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Little Explorers Nursery in Sheffield

Ofsted: Outstanding
(May 2025)
·
3.4(5 parent reviews) ·Little Explorers Day Care Nursery, 230 Wales Road, SHEFFIELD, S26 5RE · Rotherham
Number of places
59 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
May 2025
Local authority
Rotherham

About this day nursery

Little Explorers Nursery, located in Sheffield, provides childcare and educational services for children aged 3 months to 4+ years. The nursery operates 50 weeks a year and proudly holds an 'Outstanding' rating from OFSTED as of May 2025.

Their ethos is centred on the principle of 'Every Child Matters,' aiming to deliver a secure, joyful, and stimulating educational environment while also offering parents flexible options. The curriculum is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum 2025 (EYFS), with a strong emphasis on developing communication and language skills through programmes like Makaton, Babbling Baby, Toddler Talk, and Letters and Sounds.

The nursery actively fosters a love for the environment and a curious approach to learning, engaging children in activities such as growing vegetables, caring for chicks, and interacting with nursery animals. The highly qualified team is dedicated to nurturing each child's individual potential, with staff experienced in various aspects of early childhood education and holding relevant qualifications, including EYPS status.

The nursery maintains appropriate staff-to-child ratios, often lower than required guidelines, to ensure individualised attention. Children are grouped by age and assigned a key carer to support their development and facilitate their settling-in process.

The nursery has also achieved a Communication Friendly Setting Status accreditation in September 2024, highlighting their commitment to boosting children's communication and language abilities.

What it's like

Children make strong and consistent progress from their individual starting points and are very well prepared for the next stage in their education. They learn to develop their imagination, persist at challenging tasks, and become independent and confident communicators. Children are safe and secure and meet staff's high expectations for good manners and positive social behaviour.

OFSTED OutstandingCommunication Friendly SettingEYFS CurriculumFocus on Communication and Language

Pricing & funding

Fees are charged for early care, full day, and half-day sessions, with snack and meal charges included in the standard rates. Invoices are billed monthly in advance. Discounts are available for siblings and children attending for forty or fifty hours per week.

Funding accepted

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

Good to know

  • No fees are charged for bank holidays, one week at Christmas, or one week at Spring Bank at the end of May.
  • Invoices are sent monthly in advance via the Ovivio parent app and are due by the 5th of each month.
  • Full day fees include £8 snack and meal charges; half-day sessions include £4.
  • Offers a 5% discount for a second child attending at the same time.
  • Discounts of 5% for 40 hours and 8% for 50 hours are applied to weekly schedules.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday from 7.30am till 6pm, excluding a week at Christmas and a week at Spring Bank at the end of May, and all bank holidays.

Session types

Early care, Full day, Morning session, Afternoon session

Age range

3 months - 4+ years

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

2014

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Little Explorers Nursery

Last inspected 7 May 2025 · Andrew Clark

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

What it's like to attend

Children make strong and consistent progress from their individual starting points and are very well prepared for the next stage in their education. They learn to develop their imagination, persist at challenging tasks, and become independent and confident communicators. Children are safe and secure and meet staff's high expectations for good manners and positive social behaviour.

Inspector highlights

  • The development of children's strong communication and language skills is central to the preparation for further learning.
  • The leadership is highly ambitious to ensure that every child achieves their full potential.
  • Staff help children to develop a deep understanding of number and early mathematical language.
  • Staff ensure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and other vulnerable learners receive robust and carefully targeted support.
  • Children's physical development is strongly and systematically promoted throughout nursery.
  • Staff build strong working partnerships with parents and carers to ensure children make the best possible start to their learning.
Inspection #10392872 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

They feel they are fully consulted and supported through extensive feedback and guidance to support the children's learning and development at home

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff ensure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and other vulnerable learners receive robust and carefully targeted support. They work closely with other professionals, such as speech and language and inclusion specialists, to carefully plan and promote all aspects of children's learning. They make good use of additional funding to, for example, enrich children's sensory and personal awareness.

Outdoor space

Children learn and use increasingly challenging mathematical language, such as 'half empty' and 'more, less and equal', as they balance giant child-size scales in their outdoor play. Children's physical development is strongly and systematically promoted throughout nursery, with activities such as dancing, climbing, and creating obstacle courses.

Parent Reviews of Little Explorers Nursery

3.4
(5)
Kelly M
6 months ago

I honestly can’t say enough good things about this nursery! They’ve been absolutely amazing with my son. It’s not like a typical nursery — they really focus on learning and development, and have such a lovely culture where everything is centred around helping the children grow and reach their potential. My son needs a bit of extra support, and they’ve been incredible with him. He has 1-1 attention and sessions, and the team always go above and beyond to make sure he’s happy and thriving. The staff are so kind, caring, and professional — you can tell they genuinely love what they do. They also use a great system to keep you updated throughout the day with photos and notes, which honestly gets me through work seeing how happy he is! My son loves the food, the nursery it’s always clean even with all the mess little ones make, and the whole atmosphere is so warm and positive. I feel so grateful to have found this nursery — they’ve made such a difference for my son and our family. Thank you

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Stacey Fletcher
4 years ago

Fantastic nursery ! My daughter was born in covid and had never been left with anyone . I had to go back to work and therefore needed to put her in nursery We had settling in days before she started and she didn’t settle straight away . They would only accept her when she was ready and happy . She loves nursery , when I pick her up I can see through the window her playing and laughing with her friends and teachers . She has come on so much . We are constantly updated with pictures and videos of their days and kept well informed of progress . The teachers are lovely and I feel happy leaving her all day while I work Thanks so much for all your doing with my daughter

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Alec Glen
4 years ago

Awesome nursery for our two children who both love it. Highly competent and caring staff who have clearly created a lovely atmosphere for little ones to learn, build relationships and become confident little people. OFSTED rate them as Outstanding, we'd agree wholeheartedly.

Read on Google

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Inspection history

Date: December 2015

  • May 2025Outstanding
  • October 2019Outstanding
  • December 2015Good

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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