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Little Harriers Day Nurseries Lavant

Ofsted: Good
(Jan 2022)
·Lavant House School, West Lavant, Chichester, PO18 9AB · West Sussex
Number of places
67 places
Age range
0–5 yrs
Last inspected
Jan 2022
Local authority
West Sussex

About this day nursery

Little Harriers Day Nurseries, established in 2004 by husband and wife Mike and Lucy Verbrugge, provides a nurturing environment for children. Lucy, with a BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies and Montessori qualifications, brings over two decades of experience, while Mike, an Early Years Practitioner and Forest and Beach School Leader, also boasts extensive experience.

The Lavant House nursery, a second location, was chosen for its rural surroundings. Both nurseries prioritise security with a 24-hour system and an electronic door system using personalised key fobs.

Parents can also utilise a secure webcam to view their child during the day. The day nursery places a strong emphasis on outdoor learning, offering Forest School sessions in their woodland areas at both sites, allowing children to explore nature, build dens, and learn outdoor skills.

The Lavant nursery exclusively offers Beach School, where children engage in activities like seashell collecting and observing marine life, fostering independence and a love for nature. Little Harriers aims to provide an enriched, high-quality experience for all children.

Our ethos

Little Harriers is dedicated to connecting children with nature through outdoor learning experiences like Forest and Beach School, fostering exploration, independence, and a love for the natural world. They aim to provide a high-quality, enriched experience for all children.

What it's like

Children are happy and secure as they arrive at the nursery. Leaders and staff ensure children have a variety of experiences that interest and engage them, resulting in high levels of motivation and curiosity. Staff build positive relationships with children and effectively use emotion cards to support them in understanding and expressing their feelings.

Family-runForest SchoolBeach SchoolSecure Webcam AccessQualified Staff

Pricing & funding

Fees are structured as a monthly charge based on the number of days booked, with distinct rates for unfunded and funded under three-year-olds. Additional booked days are charged at a flat daily rate. A sibling discount is available.

Funding accepted

30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)

Good to know

  • Non-refundable acceptance payment required upon offer of a place.
  • Acceptance payment covers up to 8 settling-in sessions, a t-shirt, and a bag tag.
  • Voluntary consumables contribution suggested for funded-only hours.
  • 10% sibling discount applies to second and subsequent siblings.

Key facts

Opening hours

8.00am-6.00pm Monday-Friday

Term time / All Year

All Year

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Little Harriers Day Nurseries Lavant

Last inspected 21 January 2022

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

What it's like to attend

Children are happy and secure as they arrive at the nursery. Leaders and staff ensure children have a variety of experiences that interest and engage them, resulting in high levels of motivation and curiosity. Staff build positive relationships with children and effectively use emotion cards to support them in understanding and expressing their feelings.

Inspector highlights

  • Leaders have a clear understanding of the curriculum and staff model good teaching skills.
  • Staff offer children good opportunities to practise independence skills and collaborate with peers.
  • Children receive clear support to develop communication and language skills well.
  • Leaders act swiftly to provide intervention for children with developmental delays.
  • Children show high levels of engagement, enthusiasm, courage, and fascination in their explorations.

Areas to develop

  • 1support staff to utilise opportunities to challenge children further in their learning to extend thinking skills to the highest level
  • 2plan more extensive opportunities for children to learn about e-safety to extend their knowledge further in how they can keep themselves safe
Inspection #10191569 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents speak highly of the nursery. They comment on the positive relationships their children have with staff.

Parents highlight how well key carers support their children to make progress in their learning and development.

There is a common theme that the staff help to build children's confidence.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Leaders act swiftly when they identify children who have a delay in their development. They ensure that children receive intervention at the earliest opportunity so that they receive the support they need to catch up. Leaders and staff work with families and outside professionals to ensure targeted support offers children a chance to reach their full potential.

Outdoor space

Children delight in participating in forest-school sessions. They seek out creatures under logs and gather twigs and leaves to create bird's nests when they return to nursery. Children are extremely confident in sharing their knowledge of how they follow the rules to stay safe when they are outside.

Inspection history

Most recent inspection

21 January 2022

Good

Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.

View full Ofsted report

Frequently asked about Little Harriers Day Nurseries Lavant

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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