Little Explorers Nursery School

Free play sets the pace at Little Explorers Nursery School, with children choosing their interests and adults extending the learning as it happens. The Emsworth setting serves children aged 2-5 at North Emsworth Hall, formerly the SYRCH centre, on Lutman Street. Its approach gives exploration more space than early academic instruction. Children can pursue an idea rather than move on simply because an adult has planned the next activity.

At its December 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. There are 40 places in total. The strongest practical features include a key-person team for each child, an accessible ground-floor setting and several collection times across the working week.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: play supports skills such as communication, physical coordination and growing independence. Little Explorers builds its day around children's developing interests within that framework. Adults join play, introduce vocabulary, add resources or increase a challenge when a child is ready. Learning moves forward through something the child already wants to do.

A group gathering happens at least once daily, with children free to join or continue their play. Songs and stories provide a shared experience alongside individual exploration.

Weekly staff discussions review children's interests, skills and challenges. Each child receives at least one focus week per term, with more frequent reviews for children with additional needs. This gives child-led activity a regular development review.

In December 2023, practical activities included using chunky tweezers, drawing with thick chalk and completing puzzles. These gave children opportunities to practise controlled hand movements relevant to later writing. Staff also introduced words through activities and left thinking time after questions. These activities supported language development and physical coordination.

Outdoor and Community Life

Children move freely between areas for quiet and energetic play, choosing somewhere calmer or a more active space as their needs change.

Hollybank Woods is easily accessible from the nursery's location. In December 2023, children also made visits to shops, a farm and woodland, connecting learning with places beyond the setting. Physical activity at that time included riding bicycles and trikes, balancing and running. These experiences brought larger movements into a day that also included close, careful work with hands.

Relationships and Communication

Every child has a Key Person team comprising two staff members. Their role is to learn the child's interests and needs, build relationships with the family and pass relevant information to colleagues. For parents, this provides identified adults who understand their child while keeping the wider team informed about changes at home or emerging interests.

Settling begins with family discussions and an All About Me form, with home visits where possible. A Welcome Pack includes photographs of staff and spaces, while Stay and Play sessions let children explore alongside their families. These are concrete ways of making unfamiliar people and surroundings recognisable before a child attends independently. Sleep routines and personal-care needs can form part of those conversations, and logs are maintained for children who need sleep or nappy-changing records.

Communication continues through verbal feedback after a learning session and opportunities for families to share updates beforehand. Termly discussions consider development, with email, telephone and WhatsApp also used for contact. In December 2023, however, information about extending learning at home did not consistently reach all parents. That distinction matters: hearing about the day and receiving a specific idea to try at home are different forms of support.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

The managers also undertake the SENCO role, working with families, key-person teams and colleagues to identify needs and plan support. An Individual Education Plan can set out strategies where appropriate. Connections include Hampshire's Inclusion Team and Portage service, and Riverside Community Special School provides access to advice, support and training. These are support relationships, rather than promises about a future school place.

At the December 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that staff identified additional needs promptly, worked with families and professionals, and provided targeted support that enabled children with SEND to make good progress. Current arrangements also include visual timetables and Makaton to support communication. Translation and interpretation assistance can be accessed through the Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service for families using English as an additional language.

The premises are entirely on the ground floor, with wheelchair-accessible corridors and doorways and an accessible bathroom. Personal-care assistance is available. These physical details give families something concrete to consider alongside individual support plans.

Early Years Educators receive safeguarding, paediatric first-aid and food-safety training, which they update regularly. Staff qualifications include Level 3 and Level 4 awards. The safeguarding policy provides for a designated lead to be contactable throughout operating hours. In December 2023, hygiene reminders were inconsistent beyond familiar routines such as meals and toileting, including during messy play.

Transition work includes sharing information with families and new settings. In the summer term, relevant school staff are invited to meet children, and practical games include changing into sports clothes. Preparation therefore includes everyday independence and making the next adults familiar, rather than only rehearsing academic tasks.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours run from 8.30am to 2.30pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and from 8.30am to 1.30pm on Tuesday and Friday. Children can start at 8.30am or 9am. Collection options are noon, 1pm or 1.30pm each weekday, plus 2pm or 2.30pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

In December 2023, the nursery operated during term time only.

Getting There

The address is North Emsworth Hall, Lutman Street, Emsworth, PO10 7XQ, and parking is available directly outside the building. Enquiries can be made through the contact form, by email at info@little-explorers.org.uk or by telephone on 07776 320608.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded provision is offered for eligible children through the 9-month-old and 2-year-old entitlements, universal funding for 3- and 4-year-olds, and the extended entitlement for eligible 3- and 4-year-olds. The 9-month-old entitlement provides eligible families with 15 hours weekly from the term after the child turns nine months old; the 2-year-old entitlement provides eligible families with 15 hours weekly from the term after the child's second birthday. Universal funding provides all families with 15 hours weekly from the term after the child's third birthday; extended funding provides eligible families with 30 hours weekly from that same term. Acceptance of the younger funding category does not mean admission for babies: children using it can join from their second birthday.

Families using government-funded provision exclusively face no additional charges. A funded snack is provided, and families supply a packed lunch when appropriate, so snack and lunch have different arrangements. Private hours are also offered to families without funding or wanting additional time, with current prices obtained in a written quotation; the hourly rate is reviewed termly. The optional uniform is a separate purchase, and childcare vouchers are accepted. The funding and fees page explains these arrangements.

• Collection across the week. Tuesday and Friday end at 1.30pm, while the other weekdays extend to 2.30pm. Discuss how the chosen start and finish times will work across your child's week.
• Learning at home. In December 2023, some families missed specific guidance for extending learning beyond nursery. During a visit, ask to see an example of the practical next-step advice families now receive.
• Hygiene during play. The December 2023 improvement point concerned consistency, including messy activities. Ask how handwashing and other hygiene routines are reinforced throughout play.
• Personal-care supplies. The setting records nappy changes and individual care needs. If your child needs these arrangements, ask what supplies you should bring and how their care routine will be agreed.

Little Explorers suits families who want learning led by children's interests, with adults using play to extend vocabulary, skills and independence. Its key-person teams, individual planning and accessible premises give substance to that approach. Earlier collection throughout the week and later finishes on selected days serve different family routines, although the shorter Tuesday and Friday timetable needs careful consideration. The December 2023 improvement points make practical home-learning advice and consistent hygiene useful subjects for a visit.