Opening hours
Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 08:00 - 17:00
Little Gems (Dorset)
Ofsted: Expected standard·
4.0(4 parent reviews)
·Chantry House, Brickfields Industrial Estate, Gillingham, SP8 4LT · Dorset
Number of places
40 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Nov 2025
Local authority
Dorset
About this day nursery
Little Gems (Dorset) Limited, established in 2023, is a childcare setting located in Gillingham, SP8 4LT, catering to children aged 0-4 years. Open Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, the nursery operates on a non-domestic premises and follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum.
The setting is highly regarded for its inclusive environment, with practitioners experienced in supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, working closely with parents and attending specialised training. Children are encouraged in physical activity, with age-appropriate activities provided, such as floor-based play for babies and low tables for those learning to stand.
The nursery offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere, where children quickly settle, form strong relationships with staff, and are well-prepared for their next stages of learning.
Our ethos
We believe in child led learning, building strong independent learners who are given equal, diverse and extensive opportunities. Our intent is for the children to become part of a loving, supportive community where they can become ambitious little learners with big dreams.
What it's like
Children are very safe in this warm and welcoming setting. They happily leave their parents and carers, and settle into play with their friends quickly. Practitioners make learning fun, and children are well prepared for their next stages in learning.
Warm & welcomingInclusive environmentPhysical activityStrong relationshipsWell-prepared for learning
Pricing & funding
EYFS sessions are provided free at the point of delivery. Additional hours outside of these sessions are billed at a flat hourly rate.
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)
Good to know
- All EYFS sessions are free at the point of delivery.
- Additional hours are charged at an hourly rate.
Key facts
Age range
Under 2s, 2-3 year olds, Preschoolers
Established
2023
Ofsted Inspection — new report card
Expected standard
Last inspected Nov 2025
Grade summary
Exceptional
—
Strong standard
—
Expected standard
Needs attention
—
Urgent improvement
—
Each dot represents one of the six inspection categories. Headline is the average of the six grades, rounded up.
Category grades
AchievementExpected standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesExpected standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
InclusionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Age range
0 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Little Gems (Dorset)
Last inspected 21 November 2025 · Joanne Neenan
What it's like to attend
Children are very safe in this warm and welcoming setting. They happily leave their parents and carers, and settle into play with their friends quickly. Practitioners make learning fun, and children are well prepared for their next stages in learning.
Inspector highlights
- Children achieve well in all areas of the curriculum.
- Children have warm and trusting relationships with practitioners.
- Children feel respected and behave well.
- Children practise their fine motor skills.
- Leaders are effective in supporting a safe and happy work environment.
- Children can access all learning fully and achieve to their full potential.
- The safeguarding standards are met.
- Children are very safe and happily leave their parents and carers, and settle into play quickly.
Areas to develop
- 1Leaders should organise the provision to extend learning of the most-able children further.
- 2Leaders should target training more precisely to support less-experienced staff to improve their confidence and skills.
Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
The setting has practitioners experienced in supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, who work closely and sensitively with parents and carers to explore how they can best support children. Practitioners attend training around specific topics to ensure they have knowledge on how to support all children and put interventions in place to ensure all children can fully access the curriculum and are making progress.
Outdoor space
Children are given many opportunities to be physically active. For example, children who cannot yet walk have activities placed on the floor, where they can reach them, and children who are learning to stand have activities placed on low tables, encouraging them to stand.
Parent Reviews of Little Gems (Dorset)
4.0
(4)
Lucy Demmar
7 months ago
Little Gems is such a lovely nursery! The staff are so caring and friendly, and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. It’s clear the little ones are really well looked after, I feel super happy sending my little one here :) a wonderful nursery all round!
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Claire Rockchic
9 years ago
Little Harts have over 23years experience with the new take over of management.....following the EYFS to exact point of learning...and well trained staff in other child care certificates,as trained in behaviour management..first aid...sensory play for autistic spectrum and team leading. Remember the children are our first priority as caring for them is our passion
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Cirstie Williams
9 years ago
Fantastic nursery very polite staff lots of things to keep the children busy and help them learn i would recommend this nursery to anyone
Read on Google
Cj Dixon-Payne
9 years ago
Reviews from Google for Little Gems (Dorset). See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Most recent inspection
21 November 2025
Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.
View full Ofsted reportFrequently asked about Little Gems (Dorset)
About the setting
Little Gems (Dorset) Limited was registered with Ofsted on 08/09/2023. It is based at Chantry House, Brickfields Industrial Estate, Gillingham, SP8 4LT. It operates Monday to Friday, from 08:00 to 17:00. The setting accepts children aged 0 to 4.
- URN
- 2748470
- Registered person
- Little Gems (Dorset) Limited
- Day care type
- Childcare on non-domestic premises
- Register
- Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
- Establishment type
- Childcare on non-domestic premises
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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