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Little Pippins Montessori Nursery

Ofsted: Strong standard·Skelton Newby Hall Primary School, Skelton-on-Ure, Ripon, HG4 5AJ · North Yorkshire
Number of places
46 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
May 2026
Local authority
North Yorkshire

About this early years setting

Little Pippins Montessori Nursery in Ripon provides care for children aged from one to four years. The nursery operates Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm all year round and accepts government funding. It follows the Early Years Foundation Stage framework combined with a Montessori approach and was registered with Ofsted in July 2024.

According to Ofsted information, practitioners encourage children to develop independence through daily routines. Children have access to an extensive outdoor environment where they can plant vegetables, explore different surfaces, and develop physical skills. The inspector highlighted that children are exceptionally well prepared for their next stage of learning, including the move to school. The setting supports children’s understanding of the wider world through visits to local museums and social groups within the village.

Our ethos

Little Pippins Montessori Nursery School implements a unique educational approach by combining traditional Montessori methods with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. They emphasise core values such as kindness, sharing, self-belief, and acceptance, aiming to foster confident, independent, and curious learners. The nursery also integrates Woodland School activities, using their grounds as an outdoor classroom to connect children with nature.

What it's like

Children arrive at the setting eager to greet the practitioners and their peers, settling quickly into the well-thought-out activities. They benefit from an extensive outdoor environment that enhances learning, allowing them to plant, grow, and care for their own vegetables. Children confidently explore different levels and surfaces in the garden, practising climbing, balancing, and coordination.

Strong independence skillsStrong safeguardingExcellent behaviourExceptional outdoor environmentNutritious foodEmotional development

Pricing & funding

Charges are based on unfunded full days and hourly rates, with food included in unfunded day rates. Funded sessions have an optional cost for meals. Additional fees apply for registration, late collection, and individual hygiene items.

Funding accepted

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

Good to know

  • Registration fee applies.
  • Unfunded full days include all food.
  • Funded sessions exclude food, which can be purchased as a voluntary add-on.
  • Late collection charges apply per 15 minutes.
  • Nappies, cream, and disposal are charged per item.

Key facts

Opening hours

8:00am to 5:30pm, Monday - Friday

Age range

0-4 years

Term time / All Year

All_year

Registered with Ofsted

2024

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Strong standard

Last inspected May 2026

Headline: Strong standard

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

AchievementStrong standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesStrong standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
InclusionStrong standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Age range
1 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted report for Little Pippins Montessori Nursery

Last inspected 14 May 2026

What it's like to attend

Children arrive at the setting eager to greet the practitioners and their peers, settling quickly into the well-thought-out activities. They benefit from an extensive outdoor environment that enhances learning, allowing them to plant, grow, and care for their own vegetables. Children confidently explore different levels and surfaces in the garden, practising climbing, balancing, and coordination.

Inspector highlights

  • All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make strong and sustained progress across all areas of learning and development.
  • Children develop excellent independence skills from an early age because practitioners consistently encourage them to take responsibility within daily routines.
  • Children benefit from access to a wide range of carefully chosen resources that support exploration, investigation and decision-making.
  • Children are exceptionally well prepared for the next stage in their learning, including the move to school.
  • Leaders and practitioners have high expectations of children's behaviour, and children behave extremely well due to well-embedded routines.
  • Leaders and practitioners ensure that children develop an understanding of the wider world through visits to local museums and opportunities to attend social groups within the village community.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Leaders and practitioners swiftly identify children with SEND and provide a highly consistent approach to support their learning, adapting activities and environments effectively. Individual learning plans are implemented to break down learning into smaller steps and ensure rapid progress.

Outdoor space

Children benefit from an extensive outdoor environment where they develop physical skills, engage in collaborative play, and learn about the natural world. This includes opportunities for planting vegetables, exploring different levels and surfaces, and purposeful activities like nature hunts.

Inspection history

Most recent inspection

14 May 2026

Strong standard

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 Pippins Montessori Nursery

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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