Little Diggers Montessori

A Montessori classroom, an on-site Forest School and a minibus for Beach School give Little Diggers Montessori in Itchenor a clear character: practical learning indoors, woodland activities outside and exploration beyond the nursery grounds. Montessori emphasises hands-on, independent learning; Forest School brings learning into an outdoor setting, while Beach School here means trips using the nursery minibus.

At its 20 May 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. The setting has 26 places in total, and its preschool caters for children aged 9 months to 5 years. Alongside it, Little School serves children aged 5 to 8 through provision designed to complement home education and flexi-schooling. These are different stages of provision, rather than one preschool age group.

Both open during term time from 8am to 4pm.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: everyday play and activities bring together communication, mathematical understanding and personal development, alongside children's care needs. Montessori and Forest School sit alongside that framework here. The classroom supports Montessori activity, and the main hall accommodates work cycles as well as yoga and books, giving the indoor day several different uses.

One of five clubs forms part of each day's activities. Cookery Club uses the kitchen on site, while Library Club takes place in the main hall. Gardening Club uses the grounds. Yoga and Woodwork complete the daily club rotation; this is a schedule of nursery activities, rather than a promise that children do every club each day.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outside, children have grounds for woodland activities, cycling and riding trikes, as well as gardening. The on-site Forest School means outdoor learning has its own setting within the nursery grounds. Beach School adds a different environment, reached using the nursery minibus; its place in the offer does not imply a particular trip frequency.

In May 2024, children used sharp tools in forest school activities and understood how to handle them. Staff supported children in taking manageable risks, with expectations about being helpful, patient and considerate. The emphasis was on learning how to act responsibly while trying something challenging.

That same month, outings included a library, a museum, a garden centre and the local beach. An interest in seaweed from an earlier visit prompted an activity exploring smells, showing how an outing could lead to further learning back at nursery. Visitors had included a dentist, an author, a police officer and a sports person, bringing different working lives into children's experience.

Language activities in May 2024 included drama, phonics and opportunities for children to share something with the group. Children could also borrow a book from the nursery's library area to take home. Books therefore connected nursery activity with family life, rather than remaining solely an indoor resource.

Relationships matter most for the youngest children. In May 2024, younger children sought reassurance from their key person through singing and physical comfort. Babies explored sensory activities, fed themselves and played alongside older children. Their area was arranged for their stage of development, which gives parents a useful picture of the care observed at that time.

At the May 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that staff recognised additional support needs promptly, worked with families and relevant agencies, and drew on the special educational needs coordinator's knowledge to support children's progress. In May 2024, families received learning reports, meetings and telephone contact, and staff also supported children with additional medical needs.

Current communication includes an app carrying photographs and developmental updates, with parent consultations each term. Parents can follow their child's progress between those meetings, then discuss it in more detail at the consultations. Settling-in sessions also form part of the enrolment process, giving the start of attendance a planned stage of its own.

The branch has designated safeguarding lead and deputy roles, and its team information includes paediatric first aid training. In May 2024, six staff members held relevant early years qualifications; induction involved training and working alongside leaders, while staff meetings provided feedback and opportunities to discuss further development. That staffing picture belongs to the inspection date.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Itchenor Memorial Hall, Itchenor Road, Itchenor, Chichester, PO20 7DL. Preschool and Little School open from 8am to 4pm during term time. Pick-up and drop-off times, meals and nap times have flexibility, so the operating window need not mean an identical routine for every child.

Enquiries use the online form or the branch email, itchenor@littlediggersmontessori.com. The joining sequence includes a show-around, an online registration form, a registration charge, a settling-in session and a welcome pack. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Funding and Paid Extras

Families provide packed lunches together with a morning snack. Preparing food for nursery is therefore part of the household routine, rather than relying on a catered lunch.

In May 2024, the setting received funding for two-, three- and four-year-old children. That is a dated funding position, separate from the current term-time opening arrangements and the registration charge in the joining process.

• Term-time hours. Opening runs from 8am to 4pm during term time. Families needing childcare through the holidays or later in the afternoon should weigh that timetable against their working arrangements.
• Mathematical learning. In May 2024, staff discussed fractions while preparing fruit, but sometimes missed opportunities to extend counting and number learning, leaving children's mathematical understanding less secure. Ask how staff now extend mathematical learning during Montessori work, cooking and outdoor activity.
• Starting with a younger child. Preschool includes children from 9 months, and settling-in sessions are part of joining. During a show-around, discuss how your child's key-person relationship, naps and sensory play would work alongside the older children's activities.
• Food and funding arrangements. Packed lunches and a morning snack come from home, and joining involves a registration charge. Ask for a written explanation of the funded attendance arrangement and any consumables costs alongside the quotation.

Little Diggers Montessori suits families seeking term-time preschool with practical Montessori activity, woodland learning and experiences beyond the grounds. The kitchen, main hall and minibus give that offer substance. Its separate Little School provision may also interest families using home education or flexi-schooling for an older child.

The Good judgement from May 2024 sits alongside a specific development point about mathematics. Parents should give that question proper attention while weighing the outdoor offer, communication arrangements and term-time timetable against their child's needs.