Little Discoverers

An Islamic faith approach gives Little Discoverers its character: a reflection corner, stories in English and Arabic, and cultural activities sit alongside learning through play. Based at Wisdom House in Blackburn, it cares for children aged two to four and has 40 places in total. For parents seeking early education that connects with their family's faith, those details matter more than a general promise of good childcare.

At its 31 March 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, with additional support organised through parents and professionals helping children with SEND to progress. That judgement is dated. The inspection also identified a teaching weakness: some planned activities needed greater challenge for children who could already complete them easily.

Term-time mornings, afternoons and full days suit families arranging care around the term calendar.

Rooms and Ages

The Toddler room and Preschool provide separate spaces for the younger and older stages, with resources selected for their developmental needs. A spacious outdoor area extends the places where children can play and learn; small and large equipment gives them opportunities to practise movement as well as quieter activities.

For the youngest children, communication, physical development and relationships lead the learning. Individual interests and development guide planning, so children sharing a room need not share identical next steps.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) supplies the statutory basis for learning and care: children develop language, movement, relationships and early knowledge through play and planned experiences. Little Discoverers uses children's interests to shape activities, while observations help staff decide what should come next. Its curriculum information explains how that planning connects with the areas of learning.

Holistic Development adds the nursery's faith-based model. A designated reflection corner gives spiritual reflection a physical place, while traditional tales and literature in Arabic and English support discussion about character. Super Learning Days introduce children to their own culture and others. These are concrete ways the Islamic approach enters the day, alongside the EYFS rather than replacing it.

In March 2022, practical activities included transferring buttons with tweezers, cutting during creative play and exploring pretend ice-cream flavours. These examples connect hand control with early writing preparation and give children reasons to talk while playing. Books also prompted conversations about unfamiliar fruit and different cultures, making story time a route into vocabulary and understanding the world.

Challenge was less consistent. In March 2022, a number-matching task stopped at material some preschool children had already mastered; extending the task would have given them more to work out. The improvement request concerned how leaders checked the quality of teaching, not simply whether activities were offered. For a child who learns quickly, the next step matters as much as the starting activity.

Outdoor and Community Life

Indoor and outdoor play both form part of activity planning. The outdoor area is therefore part of learning provision, rather than an occasional change of scenery. Shaded spaces also allow children to take a break from the sun when outdoor conditions permit.

Minibus arrangements cover local outings and visits to farms and woodland. Advance information about trips involving transport lets parents understand plans for experiences beyond the nursery.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key person responsible for supporting learning and development. Regular conversations with the family connect nursery experiences with what happens at home, so care can respond to the child rather than relying solely on observations made during sessions.

Learning journals collect work, photographs and observation records. Parents can look through them at review meetings and contribute examples from home; meetings with the key worker usually take place once a term. This gives discussion something concrete to work from, including achievements, emerging interests and areas needing further support.

Settling is adjusted to individual needs. The SEND policy provides for a full settling period for new children, while the admissions terms link a settling period to a full-time start in the following term. That contractual detail deserves attention before a family chooses an introductory pattern.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

A SENCO coordinates the nursery's graduated approach to additional needs. The key person, SENCO and parents assess the child's needs, agree support and intended outcomes, then review its effect on an agreed date. Specialist assessment can be sought where progress remains limited. This is a defined sequence for organising help, rather than a broad assurance that every need will be met in the same way.

Behaviour support uses adults' help to recognise feelings, recover from distress and resolve disagreements. Staff work with parents on consistent responses, and children are helped to understand the effect of their actions. The emphasis is on teaching emotional skills alongside boundaries, with the child who has been upset also receiving comfort.

Security arrangements include keypad-controlled access, CCTV and door finger guards. Induction covers routines and policies; supervision and appraisal follow.

Healthy snacks and milk are supplied free, with an optional snack contribution; the snack policy favours fruit and vegetables and restricts drinks to water and milk. The allergy policy requires information from parents, an allergy register and an individual risk assessment with the manager, making the child's specific requirements central to food planning.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Wisdom House, 92 Preston New Road, Blackburn, BB2 6BH. Opening hours are 8am to 3pm during term time, while the bookable morning session runs from 8.15am to 11.15am, the afternoon from noon to 3pm, and the full day from 8.15am to 3pm. Opening time and session start time are separate arrangements.

A minimum booking of five sessions applies, with the admissions terms explicitly repeating this for private sessions. Bookings continue until written notice is received. Leaving or reducing sessions requires four weeks' written notice, and booked sessions remain payable during absence and the notice period. Families need to budget for the agreed pattern, rather than only the days actually attended.

The admissions priorities include siblings, daily attendance and children seeking 30 funded hours ahead of those seeking 15. These rules matter when requests are considered against a waiting list. Enquiries can be made through the contact form, by email or by telephone, and an application form records initial interest.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is delivered over 38 weeks, with 15 hours for eligible disadvantaged two-year-olds and for three- and four-year-olds from the term after they become eligible, plus 30 hours for eligible working families. Working-parent funding requires a valid code, with eligibility reconfirmed every three months. Private sessions and additional paid hours are also offered; current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

For funded entitlement, meals, consumables, activities and resources carry no compulsory extra charge. The contribution towards healthy snacks is voluntary, and declining it does not affect the funded place or the care and education received. This separates an invitation to contribute from a condition of taking up funding.

• Faith in daily learning. The reflection corner, Arabic and English stories, and Super Learning Days give the Islamic approach practical expression. During a visit, ask how these experiences are adapted for your child's age and your family's expectations.
• Stretch for confident learners. In March 2022, some activities did not extend children who had already mastered the task. Ask for a current example of how a preschool activity is made more demanding when a child finds it easy.
• A continuing booking commitment. The five-session minimum, four-week notice requirements and charges during absence make attendance a contractual pattern. Consider how that fits changing work arrangements and the term-time calendar.
• Individual allergy arrangements. The allergy policy calls for a parent-manager risk assessment and information shared with staff. Families affected by allergies should confirm current snack handling and the arrangements for their child before starting.

Little Discoverers suits families seeking an Islamic faith approach with morning or afternoon sessions, as well as a full-day option during term time. Its reflection corner, bilingual moral stories and cultural learning give that preference tangible expression. Key-person contact and a structured SEND process add practical routes for discussing individual needs.

The Good judgement from March 2022 provides a dated quality reference, while the request for greater teaching challenge remains a useful question for families with confident learners. The attendance commitment is equally consequential: this works best where a regular booking and holiday closures fit the family's routine.