Little Birds Nursery at Leigh Academy Dartford

Stories, rhymes and learning outdoors give Little Birds its character. This is Leigh Academy Dartford’s nursery for children from three, with 60 places and a base at the infant site on St Albans Road, Dartford, DA1 1TE. It operates for 38 weeks each year, so families need a childcare plan for the school holidays.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Outstanding at the inspection on 17 and 18 June 2025. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Learning extends beyond the nursery room. Children use an outdoor classroom and have access to the library and school hall, bringing different spaces into their day. For children attending the 30-hour pattern, lunch takes place in the nursery classroom, followed by opportunities to play outdoors or inside.

Stories and rhymes have a clear learning purpose. Nursery children listen and participate, developing an ear for word patterns and sounds. This gives early reading a starting point that parents can recognise: enjoying language together. After lunch, children gather to talk about their learning and hear a story, balancing time to explore with time together.

In June 2025, early years learning developed children’s curiosity and imagination alongside practice in mathematics, writing and reading. Social learning mattered too: children learnt to share playthings, wait their turn and build friendships. These are practical foundations for joining a group and taking part in learning.

A consistent attendance pattern is part of the nursery’s approach to settling. Little Birds says attending across the whole working week helps children settle and develop relationships with adults and other children. Families agree the funding arrangement and session pattern with the nursery manager before their child starts.

Support for additional needs draws on the academy’s Inclusion Team, which includes special educational needs coordinators and family liaison officers. Teachers and the team discuss individual needs through Pupil Progress Meetings and SEN Surgeries, then share planned classroom strategies or individual and small-group support with families. Parents should raise concerns about development with their child’s teacher first. This gives families a clear starting point for discussing help.

Attending Little Birds does not guarantee a Reception place at Leigh Academy Dartford. Parents must make a separate Reception application through Kent County Council’s coordinated admissions process and meet the deadline for their child’s entry year. Choosing the nursery therefore remains a decision about the nursery experience, alongside a separate school application.

Three funded patterns run Monday to Friday: mornings from 08:30 to 11:30, afternoons from 11:30 to 14:30, or full days from 08:30 to 14:30. The shorter patterns provide 15 hours each week; the full-day pattern provides 30. Children attend five days, rather than choosing occasional sessions.

Funding allocation. Provision is term time only, and Little Birds requires all 38 weeks of a child’s funding without sharing it with another provider. If Kent identifies missing funded hours because funding has been used for summer childcare elsewhere, those hours are charged. Families should factor that arrangement into holiday plans.

Collection and notice. Late collection attracts a charge, and leaving the nursery requires one term’s notice. Contact the infant and nursery office on 01322 223751 or info@dartford.latrust.org.uk for enquiries and current charges.