--- title: "Mini Explorers Play School — Rated Outstanding by Ofsted" description: "Mini Explorers Play School, a nursery in Ibstock — Rated Outstanding by Ofsted. See opening hours, fees, photos and contact details on Nursery Advice." lang: en-GB json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "Nursery Advice", "url": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk", "description": "Search and compare UK nurseries. Ofsted ratings, fees, opening hours, parent reviews and inspection history — all in one place.", "inLanguage": "en-GB", "potentialAction": { "@type": "SearchAction", "target": { "@type": "EntryPoint", "urlTemplate": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/search?q={search_term_string}" }, "query-input": "required name=search_term_string" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "Nursery Advice", "url": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk", "description": "Search and compare UK nurseries. 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See opening hours, fees, photos and contact details on Nursery Advice.", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/#website" }, "about": { "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/mini-explorers-play-school-ltd-le67-6nw-ey486615#nursery" }, "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/mini-explorers-play-school-ltd-le67-6nw-ey486615#breadcrumb" }, "speakable": { "@type": "SpeakableSpecification", "cssSelector": [ "h1", "[data-speakable]" ] } }, { "@type": "ChildCare", "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/mini-explorers-play-school-ltd-le67-6nw-ey486615#nursery", "name": "Mini Explorers Play School", "url": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/mini-explorers-play-school-ltd-le67-6nw-ey486615", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressCountry": "GB", "streetAddress": "Sence Valley Forest Park", "addressLocality": "IBSTOCK", "postalCode": "LE67 6NW" }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/mini-explorers-play-school-ltd-le67-6nw-ey486615#webpage" }, "telephone": "07739 026528", "email": "info@mini-explorers.com", "sameAs": [ "https://mini-explorers.com/" ], "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 52.696962, "longitude": -1.403879 }, "areaServed": [ { "@type": "City", "name": "IBSTOCK" } ], "audience": { "@type": "PeopleAudience", "suggestedMinAge": 2, "suggestedMaxAge": 4 }, "award": "Ofsted: Outstanding", "aggregateRating": { "@type": "AggregateRating", "ratingValue": 5, "reviewCount": 2, "bestRating": 5, "worstRating": 1 }, "review": [ { "@type": "Review", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": 5, "bestRating": 5, "worstRating": 1 }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "matthew jarvis" }, "reviewBody": "I can’t recommend this nursery enough. All the teachers are angels who I whole heartedly trust with the care of our children. Donna is so passionate about early learning and the effort is so clear to see in everything the nursery does. It’s not just parents that want the best for their children, mini explorers do too. Thank you.", "datePublished": "2023-07-12T20:27:33.898618Z", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "Review", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": 5, "bestRating": 5, "worstRating": 1 }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Katie Mccrea" }, "datePublished": "2021-07-14T19:38:03.475270Z", "inLanguage": "en" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/mini-explorers-play-school-ltd-le67-6nw-ey486615#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Nurseries", "item": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nurseries" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "East Midlands", "item": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/search?region=East%20Midlands" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Mini Explorers Play School", "item": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/mini-explorers-play-school-ltd-le67-6nw-ey486615" } ] }, { "@type": "FAQPage", "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/mini-explorers-play-school-ltd-le67-6nw-ey486615#faq", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does Mini Explorers Play School Ltd have an Ofsted rating?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. The current overall grade is Outstanding, with the latest inspection dated 23/09/2025." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What outdoor space does Mini Explorers Play School Ltd have?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The setting uses woodland at Sence Valley Forest Park, along with a garden area, vegetable patch, dens, mud kitchens, ponds, streams, and a covered outside area for use in all weather." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What kind of childcare setting is Mini Explorers Play School Ltd?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It is registered as childcare on non-domestic premises and provides full day care." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How are the fees structured at Mini Explorers Play School Ltd?