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Little Houghton Day Nursery

Ofsted: Good
(Jun 2022)
·
5.0(4 parent reviews) ·The Old School, 35 Bedford Road, NORTHAMPTON, NN7 1AB · West Northamptonshire
Number of places
62 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jun 2022
Local authority
West Northamptonshire

About this day nursery

Apricot Day Nursery offers a nurturing and intimate environment in St Neots, focusing on the cognitive, social, and physical development of children. The nursery embraces the Montessori approach within a home-like setting, encouraging learning through play and offering diverse activities tailored to individual interests.

A key aspect of their offering is the "Next Stop School" programme, designed to prepare children for primary education by fostering confidence, social skills, and independence. The nursery operates across two sites, with a separate pre-school setting for older children that is a short walk away.

Each of their three rooms boasts a safe and enclosed outdoor play area, promoting outdoor learning regardless of weather. They are committed to transparent fee structures, with no extra charges for food, enhancements, or consumables, and they also offer fully funded and part-funded sessions for eligible families.

The nursery places a strong emphasis on communication with parents, providing verbal updates and digital reports, and ensures every child has a key person to facilitate personalised care and support during transitions. Meals are freshly prepared on-site, catering to various dietary needs.

They also offer a range of extra-curricular activities including cookery, movement, art, music, gardening, and science, all designed to enrich their unique "Brighter Learning Approach" curriculum.

Our ethos

Little Houghton Day Nursery is committed to the Montessori approach within a home-like setting, encouraging learning through play and tailored activities. They focus on cognitive, social, and physical development, with a "Next Stop School" programme to prepare children for primary education and foster confidence, social skills, and independence. Their "Brighter Learning Approach" curriculum is enriched by a variety of on-site extra-curricular activities.

What it's like

Children enjoy their time at nursery, forming strong attachments and showing affection to staff and peers. They are encouraged to make choices throughout the day and engage in imaginative play, both individually and cooperatively. Children also develop their physical skills through various activities, from babies learning to walk to older children riding tricycles outdoors.

Montessori approachOutdoor learningNext Stop School programmeNo extra charges for food/enhancements

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

Tax-Free Childcare15 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)
Pricing on request

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

Key facts

Opening hours

Open 7.30am - 6.30pm, 51 weeks a year. Full day: 8am-6pm. Early start: 7:30am-8am. Late finish: 6pm-6:30pm.

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

2011

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Little Houghton Day Nursery

Last inspected 21 June 2022 · Susan Hyatt

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 enjoy their time at nursery, forming strong attachments and showing affection to staff and peers. They are encouraged to make choices throughout the day and engage in imaginative play, both individually and cooperatively. Children also develop their physical skills through various activities, from babies learning to walk to older children riding tricycles outdoors.

Inspector highlights

  • Staff support children's language and communication skills well, encouraging children to think and practice sounds.
  • Staff provide opportunities for children to develop their small muscle skills through activities like squashing dough, making marks in salt, and painting.
  • Staff support children's growing independence skills, encouraging them to take responsibility for tasks like finding chairs, washing hands, and clearing plates.
  • Staff understand how to implement the nursery's curriculum to help children continually learn and gain further knowledge, identifying interests and additional targets.
  • Staff support children to behave well, encouraging manners and swiftly dealing with minor disagreements by explaining sharing and kindness.
  • Staff provide children with healthy meals, fresh drinking water, and apply sun cream regularly. They work closely with parents to manage allergies safely.
  • Daily routines are organised well and support children to learn.

Areas to develop

  • 1review the organisation of story time with toddlers to ensure they remain focused, which will ensure their learning is not disrupted
  • 2help staff to understand how to improve interactions with children, including those with additional needs, to ensure all children make good progress.
Inspection #10138639 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents state that they feel their children are developing good speech and physical skills at the nursery.

They find communication with staff effective and feel informed about their children's progress.

Parents state that staff are supportive and their children have good relationships with their key persons.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff identify any additional targets that individual children may have. They also need help to understand how to improve interactions with children, including those with additional needs, to ensure all children make good progress.

Outdoor space

Toddlers and pre-school children enjoy outdoor play. They carefully ride their tricycles around cones. Children develop muscle strength and coordination skills as they safely negotiate the area around them. The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

Parent Reviews of Little Houghton Day Nursery

5.0
(4)
Joshua Newcombe
2 years ago

My little girl has been attending little houghton day nursery for a year now. She happily goes off every morning and waves bye to us. We get updates at the end of every day on what she has done and explored. The staff are always welcoming and offer a calm yet stimulating environment for my little girl to develop and thrive. I have absolute confidence in the setting, the staff have a clear passion for childcare with each individual child's needs at the centre of all activities they plan and implement.

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Amy Etchells
a month ago

A welcoming nursery with friendly staff. The children were enjoying exploring the outdoor environment, with the staff facilitating the children's interests through high levels of engagement and interactions.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Little Houghton Day Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: February 2012

  • June 2022Good
  • March 2016Outstanding
  • February 2012Outstanding

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