’t part of a chain, but a foundation which partly reinvests its profits to accommodate vulnerable children. In our view this non-chain ethos is palpably evident in the dedication and commitment of staff and a culture which filters down from the very top. Fundamentally it came down to wanting our youngest to gain the same ,wonderful, foundation his brother experienced. The commute isn’t always easy, but it has always been worth it. Marco G
St George’s has been, both before and during covid, an absolute rock of stability. The staff are exceptional and have helped ensure my youngest son is a happy, inquisitive, secure little boy. The time they take to really get to know and understand your child is invaluable and the longevity of their tenure is a huge part of this. I can not recommend St George’s enough. Matthew R
Our son first went to St George’s Pre-school and loved it there. There is a lovely calm and happy atmosphere, staff are competent and kind, communication is excellent, everything is very well run and there is access to fantastic equipment. Now he is at school our little boy goes to the Holiday Club and looks forward to going every time. St George’s is an amazing place and we feel so lucky to have found it. Rachel S
“My family and friends have been really impressed with the standard that Ziggy seems to be at mentally, emotionally and physically. When people praise him we always make a point of telling them how much input the nursery has had in his progress. We are so thrilled that we made the right choice in sending him to St. Georges and we can’t thank the staff enough for having such a positive impact on him. All the best” Beckie J
“The boys have loved their time with you and will miss seeing you on a weekly basis. Thank you for the memories and fun the boys have had and peace of mind for us as parents. St George’s is a very special place.”
“My son absolutely loves spending time in Moles as he did when he was a Squirrel. He is my treasure and I will never be able to repay the kindness and support your staff is giving to David.”
Irina R
“St George’s is a fantastic nursery and made going back to work so much easier. Oscar loves being there and the staff are all fantastic – he quite often doesn’t want to come home. They have been amazing whenever he has been unwell or upset and I am relaxed in the knowledge that he is safe and happy. I can’t recommend this nursery enough.”
Lorraine H
“I have three children that regularly attend Holiday Club. They have a great time, the staff are young, fun and really engage with the children. They have a mini bus so there are often trip days too. As a working parent it’s great to know they are still having fun in the holidays!”
KE
“St George’s is a great place for children of all ages. My youngest daughter went to their Little Dragon’s Pre-school, which was absolutely brilliant and I would thoroughly recommend. They have a great garden and so lots of outside play, which some nurseries really lack. Staff are experienced and many of them are still there from when my eldest daughter was there 17 years ago. Lovely place with a good ethos.”
Sarah C
“Although our daughter was very happy at her previous nursery, we just felt something was missing. We were apprehensive about moving her to St Georges, but it has worked out really well. She absolutely loves it and is always up to something exciting – which she loves to tell us about. The staff were so welcoming to her and made a great job of settling her in. They are excellent at communicating what’s been going on during the day and if there is anything we can do at home to back up her learning. She has great fun there – which, to us, is the most important thing at this stage of her life.”
Jenny H
