Littlegates for Little People

Fresh eggs from the hens, crops picked for lunch and tractors working in neighbouring fields give Littlegates for Little People a countryside character that reaches beyond outdoor play. This purpose-built nursery between Dry Doddington and Stubton combines gardens with a large indoor hall, giving children room to explore and move in different ways.

At its April 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, with additional staff supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to make progress. That is a dated judgement, rather than a description of every aspect of care today. The improvement point concerned giving children more chances to practise skills independently during everyday routines.

There are 33 places in total. Nursery care starts at 3 months, with separate stages for babies and toddlers, younger children and preschool children; term-time attendance can be requested alongside the year-round opening arrangement.

Rooms and Ages

The Baby and Toddler Room takes children from 3 months to 2 years, combining sensory objects and age-appropriate play with continuity of home routines. Its stated ratio is one adult to three children. Outside, babies can crawl and explore on an astro area, with water, sand and messy activities adding different textures and experiences. For the youngest children, the connection between familiar routines and new experiences is the useful balance here.

For children aged 2 to 3, The Classroom provides several areas to explore and supervised access between the room and outdoors. Its large grassed outdoor area allows activities to spread out. Children can investigate on a different scale from tabletop play, rather than having outdoor time confined to a small extension of the room.

Pre-School serves children aged 3 and above, with weekly number and letter activities, choices between indoor and outdoor play, and practical tasks such as dressing themselves and pouring drinks. Those everyday responsibilities matter alongside preparation for school: independence is something children practise, rather than simply hear about.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage sets out children's learning, development and care. Here, age-appropriate activities and observations help staff plan around children's interests. Each child has a personal learning journey, which parents can view and contribute to. Staff use observations to identify interests before planning what comes next, giving families a way to connect achievements at home with nursery learning.

In April 2023, toddlers explored transport through songs, storytelling and a listening game that involved identifying vehicle sounds. The activity linked a familiar interest with attention and language. Preschool children also demonstrated how to handle books carefully when sharing stories. These examples show the practical shape of learning at that time, rather than a timetable of activities running today.

Outdoor and Community Life

A full size tennis court, an enclosed grassed garden and a wooden park give the outdoor provision several different settings. Children investigate creatures, make sandcastles and use mini vehicles. Nature walks can include trains and farm animals, while watching tractors provides a direct connection with work in the surrounding fields.

Picking local crops adds another layer: children use what they gather in preparing food or in activities. The hens' eggs make food production tangible, too. These experiences connect the countryside with the child's day, rather than leaving it as scenery beyond the fence.

In April 2023, nature walks included discovering flowers and meeting lambs, while older children practised yoga. The outdoor space also supported running and climbing. Together, those examples describe movement, observation and quieter activity within the nursery's rural surroundings.

Relationships and Communication

Every child has a key person, and staff remain with their rooms as far as possible. Families share routines, preferences and needs with the adults caring for their child. That continuity offers a practical basis for getting to know children well, especially when a baby is adjusting to nursery care.

Key staff hold Level 3 or 4 childcare qualifications and are encouraged to undertake further training. Planning is shared among room staff, rather than resting solely with one practitioner. Parents can also add home achievements to the learning journey, helping staff build a fuller picture of development.

In April 2023, an online learning app helped parents follow nursery activities and support learning at home. A World Book Day celebration had also brought parents into the nursery to share stories with children. This was a specific invitation to participate, rather than communication limited to updates about the day.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the April 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that additional funding was used effectively for SEND support, including employing extra staff, and that children were supervised during eating and sleeping. These findings give substance to the overall judgement while keeping the assessment tied to its date.

In April 2023, staff explained boundaries before new activities and modelled considerate behaviour during snacks. Children passed food and drinks to one another and practised polite requests. However, adults sometimes prepared toast that children could have cut and buttered themselves, reducing opportunities to develop practical skills.

Breakfast, cooked lunch and healthy snacks are served during the nursery day. Crop picking and food preparation also connect some meals and activities with the surrounding countryside.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery opens across the year, closing for bank holidays and one week at Christmas; term-time-only places can be requested. This gives families with different annual childcare needs two attendance arrangements to consider.

Littlegates Kids Club provides breakfast and afterschool care during term time, with nursery transport serving Long Bennington Acadamy and Claypole CofE School. Littlegates Holiday Club takes children aged 4 to 14 from all schools during school holidays, offering full-day and half-day sessions. These are separate club arrangements, rather than nursery session times.

From 3pm, the Kids Club has sole use of the large grassed area containing the wooden park. That division matters when weighing which outdoor spaces nursery children use later in the day.

Getting There

The address is Littlegate Farm, Clensey Lane, Dry Doddington, Newark, NG23 5HT. Families can contact the nursery by telephone on 01636 626067 or by email at littlegatesforlittlepeople@googlemail.com.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered for children aged 2, 3 and 4. Age alone should not be read as a promise of an individual funded place.

• Independence at mealtimes. The April 2023 improvement point concerned adults doing tasks children could attempt themselves. During a visit, ask how children now practise preparing snacks and other everyday skills.
• Outdoor space later in the day. The Kids Club has sole use of the wooden park's grassed area from 3pm. Explore how the nursery's other outdoor areas fit your child's afternoon routine.
• Your attendance and funding package. Year-round opening and term-time requests are both part of the offer, alongside funding for children aged 2, 3 and 4. Ask for a written quotation covering your chosen pattern, funded hours, meals and non-food consumables.

Littlegates suits families who want countryside experiences woven into nursery life, with room stages that move from sensory exploration towards practical independence. Crop picking, hens and varied outdoor spaces give that proposition concrete substance.

It serves families seeking year-round attendance and those requesting term-time care, with separate clubs for older children. The April 2023 assessment provides a positive quality benchmark, balanced by a clear question about how consistently everyday routines let children do things for themselves.