Lilypads Day Nursery & Pre-School

A separate baby garden and a preschool garden that children can move into freely give Lilypads its clearest character: outdoor play belongs to the ordinary day. Based at 78 Burton End in Haverhill, this nursery has capacity for 34 children, with an age range from three months to five years. The baby and preschool spaces offer different ways to explore, from sensory play for infants to growing produce and tackling obstacle courses for older children.

At its 11 November 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated Lilypads Outstanding and found that children made substantial progress across their learning, with speech and language a particular strength. That judgement is dated; the current practical appeal rests on the separate outdoor spaces, attention to babies’ routines and opportunities for children to make choices for themselves.

Morning, afternoon, full-day and short-day bookings give families several attendance patterns.

Rooms and Ages

The Baby Room, for children from three to 24 months, combines sensory exploration and physical play with an adjoining outdoor area equipped for babies. Having that space beside the room makes outdoor time part of the baby provision itself, rather than an activity designed around older children.

From two years to school age, the Preschool Room brings together a book corner, construction resources, a wooden home area and materials for early writing, with direct access to a garden for climbing, trikes, ball play and obstacle courses. Children can choose indoor or outdoor play during the day. Sand, water and a growing area extend the choices beyond running about, giving children practical materials to investigate as well as space to move.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for children’s learning and care: play, communication, physical development and growing independence form part of the nursery day. Lilypads uses a play-based approach, with hands-on exploration and activities shaped around individual children, rather than relying solely on adult-directed tasks.

In the Little Tadpoles Room, babies explore objects through a treasure basket, handle playdough and try chalk, paint and crayons. Books, dolls and building materials remain accessible between organised activities. Singing, stories and music punctuate the routine, while key-person observations inform the activities prepared for each child. This gives the day a structure while retaining opportunities for babies to choose what interests them.

The Frogs Room routine includes group conversation about the weather, seasons and children’s own news. Children also count together, use construction toys and take part in music or stories. Preparing their snacks and serving food bring practical independence into the day, rather than reserving learning for a separate activity period.

Outdoor and Community Life

In November 2022, children tested their balance on a winding beam and climbed onto a large tyre before jumping down. These were concrete physical challenges, with children choosing to attempt them and celebrating their success. The current preschool garden continues to provide climbing and obstacle-course opportunities, alongside quieter exploration of sand, water and growing plants.

In November 2022, children planted seeds in the nursery allotment, gathered the produce and watched the on-site chef cook it. That sequence connected growing food with preparing and eating it. It is a useful example of how a familiar outdoor activity became a longer piece of learning, rather than an isolated gardening task.

Relationships and Communication

Babies’ individual routines shape their care. Staff work with parents on the move from home to nursery, following each baby’s preferences and usual pattern. Daily feedback sheets cover sleep, bottles, meals and nappy changes, giving families a practical account of care rather than only a summary of activities.

The Little Tadpoles Room routine assigns nappy changes to the child’s key person, making an everyday care task another opportunity for familiar contact. Parents provide their child’s sleep routine when enrolling, and sleeping children are checked every 10 minutes. These arrangements are especially relevant for families whose baby’s feeding or sleep pattern needs continuity between home and nursery.

In November 2022, adults responded to babies’ gestures and early attempts at speech, while older children retold stories and joined conversations about what they were learning. Children also practised handling spoons and tongs at meals. The detail matters: communication and self-care were woven into ordinary exchanges, rather than appearing only in planned sessions.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At its November 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and found that accessible resources supported children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, in choosing and leading their learning. The examples concerned everyday participation, making inclusion relevant to what children could actually do during the day.

Current security arrangements include CCTV and a requirement for visitors to sign in and out. Staff receive training in first aid, child protection and health and safety, and risk assessments cover equipment, premises and activities. These are practical arrangements for managing care; families should distinguish them from the dated inspection judgement.

Meals and snacks are prepared on site using fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and the cook caters for dietary requirements, including babies’ needs. The example menu includes salmon with broccoli in a pasta bake and a turkey, bean and vegetable stew, showing the type of food children may eat rather than a fixed promise for a particular day.

Sessions and Attendance

Nursery opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. It operates throughout the year, with bank holidays excluded. The nursery day and the office day differ: office hours begin at 9am and finish at 6pm, which is useful when planning an administrative enquiry.

Morning sessions run from 7.30am to 1pm, afternoons from 1pm to 6pm, and full days from 7.30am to 6pm. A short day runs from 9am to 3.30pm, while hourly care provides another booking option. Breakfast club runs from 7.30am to 8.45am. These are different attendance choices, rather than simply different descriptions of the opening window.

Holiday club is for children who have started full-time Reception. Its booking patterns are 9am to 5pm, 7.30am to 6pm, 7.30am to 1pm and 1pm to 6pm, with food included according to the chosen pattern. This sits alongside the nursery provision for younger children.

Getting There

The address is 78 Burton End, Haverhill, CB9 9LR. Telephone enquiries go to 01440 767805, and families can also use the contact form or email info@lilypadsnursery.co.uk. Visits can be booked by contacting the nursery.

Funding and Paid Extras

Lilypads accepts 15 hours funding for eligible two-year-olds, and offers 15 hours funding and 30 hours funding for eligible three- and four-year-olds, subject to its terms and conditions. Funded entitlement and additional paid attendance should be considered separately when choosing a pattern.

Meal inclusion depends on the booking: mornings include breakfast, a snack and lunch; afternoons include a snack and tea; full days include breakfast, lunch, tea and two snacks; short days include lunch and two snacks. Hourly care includes snacks only, with breakfast, lunch and tea charged separately when they are outside the booking’s inclusions.

A non-refundable registration charge applies to new starters. Request a current written quotation covering your chosen attendance pattern and its food inclusions.

• Food and funded attendance. Food inclusions change between sessions and hourly care. What meals and non-food consumables would be included or charged separately under your proposed funded booking?
• Baby routines. Individual sleep patterns and daily care sheets are part of the baby arrangements. During a visit, discuss how your baby’s feeding, sleep and settling routine would fit the Little Tadpoles Room day.
• Outdoor choices. Preschool children can move between their room and garden, while babies have a separate outdoor area. A visit is a useful opportunity to explore how each space would suit your child’s preferred play.

Lilypads suits families seeking morning or afternoon sessions as well as those choosing a short day or full day. Its strongest practical combination is separate provision for babies, preschool access to outdoor play and routines that make independence part of ordinary care.

The Outstanding judgement from November 2022 adds substantial weight, but the decision should also rest on the attendance pattern and daily arrangements that fit the child. For babies, continuity of routines is the central appeal; for older children, choosing where to play and helping with everyday tasks give the day its character.