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Little Tinkers in Mayfield

Ofsted: Expected standard·
4.2(5 parent reviews) ·Scocus Barn, Five Ashes, Mayfield, TN20 6JJ · East Sussex
Number of places
64 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2026
Local authority
East Sussex

About this day nursery

Little Tinkers, located in Mayfield, East Sussex, is a 'Good' rated childcare setting that has been operating since 2009. Welcoming children aged 0-4 years, the nursery provides a stimulating and positive environment where children are encouraged to be independent and confident learners.

The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, offering an all-year-round service. Central to Little Tinkers' approach is its 'slow curriculum' and dedication to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), ensuring a broad range of activities that build on children's knowledge over time.

Children at Little Tinkers particularly enjoy outdoor learning opportunities, including caring for animals on the farm. The nursery has received recognition for its effective support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), utilising strategies such as sign language and visual timetables.

Leaders also foster an inclusive environment where children learn about diverse cultures through various activities, celebrating the different backgrounds of the children. However, the setting was found to have weaknesses in safeguarding procedures and is actively working to address these areas for improvement.

Despite this, parents feedback positively on their children's progress.

Our ethos

Little Tinkers emphasises the vital importance of physical development and outdoor play, recognising its link to overall learning and development. They believe in providing stimulating outdoor environments for children to explore, create, and engage in real experiences, fostering independence and confidence through challenge and judicious risk-taking within a secure framework.

What it's like

Children are settled and happy in a calm, purposeful nursery where they choose activities on arrival and particularly enjoy outdoor play and helping care for farm animals. Staff have high expectations, offer extra support when needed, and the setting promotes independence and confidence through a broad curriculum.

Highly motivated learnersImpressive natural world knowledgePositive atmosphereSlow curriculumIndependence and confidenceEffective SEND support

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
  • Registration non-refundable deposit£30 / session
  • Hourly rate£7.00 / hour

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, for 50 weeks of the year.

Session types

Morning session (9am - 12pm), Afternoon session (1pm - 4pm), Early drop-off (8am - 9am), Late pick-up (4pm - 6pm)

Age range

Babies to 4 years old

Term time / All Year

All_year

Established

2009

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Expected standard

Last inspected Mar 2026

Headline: Expected 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 wellbeingExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
InclusionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceUrgent improvement
Age range
0 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Little Tinkers

Last inspected 24 March 2026 · Rebecca James

Safeguarding effective

Actions the provider must take

  • Ensure that leaders and staff have the knowledge needed to identify and respond to safeguarding concerns, including the procedure to follow in the event of an allegation against a member of staff.

What it's like to attend

Children are settled and happy in a calm, purposeful nursery where they choose activities on arrival and particularly enjoy outdoor play and helping care for farm animals. Staff have high expectations, offer extra support when needed, and the setting promotes independence and confidence through a broad curriculum.

Inspector highlights

  • Children progress extremely well in all areas and become highly motivated and independent learners.
  • Children gain an extremely impressive knowledge of the natural world, including confidently counting and comparing shapes and sizes.
  • The very positive, friendly atmosphere created by leaders and staff significantly enhances children's enjoyment and learning.
  • Leaders have very clear intentions for the learning and development of all children, implementing a 'slow curriculum'.
  • Staff teach children specific skills, such as mathematical understanding and how to use art and craft materials, encouraging them to repeat and practise skills.
  • There is a tremendous focus on promoting children's independence and confidence to help them to be ready for the next stage in their learning.

Areas to develop

  • 1Seek more detailed information from parents about what their child can already do and understand when they first start at nursery, to help staff plan for children from the very beginning.
  • 2Establish a more consistent approach to sharing information with all parents about their child's progress, to ensure they are kept up to date.
Inspection #10213591 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff have high expectations of what all children can achieve and ensure extra support is offered if needed. Support strategies include sign language, visual timetables, and introducing new vocabulary.

Outdoor space

Children particularly enjoy opportunities to be outdoors and help care for the animals on the farm, including feeding rabbits and collecting eggs from the chickens. During the COVID-19 pandemic, staff made full use of the outdoor classrooms and covered areas to keep children active and safe. Children practise physical skills such as digging compost and preparing soil while learning to manage risks.

EAL / language support

Children benefit from hearing greetings and songs in other languages, including those that their family speak at home, and learn about different lives and communities through activities such as making mooncakes for Chinese New Year and traditional Caribbean crafts.

Parent Reviews of Little Tinkers

4.2
(5)
Ella Langer
2 years ago

Our son has been at Little Tinkers for a few months now since he turned 1, as with any nursery it took him a while to settle but now loves it! The girls are all very friendly, he is always outside with the animals on the farm which he loves and we get a written comment everyday to let us know what he has been doing, eating and how long he slept. If we need to contact we always ring and someone is always on the other end of the phone. We recommend, our son is very happy!

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Sophie Cooper
7 years ago

Before Christmas I had arranged for my son to start little tinkers nursery in January. January came and no replies to my emails or calls. Finally I spoke with the manager, who couldn’t give an answer to what was going on. It’s april now and I’m still awaiting my call back. I find this so poor and am really glad my son is now settled in a nursery elsewhere.

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Geraldine Harrington
2 years ago

My Grandaughter loves Little Tinkers, goes there 2 days a week and always looks forward to going.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Little Tinkers. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: November 2009

The most recent inspection point has been hidden because the parsed entry didn't match the headline Ofsted rating (Good). We're re-checking it against the original report.

  • March 2022Good
  • February 2022Good
  • October 2019Good
  • September 2019Good
  • September 2014Good
  • August 2014Good
  • December 2013Requires improvement
  • November 2013Requires improvement
  • November 2009Good

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