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Little Characters

Ofsted: Good
(Mar 2025)
·
3.7(6 parent reviews) ·Brimington Methodist Church, Hall Road, Chesterfield, S43 1GH · Derbyshire
Number of places
39 places
Age range
1–5 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2025
Local authority
Derbyshire

About this day nursery

Little Characters, established in 2012, operates from Brimington Methodist Church in Chesterfield, offering childcare on non-domestic premises. Open all year round, Monday to Friday, with sessions available from 7am until 6pm, the nursery caters to children aged 1 to 10 years.

The latest Ofsted inspection, on 20 March 2025, rated the nursery as "Good" overall. Children at Little Characters thoroughly enjoy their time in this nurturing and welcoming setting, where staff know them well and provide a variety of learning opportunities through carefully planned experiences.

Staff act as positive role models, encouraging children to be kind, use manners, and take turns during play. Independence is fostered from a young age, with support for tasks like self-care and tidying.

The nursery provides opportunities to develop small-muscle skills, essential for early writing, through activities such as using tweezers and tracing letters. Leaders and managers are dedicated to offering high-quality care and education, with a strong emphasis on staff training and development.

This includes recent training to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, with a dedicated special educational needs coordinator available. While staff understand the importance of daily fresh air, the outdoor play curriculum is not as consistently planned for large physical play as the indoor curriculum.

Group story times are a cherished activity, with enthusiastic staff encouraging a love of books. Children benefit from high-quality interactions with staff during most activities, building on their existing knowledge and abilities.

What it's like

Children thoroughly enjoy their time at this nurturing and welcoming setting. Staff know the children well and provide a variety of learning opportunities through carefully planned experiences and routines. Staff are good role models and support children to develop positive behaviours, which sees children be kind to their friends, use their manners and take turns during play.

Nurturing and welcoming settingGood Ofsted ratingFocus on independenceSupports small-muscle skillsCommitted leadershipEngaging story time

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7am until 6pm

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

2012

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Little Characters

Last inspected 20 March 2025 · Carla Hopkin

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Children thoroughly enjoy their time at this nurturing and welcoming setting. Staff know the children well and provide a variety of learning opportunities through carefully planned experiences and routines. Staff are good role models and support children to develop positive behaviours, which sees children be kind to their friends, use their manners and take turns during play.

Inspector highlights

  • Staff encourage children to develop independence skills from a young age.
  • Children are provided with opportunities to develop their small-muscle skills.
  • Leaders and managers are committed to providing good-quality care and education for children, and there is a strong focus on staff training, development and continuing support.
  • Children enjoy taking part in group story time, and staff are enthusiastic storytellers.
  • Children experience high-quality interactions from staff during activities and daily routines.

Areas to develop

  • 1develop planning to provide more consistent opportunities for children to enjoy physical play to help develop their large-muscle skills
  • 2develop the consistency of staff interactions with children to fully support and extend each child's learning.
Inspection #10392256 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff have recently undertaken training to ensure effective support is in place for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Outdoor space

Staff understand the importance of children having access to daily fresh air and exercise. However, the curriculum for outdoor play is not as well planned as indoors, and staff do not consistently plan to encourage children to take part in large physical play.

Parent Reviews of Little Characters

3.7
(6)
Martin Beilby
7 months ago

Kicked my son out after 2 days, offered no support, no period to settle in, and very little communication on the matter. Also changed their policy afterwards to try and back themselves up. The main concern is that the staff then badmouth your child to other parents! Which is completely illegal, but that's what you get when you run a shady business like this, avoid them at all costs.

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Ashley Goodson
3 years ago

My smalls have been coming to little characters for roughly six months now and I genuinely couldn’t have chosen a better nursery to be looking after them. I was extremely nervous moving my oldest due to the experience I’d had from a previous nursery and my littlest was still quite young when they started attending however was quickly put at ease with the exquisite care that is put into getting to know both of the children not just on a professional level but a personal level is amazing, they know their likes and dislikes, their preferences, where they are with their development and give me regular updates on how well they are doing with a particular task. The attention to detail, the love and genuine care, the down to earth and easy handover from staff during drop off/collections reassures me that I have definitely chosen the right nursery for our family. To Jo and her amazing team - Thank you, you’re all amazing!

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Jenny Amaro
3 years ago

Absolutely love this nursery my daughter has been going since she was 3 months now she is 18 month, adore all the staff ! Hope and joe always making sure my daughter is well taken care of ! It’s not just a nursery it’s family ! And I’m so thankful to have found them ! I was so worried to leaving my child at 3 months and I’m so happy I made the best decision having luna attend little characters, I couldn’t recommend a better nursery ! Love you all 💗

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Amanda Lowe
3 years ago

My 2 year old granddaughter went for 5 weeks before her birthday. The manager told me that she was selfish and showing signs of Autism on her first day. She should have had words with mum in private, not talk to me. Little lady cried when mummy left so staff admitted they put her in a pushchair and turned her away from the other children. This is a restraining tactic which my daughter said she knew nothing about. Nursery then rang mummy and asked for little girl to get picked up as she was a disruption to other children. I got the impression that they didn't want to help this little girl. They could have used distraction techniques and try to interact with the child. Very disappointed especially as the nursery is part of the church and they weren't very Christian like.

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Charlie West
3 years ago

Nothing but good things to say about Little Characters. The staff are great, my toddler walks in happily every morning looking forward to a day at nursery. They deal with every phase and stage really well with the kids.

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Reviews from Google for Little Characters. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: April 2012

  • March 2025Good
  • August 2019Good
  • December 2015Good
  • April 2012Good

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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more