Little Treasures Nursery and Pre-School

Sapphire, Ruby and Emerald give Little Treasures a clear progression from baby care to preparation for school. This London Road nursery in Grays has capacity for 30 children from birth to five, with creative play and a Reggio Emilia Approach that gives children’s questions and exploration a part in planning their learning.

At its 10 January 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, with arrangements for identifying and supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities helping them access additional support. That is a dated assessment. The current room arrangements add practical detail, especially for parents of babies: Sapphire has a published maximum of six children, and familiar feeding and sleeping routines are maintained initially during settling.

Rooms and Ages

Sapphire Room, for children aged 0–2, combines sensory activities with a carpeted space, soft furnishings, mirrors and a cushioned reading corner, providing space for exploration and quieter moments, with capacity for six babies.

Ruby Room, for approximately 2–3-year-olds, accommodates 12 children and brings together imaginative play, creative work and small-world activities, with accessible toileting facilities supporting the development of self-care skills.

Emerald Room Pre-School, for approximately 3–5-year-olds, combines activities initiated by children with adult-led work on communication, number, creativity and independence, including additional attention to literacy and mathematics before school.

The progression has a useful practical logic. Babies begin with familiar care routines; Ruby makes growing independence part of the day; Emerald adds more deliberate preparation for the next stage. These are different emphases rather than a single activity plan applied across the ages.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for children’s learning and care, covering development through play, communication, physical activity and relationships. Alongside it, the Reggio Emilia Approach informs exploration, creative projects and staff reflection on individual children’s interests. Music, art and dramatic play are concrete parts of that offer, rather than the approach remaining a name alone.

Children can sing, experiment with instruments, move to music and try out everyday roles through imaginative play. Extra music and language classes also form part of the programme. These experiences give children different ways to express an idea: through sound, movement, pictures or conversation.

In January 2022, practical exploration included mixing flour, water and cocoa, transferring water with a ladle, and moving pasta using scoops and tweezers. Adults introduced vocabulary during these activities. A play shop drew on a real shopping trip, connecting pretend play with something children had experienced beyond the nursery.

The January 2022 inspection also called for better outdoor learning throughout the year, especially in winter, and more help from staff to develop children’s reasoning and connect their ideas. Those points matter alongside the creative offer: providing interesting materials is only part of the task; the adult’s response to a child’s question matters too.

Relationships and Communication

Settling in Sapphire begins with continuity. Babies initially retain their familiar feeding and sleeping patterns before gradually moving towards the nursery routine. That gives the transition a clear sequence, with individual care arrangements alongside activities planned for each child.

In Ruby, a key worker plans activities for their own key children. Parents can discuss the day with staff and read a daily written account. This makes communication part of the room’s routine, rather than relying solely on occasional meetings.

In January 2022, staff shared progress with parents and helped them extend learning at home. A project about children’s homes involved families drawing and writing together, followed by nursery activities about homes and habitats. The connection was specific: something a child knew well became material for conversation and creative work in both places.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Ruby’s self-care work includes toileting and growing independence, while Emerald includes sharing feelings, listening to others and speaking within a group. Preparation for school therefore includes social confidence as well as literacy and number work.

In January 2022, the nursery employed seven staff, five holding level 3 early years qualifications. Staff had opportunities to observe colleagues and reflect on practice, with updated training covering recognition and referral of safeguarding concerns. These are details of the team and its development at that time.

Sessions and Attendance

Little Treasures opens throughout the year, Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6.30pm. The opening window provides a useful starting point for comparing the nursery with a family’s working day.

The address is 641a & B London Road, Grays, RM20 3HD, with the entrance on Flint St. Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01708 804 979, by email at info@littletreasures-nursery.co.uk or through the contact form.

Funding and Paid Extras

In January 2022, the nursery received funding for early education for children aged two, three and four.

• Outdoor learning across the seasons. Improving the outdoor area, especially for winter learning, was an action in January 2022. On a visit, ask how the space now supports exploration during colder months.
• Thinking beyond the activity. January 2022 brought a recommendation to extend children’s reasoning. Ask staff how they build on a child’s ideas during the creative projects and practical experiments that shape the nursery’s approach.
• Matching care to your week. Opening hours run from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. Ask for a current written quotation and an outline of booking patterns, current funding arrangements and the treatment of meals and consumables.

Little Treasures suits families who value creative exploration, a small published baby-room cap and a clear progression towards greater independence. Sapphire’s settling arrangements and Ruby’s everyday parent communication give that offer useful substance.

The Good judgement from January 2022 provides a positive inspection position, while its outdoor-learning and reasoning recommendations remain relevant visit questions. The strongest reason to consider this nursery is the combination of individual care routines and learning through music, art, imaginative play and practical investigation.