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Fees are charged at the start of each term and depend on the number of weeks booked. Charges apply for booked hours with no credit for absence, extra hours are added to the next bill, and late collection after 3pm incurs a £5.00 charge for each quarter hour or part of a quarter hour." } } ] } ] } ] --- [![Nursery Advice](/__l5e/assets-v1/1c5557d3-f3fd-42f8-935a-3f2d2c3ac7e7/nursery-advice.webp "Nursery Advice")](/ "Nursery Advice") [Find Nurseries](/search)[Parent Hub](/parent-hub)[Compare](/compare)[About Us](/about-us)[For Nurseries](/for-nurseries) [Claim Your Nursery](/claim) 1. [Home](/) 2. [Nurseries](/nurseries) 3. [East Midlands](/search?region=East+Midlands) 4. Mini Explorers Play School # Mini Explorers Play School Compare Contact Nursery Ofsted: Outstanding (Sept 2025) · 5.0 (2 parent reviews) · Sence Valley Forest Park, IBSTOCK, LE67 6NW · Leicestershire Number of places 42 places Age range 2–4 yrs Last inspected Sept 2025 Local authority Leicestershire About - About - Pricing - Ofsted - Inclusion - Reviews - FAQ - [About](#about) - [Pricing](#pricing) - [Ofsted](#ofsted) - [Inclusion](#inclusion) - [Reviews](#reviews) - [FAQ](#faq) Email Nursery ## About this day nursery Mini Explorers Play School, established in 2015, is nestled within the expansive 108-hectare Sence Valley Forest Park in Ibstock, offering a unique and immersive natural learning environment for children. The school operates in partnership with Forestry England, emphasising outdoor exploration and a forest school philosophy. The ethos of Mini Explorers centres on nurturing the social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development of each child through play and exploration. This approach encourages the development of essential life skills such as determination, resilience, perseverance, and self-awareness, forming a strong foundation for lifelong learning. The curriculum is designed around observing individual children's interests to plan suitable activities that extend their learning, fostering curiosity, imagination, and creativity. The facility boasts extensive outdoor areas, including woodlands, forest school sites, a garden, a vegetable patch, dens, mud kitchens, ponds, streams, role-play areas, and construction zones, with a covered outdoor area ensuring continuous outdoor play in all weather conditions. Mini Explorers strives to be a safe, homely, and stimulating setting where children can thrive and enjoy their educational journey. Our ethos Mini Explorers is a safe, homely, loving and stimulating place to be, where children’s social, emotional, physical and intellectual development can be nurtured through play. We believe in play and exploration as the main form of learning, so children are happy and enjoy their time with us. Through our play and forest school philosophy our aim is for children to develop skills of determination, resilience, perseverance and self-awareness which will form the foundation for lifelong learning. What it's like Staff greet children warmly at this 'home-from-home' pre-school, where they are eager to join in with stimulating activities and investigate fun resources using all their senses. Staff introduce new vocabulary and explain meanings, stimulating children's thinking, creativity, and imaginations as they play. Forest School Outdoor Learning Play-based Learning Partnership with Forestry England ## Pricing & funding Fees are charged at the beginning of each term and vary based on the number of weeks in the term. Charges are based on booked hours, with no refunds or credits offered for non-attendance. Additional hours are billed in arrears on the next termly invoice. Funding accepted 15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds 15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs) 30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs) Good to know - Fees are billed termly and vary based on the number of weeks. - No credits or refunds are given for non-attendance. - Additional hours are added to the next bill. - One month's notice is required for any reduction in hours or if a child is leaving. - A late collection fine is charged for any collection after 3pm. ### Official Ofsted Report Independent inspection of Mini Explorers Play School Inspection date Sept 2025 Inspection no. 10399508 Safeguarding arrangements are effective [Download full report (PDF)](https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50289957)[View on Ofsted.gov.uk](https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY486615) Visit or enquire ### Book a show-around Most settings reply within 48 hours. Schedule a VisitContact NurseryJoin Waitlist Get in touch ### Contact Reveal phone number Contact Nursery [ Visit website ](https://mini-explorers.com/) Sence Valley Forest Park, IBSTOCK, LE67 6NW [© Mapbox](https://www.mapbox.com/about/maps) [© OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright/) [Improve this map](https://apps.mapbox.com/feedback/?owner=bettersearch&id=cmr0xkm3n001m01shcu7igkjr&access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiYmV0dGVyc2VhcmNoIiwiYSI6ImNtcjB4NzVvNDA0ZTkycHF5Z3g3aWNtZWcifQ.h8Ni35tijJSAoESKsGArhg#/-1.40388/52.69696/14) [](https://www.mapbox.com/) ## Explore day nurseries near IBSTOCK - [Day nurseries in IBSTOCK](/search?q=IBSTOCK) - [Day nurseries in East Midlands](/search?q=East+Midlands) Is this your nursery? Claim this listing to add photos, pricing, and respond to enquiries. [Claim this listing](/claim?nursery=mini-explorers-play-school-ltd-le67-6nw-ey486615) ## Key facts Opening hours Children must