Our achievements, accreditations and current developments

Striving to be better

At our nursery, we are dedicated to continually enhancing our facilities to create an inspiring and stimulating environment that motivates every child. We take pride in our passionate and dedicated staff, whose commitment is instrumental in shaping the nursery into what it is today. Our team engages children in a wide range of hands-on activities designed to build confidence and nurture essential self-esteem.

We believe in the power of collaboration and actively pursue innovative programs and accreditations to enrich our offerings. We also celebrate our community by hosting events such as our "Stay and Play" sessions for parents and delightful concerts featuring performances by our talented 3- and 4-year-olds.

Below, you’ll find highlights of our recent developments and accomplishments that showcase our ongoing commitment to excellence and the well-being of our children.

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Start Life Well  Gold Award

Little School recently received the gold award from the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) for successfully completing the PANCo (Physical Activity and Nutrition Co-ordinator) project. This recognition is part of the Start Life Well initiative, which aims to promote health and well-being in early years settings by fostering better nutrition and physical activity among children.

The PANCo programme involves a structured approach to improving children's health and well-being through targeted assessments and initiatives. By completing this project, Little School demonstrated its commitment to instilling healthy habits in children, including promoting nutritious meals and regular physical activity​

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NDNA Quality Counts 2024

NDNA Quality Counts is a comprehensive assessment framework designed to evaluate and enhance the quality of early childhood education and care settings. By focusing on key areas such as teaching practices, learning environments, and family engagement, NDNA Quality Counts provides a structured approach for nurseries and childcare providers to identify strengths and areas for improvement. The initiative aims to support early years professionals in delivering high-quality educational experiences for children, ultimately fostering better developmental outcomes. We were inspected in December '24 and will find out the outcome in 2025.

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myHappymind - 2024

This programme helps to prepare today's children for tomorrow's world by building resilient, balanced and happy minds at home, nursery and school. It combines the latest research, science and technology to help children develop lifelong habits and learn to thrive. The University of Chester conducted a real world validation report which proves myHappymind is an effective approach to developing positive behaviour and strengthening pupil mental health.

Continue Millie's Mark Accreditation - 2024

This is seen as an exceptional achievement for childcare settings, as it proves we go above and beyond minimum requirements in keeping children safe.

Newly Qualified Forest School Teacher -2024

With a focus on play-based learning, Forest School instills confidence and independence, laying a strong foundation for lifelong learning and a deeper connection to the natural world.

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Music, Dance, and Drama
Starting September 24, both nurseries now have  full-time dedicated teachers for music, dance, and drama. Creative expression through these activities nurtures children's emotional well-being, reduces anxiety, and builds self-esteem. It also supports the development of social skills, communication, and teamwork while stimulating imagination.

Additionally, these activities enhance mathematical understanding by teaching patterns, rhythms, and sequences, which are fundamental concepts in maths. They foster spatial awareness and problem-solving skills, offering a fun and engaging way to build a strong foundation for future learning.

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Maths Champion 24-25

We are renewing our NDNA Maths Champion Award this is an initiative aimed at improving early years maths education in nurseries by providing training, resources, and engaging activities for educators to foster foundational numeracy skills in children aged 0–5.

• The aim is to build confidence in both children and educators, ensuring that children enter school with a strong mathematical foundation.

• Research indicates that early exposure to math concepts can significantly impact later academic achievement.

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Toddler Talk
Young children are naturally curious and eager to explore language, and “Toddler Talk” is designed to support this exciting stage of development. Through fun, interactive activities like songs, stories, and play, we help toddlers build their vocabulary, develop listening skills, and start forming sentences.

By focusing on communication, we encourage confidence and foster connections, making language learning a joyful and meaningful part of their everyday experience. With caring guidance and a nurturing environment, we help lay the foundation for a lifetime of successful communication.

Letters and Sounds

1. Phase 1: Developing listening skills and awareness of sounds in the environment.

2. Phase 2: Introducing simple letter-sound correspondences and blending sounds to read words.

3. Phase 3: Learning more complex letter combinations (digraphs and trigraphs).

4. Phase 4: Consolidating knowledge and learning to read longer words.

5. Phase 5: Expanding to include alternative spellings and pronunciations.

6. Phase 6: Building fluency in reading and spelling for more complex words.

This structured approach ensures children gain confidence and competence in literacy, laying a strong foundation for future learning.

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SEND - 2024

We employ a SEND Teacher in both nurseries who provides courses and support for staff and children in the field of Special Educational Needs and English as an Additional Language.

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