Little Foot Day Nursery

A baby room divided between sensory play and older babies’ activities, a toddler room with space for light and sound, and preschool outings to Jerusalem Farm give Little Foot Day Nursery a clear character. Play takes different forms as children grow. For a parent choosing between settings, those concrete differences matter more than a general promise of happy childhoods.

Little Foot cares for children from birth to school age on Luddenden Lane in Halifax. At its March 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged its safeguarding arrangements effective.

The strongest practical features are a baby-room maximum of 18 children, additional staffing above the legal minimum for toddlers, and preschool learning that extends into the surrounding countryside. Families can book a full day or separate morning and afternoon sessions. Settling sessions are free.

Rooms and Ages

Jelly Babies accommodates up to 18 children, from birth until the term following their second birthday, in a first-floor room divided between an older-baby area for stories, pretend play and early mark-making, and a younger-baby area with sensory toys that also serves as a sleep space. That room maximum matters when considering how play and rest share the space.

Toddlers move rooms in the term following their second birthday; the Toddler Room accommodates up to 22 children and combines creative activities in its main area with a sensory/cosy area for exploring sound, touch, colour and light, plus a homecorner for acting out familiar experiences. These are different ways into play. The sensory area, creative activities and homecorner give toddler play different emphases, from exploring materials to acting out familiar experiences.

Pre-school begins in the term following a child’s third birthday, with an upper-floor room where construction, imaginative play, music, early writing, maths and science contribute to preparation for school. Moves follow term boundaries rather than birthdays.

The toddler staffing ratio is one adult to four children, better than the legal minimum of one to five for two-year-olds. The ratio describes staffing, not daily group size.

Learning and Activities

Planning follows the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage), the framework for children’s learning, development and care: here, play activities connect with developing language, mathematical understanding, physical skills and independence. Preschool planning takes account of individual interests and needs, with science, literacy and maths receiving planned attention. Termly objectives are shared with families, giving parents specific learning to support at home rather than only a broad account of the nursery day.

In March 2022, older children searched for dragons with magnifying glasses and discussed their imagined appearance; younger children explored sea creatures in sand play. Materials and conversation worked together.

In March 2022, younger children turned story instructions into pretend tea-making, while older children retold stories with role-play resources. Comparing sizes and counting spider legs brought maths into play.

Outdoor and Community Life

Jerusalem Farm is a named destination for regular preschool exploration, alongside woodland and play parks. Activities include investigating river life, looking for bugs, making tree rubbings and river walking. Story themes such as Stick Man connect outings with reading, giving children another way to explore a familiar story. The frequency is regular, rather than a promised weekly excursion.

Outdoor provision needs to be read alongside the dated improvement point. In March 2022, bikes, trikes and carts supported movement and coordination, but outdoor activities did not extend across every area of learning. Children who preferred being outside therefore had fewer opportunities to pursue the full breadth of learning there. The important question is the balance between physical play and the other learning that happens outdoors.

Dance/PE is a separately charged, optional Wednesday activity during term time, working on posture, movement and balance. Children are encouraged to change into shorts and T-shirts to develop independence. Its timing and additional charge make it a choice to weigh alongside the main preschool day.

Relationships and Communication

Free settling sessions offer a practical introduction to Little Foot. There is no charge for these sessions.

In March 2022, relationships with families helped children settle. Adults demonstrated considerate behaviour and supported sharing and turn-taking, giving children practical examples of getting along.

In March 2022, staff gathered home-language words from parents and used gestures, visual prompts and objects to introduce English vocabulary, connecting family knowledge with nursery communication.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

A designated SENCO works with outside agencies on additional needs, providing a current mechanism for coordinating support. At the March 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that individual care and learning plans, together with additional funding for support during meals and small-group activities, helped children with special educational needs and disabilities make progress.

Independence developed through everyday care in March 2022. Younger children practised feeding themselves and washing their hands, while older children served food and followed hygiene routines. These small tasks connected care with preparation for school, allowing children to practise doing things for themselves during ordinary parts of the day.

Meals are prepared in the nursery kitchen. Fruit is offered in the childcare rooms, with drinking water accessible during the day.

Most practitioners hold at least Level 3 training in early years education and childcare, and the team has internal training and meetings with external trainers. In March 2022, professional development needed a sharper emphasis on improving teaching quality. Training arrangements therefore sit alongside a specific dated improvement priority, rather than serving as proof of teaching effectiveness by themselves.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours and full days are 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Morning sessions run from 8am to 1pm, and afternoons from 1pm to 6pm. Morning bookings start later than opening.

Little Foot operates across the year, closing for bank holidays and a week at Christmas. Cancelling care or reducing attendance requires one month’s written notice, so changes need planning ahead.

There is no registration charge, and settling sessions are free. Current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation; the fees page sets out the notice and joining terms. Enquiries can be made by telephone, email or the contact form.

Getting There

The address is Luddenden Lane, Luddenden Foot, Halifax, HX2 6NW, and the nursery has its own car park for parents, carers and visitors. Bus route 574, between Halifax and Midgley, stops outside, providing a public-transport option alongside driving.

Funding and Paid Extras

In March 2022, the nursery offered funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. Funding information includes links for 15 Hours Funding, 30 Hours Funding and 2 Year Old Funding. Those labels help families identify the relevant guidance, while the dated participation statement should be kept separate from a current booking agreement.

The optional term-time Dance/PE session is charged separately. Big Foot Out of School and Holiday Club also operates within the Little Foot premises, giving families a further service to consider after the nursery years; it is separate from the early-years rooms and their attendance patterns.

• The baby room combines activity and sleep. Jelly Babies has a maximum of 18 children, with its younger-baby section also used for sleeping. On a visit, ask how rest is protected while other children are playing.
• Outdoor learning and teaching development were improvement priorities. In March 2022, outdoor activities needed greater breadth and staff development needed a more precise teaching emphasis. Ask for examples of how both priorities have been addressed.
• Funding needs a clear written agreement. Funded early education was offered in March 2022, and Dance/PE is a separate optional charge. What would your proposed funded booking include, how would the hours be arranged, and who would cover meals and consumables?

Little Foot suits families considering either full-day attendance or shorter morning and afternoon sessions, with a defined progression from baby care through toddler play to preschool learning. The baby-room layout, stronger-than-minimum toddler staffing and regular exploration around Jerusalem Farm provide concrete reasons to consider it.

The March 2022 Good judgement came with priorities for broader outdoor learning and more precise teaching development. Those remain important considerations alongside the rooms and attendance patterns.