be off the premises by 3pm. Term time / All Year Term Time Ofsted Inspection ## Ofsted rating for Mini Explorers Play School Last inspected 23 September 2025 Safeguarding effective Overall effectiveness Outstanding Quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding What it's like to attend Staff greet children warmly at this 'home-from-home' pre-school, where they are eager to join in with stimulating activities and investigate fun resources using all their senses. Staff introduce new vocabulary and explain meanings, stimulating children's thinking, creativity, and imaginations as they play. Inspector highlights - Leaders are passionate about the outstanding care and education and constantly reflect on provision to make improvements. - Long-standing staff get to know and nurture children very well, adapting teaching to meet individual needs, resulting in rapid progress for all children. - The curriculum is carefully structured, promoting children's confidence, emotional well-being, and independence, preparing them for future learning. - Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is exemplary, with staff swiftly identifying gaps and working with parents and professionals to address them. - Staff support the development of children's communication, language, and early literacy skills highly effectively, constantly talking, singing, and reading with children, and weaving new vocabulary into play. Inspection #10399508 · Source: Ofsted [View full Ofsted report](https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50289957) ## What parents say Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection > Parents say children 'flourish' and that their 'confidence soars'. Inclusion & environment ## How they support every child SEND provision Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is exemplary. Staff swiftly identify any gaps in children's learning, and work tirelessly with parents and other professionals to address these. Leaders use additional funding innovatively to support children's individual needs, such as providing holiday sessions. Outdoor space Children develop impressive levels of physical skills and strength. Staff supervise younger children closely, such as when they move up and down safely on a wooden frame in the playroom. They encourage older children to solve problems for themselves while attempting to climb a 'spider's web' of ropes in the forest. Staff also ensure additional quiet areas are available for children outdoors as well as indoors. ## Parent Reviews of Mini Explorers Play School 5.0 (2) ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/ACg8ocJR8kgmF07072Qfno9lvZCan76Ci-aGXIfiJMFD5wC9wu2Nww=s128-c0x00000000-cc-rp-mo) matthew jarvis 2 years ago I can’t recommend this nursery enough. All the teachers are angels who I whole heartedly trust with the care of our children. Donna is so passionate about early learning and the effort is so clear to see in everything the nursery does. It’s not just parents that want the best for their children, mini explorers do too. Thank you. [Read on Google](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m6!14m5!1m4!2m3!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURKM0tubEJ3EAE!2m1!1s0x4879fdefd8fe2947:0x40a77ad556afa624) ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a-/ALV-UjUhMblvXdDEhOSrOtKeHJHTcBIocJD5rlo-zowh5IaNj9hbZwBC=s128-c0x00000000-cc-rp-mo-ba3) Katie Mccrea 4 years ago [Read on Google](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m6!14m5!1m4!2m3!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURxamNEaTNnRRAB!2m1!1s0x4879fdefd8fe2947:0x40a77ad556afa624) Reviews from Google for Mini Explorers Play School. [See all on Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=4658827396239042084&g_mp=CiVnb29nbGUubWFwcy5wbGFjZXMudjEuUGxhY2VzLkdldFBsYWNlEAIYBCAA) Inspection history Improved from Good → Outstanding in 2025 Date: January 2016 - September 2025 Outstanding - December 2019 Good - January 2016 Good ## Frequently asked about Mini Explorers Play School ### Does Mini Explorers Play School Ltd have an Ofsted rating? ### What outdoor space does Mini Explorers Play School Ltd have? ### What kind of childcare setting is Mini Explorers Play School Ltd? ### How are the fees structured at Mini Explorers Play School Ltd? ## Nearby day nurseries in IBSTOCK Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Mini Explorers Play School. - [ Ofsted: Good 0.5 mi ### Ibstock Nursery Ibstock · LE67 6NE ](/nursery/ibstock-nursery-le67-6ne-2674402) - [ Awaiting first inspection 0.7 mi ### The Early Years Academy Ibstock Ibstock · LE67 6LG ](/nursery/the-early-years-academy-ibstock-le67-6lg-2771383) - [ Ofsted: Good 0.8 mi ### Holmsdale Manor Nursery Ibstock · LE67 6JP ](/nursery/holmsdale-manor-nursery-le67-6jp-2640134) - [ Ofsted: Outstanding 1.4 mi ### Bilingual Day Nursery & Pre-school Ravenstone Coalville · LE67 2AH 5.0(28 reviews) ](/nursery/bilingual-day-nursery-pre-school-ravenstone-limited-le67-2ah-2654583) - [ Ofsted: Good 1.5 mi ### Ravenstone Pre-School Coalville · LE67 2AR ](/nursery/ravenstone-pre-school-le67-2ar-ey265148) - [ Ofsted: Good 1.8 mi ### Hugglescote Playgroup Coalville · LE67 2BQ ](/nursery/hugglescote-playgroup-le67-2bq-226216) [See all nurseries in IBSTOCK →](/search?q=IBSTOCK) ### Are you the owner of this nursery? 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