Little Learners

Musical balls, story-led play and shopping for fruit and vegetables characterised children's experiences at Little Learners in March 2023. This Sellindge nursery has capacity for 25 children, with a current age range of 18 months to five years. Small overall capacity is a useful measure of scale, though it does not describe the size of any individual group.

At its March 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, while identifying a need for greater independence and more freedom in creative play. Those qualifications matter alongside the positive judgement.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: play, conversation and physical exploration contribute to their learning alongside planned activities.

In March 2023, younger children explored sensory toys and exchanged musical balls with their key person. Older children made play dough caterpillars and discussed quantities as they handled ingredients. The Very Hungry Caterpillar linked stories with creative activities and conversations about a butterfly's life cycle. These examples show how one familiar book could connect language, making and understanding the natural world.

Physical exploration also featured in March 2023. Babies used soft play to practise movement, while older children searched slime for letters and numbers and constructed things with blocks. Outdoors, children had opportunities for active play and fresh air.

Community experiences reached beyond the nursery in March 2023. Children visited a local fruit and vegetable stall to purchase food for snacks and lunch; parents also came in to discuss their jobs and share stories. Everyday shopping and conversations about work made the wider world part of children's learning.

In March 2023, children were comfortable with their key people and familiar routines. They discussed friendship during circle time, expressed their feelings and sought adult help when another child was upset. That gives a concrete picture of how relationships and emotional language worked together.

Communication was two-way in March 2023: parents contributed information through an online platform and received updates in return. For families, that offered a channel for sharing home experiences as well as hearing about nursery life.

Little Learners is on Main Road, Sellindge, Ashford, TN25 6JY. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures on bank holidays and for two weeks at Christmas. The Christmas closure is a practical consideration for families arranging year-round childcare.

In March 2023, the nursery received funding for early education for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated account of its funding participation.

• Independent play. In March 2023, adults sometimes intervened too soon and children depended on them to choose activities. On a visit, ask how routines now give children time to initiate and sustain their own play.
• Creative freedom. In March 2023, adult direction led children towards matching finished creations. Ask how children can choose materials and develop different ideas today.
• Christmas cover. The nursery closes for two weeks at Christmas, as well as bank holidays. Families needing care throughout that period will need another arrangement.

Little Learners suits families seeking a small nursery setting, with weekday opening across the year. Its March 2023 picture combines close relationships, conversation, physical exploration and community experiences. The decision point is how much freedom children now have to direct their play. Warm adult involvement has value; so does space for children to make their own discoveries.