Little Explorers Montessori Nursery

At the January 2025 inspection, play dough, children's own writing materials and journeys to a nearby garden shaped children's experiences at Little Explorers Montessori Nursery. This Cambridge setting has 12 places in total, making whole-setting capacity a useful consideration for families seeking a small nursery.

At its January 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, with children making good progress from their individual starting points. Children attending that visit were aged one to four; that is an inspection-time age range.

In January 2025, Montessori philosophy shaped activities across the curriculum: children practised doing things independently, including older children putting materials away after activities. The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning and care, covering development through experiences such as conversation, play and physical activity.

Play dough offered different challenges. Younger children squeezed and pulled it, while older children used implements to make marks, developing the hand strength needed for writing. Staff also responded to children's interest in adults' writing materials by giving them resources for their own attempts.

Counting and size vocabulary appeared within everyday activities. Younger children heard counting modelled, while older children paired written numerals with quantities. Outdoors required a journey: there was no garden adjoining the building, so children travelled to a nearby garden on foot or by buggy. Conversations about sights and sounds added learning to the journey.

In January 2025, staff used their knowledge of individual children to offer reassurance when settling was harder. Children sought adults out for stories and games, and singing brought instruments, words and actions together. These examples give parents a concrete picture of how relationships and communication worked.

Books chosen by children featured before sleep. Conversations also drew on experiences beyond nursery, including a child's school visit. Weekly newsletters and app updates kept parents connected with learning, providing two ways to follow what children were doing.

The address is The Signal Box Centre, 82 Glenalmond Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 8DB.

In January 2025, attendance ran Monday to Friday, with sessions from 8am to 3pm. The nursery operated throughout the year apart from a two-week Christmas closure. These hours describe the arrangement at that date, rather than a current booking promise.

At the same date, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four.

• Outdoor arrangements. In January 2025, outdoor play involved travelling to a nearby garden rather than using an attached space. Consider whether that arrangement fits the outdoor experience you want for your child.
• Extending learning. The January 2025 improvement priority was for staff to use more opportunities to take children's thinking further during both organised activities and freely chosen play. Ask how practitioners now build on a child's ideas.
• Planning attendance. The January 2025 sessions ended at 3pm. What attendance pattern and funded-hours arrangement would fit your family's working day now?

Little Explorers suits families drawn to a small setting and the Montessori activities documented in January 2025, especially practical independence, early writing and learning through everyday conversation. The Good judgement gives that picture weight. The garden journeys and scope to extend staff interactions are the main considerations alongside those strengths.