Little Footsteps of Mattishall

School grounds, a garden linked to indoor play, and summer visits to Reception give Little Footsteps of Mattishall a clear character. Its own building sits within the grounds of Mattishall Primary School, making the school connection a practical part of preparation for children moving there. Attendance at the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place.

There are 26 places in total, with the age range extending from birth to five. Ofsted rated the nursery Good at its inspection on 16 July 2021. That is a dated judgement, rather than a description of today's daily practice.

Year-round opening and flexible bookings are useful strengths for families whose childcare needs extend beyond school terms. Individual planning and a designated key person provide the structure around each child's care.

Indoor play connects with the garden through free-flow access, allowing children to move between the two environments. The layout takes inspiration from the best-practice provision for two- and three-year-olds at Woodside Centre Norwich. The practical emphasis is on making the space work for different ages and needs, rather than keeping outdoor play separate from the nursery day.

Individual planning guides the learning opportunities staff choose for each child. For parents, the useful distinction is between activities offered to a group and the next steps chosen for their own child.

Caterpillar Room is the grouping for children aged four months to two years; Butterfly Room (Toddlers) covers two to three, and Butterfly Room (Preschool) covers three to five. These age groupings help families understand how care changes as children grow. They should not be read as a count of separate classrooms.

School preparation has a concrete local connection. Children moving to Mattishall Primary School receive additional Reception visits during the summer term. Becoming familiar with the class before starting school gives that transition a practical shape, while leaving the admissions decision with the school admissions process.

A key person works closely with the child and family within their room. Settling sessions are agreed individually, and the first session introduces that member of staff. This gives parents a clear relationship to build, rather than treating settling as a fixed programme that every child must complete in the same way.

Before settling begins, families complete a Care Plan covering routines, medical conditions, dietary needs and allergies. Those details connect home life with nursery care. Two-way communication also supports individual planning, so information from parents can inform how staff respond to a child's development.

For children needing additional support, the starting point is a discussion with parents about their requirements. The process can include contact or meetings with professionals already involved with the family. The nursery aims to make reasonable adjustments where needed and arrange relevant staff training once the family's requirements are understood. These are useful mechanisms to discuss against a child's actual needs.

Physical access is controlled through an electronic door system, with phone connections to rooms and office areas. Exterior doors are arranged so they do not open straight into spaces occupied by children. These are concrete security arrangements; they are separate from the dated inspection judgement.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Dereham Road, Mattishall, NR20 3AA. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across 52 weeks, including bank holidays; Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day are the closures. That calendar matters for families arranging care across school holidays.

Full-time and part-time care are offered, alongside flexible hours with a minimum booking of three hours. The opening window is therefore broader than any individual booking. Breakfast Club and Creative Afterschool Club also support school-age children, with collection and drop-off for Mattishall Primary School.

Funding and Paid Extras

Early-years funded childcare is offered from nine months of age, alongside paid childcare. Families should obtain a current written quotation for their chosen hours.

Snacks and milk are included in the session fee, while meals cost extra and a packed lunch can be supplied instead. The hot lunch comes from Little Footsteps of Dereham, and the nursery has a policy excluding nuts from the site.

Families seeking Reception at Mattishall Primary School still apply through the local authority admissions process. Sharing the school grounds and taking transition visits does not secure a school place.

• Settling around your child. A management-led tour is available by appointment, and settling sessions are tailored individually. Use the visit to discuss how your child's routines would be recorded in the Care Plan.
• Flexible bookings have a minimum. The three-hour minimum matters if you need only a brief period of care. Discuss how a proposed pattern would fit your working week.
• Food and allergies. Meals are charged separately, with a packed-lunch alternative and a policy excluding nuts. Allergy-affected families should confirm current handling arrangements before booking.
• The school connection. Summer Reception visits support children moving to Mattishall Primary School. Treat that as transition support and plan the separate school application accordingly.

Little Footsteps of Mattishall suits families seeking either full-time care or shorter, flexible part-time bookings across the year. The garden connection, individual settling arrangements and concrete Reception transition work give it a recognisable offer. Its school-site position is especially useful for families combining nursery care with the named school-run service, provided they keep childcare bookings and Reception admissions as separate decisions.