Little Explorers Day Nursery

28/09/2026

🎉💚 WE'VE BEEN KEEPING A SECRET... BUT NOW THE SECRET'S OUT! 💚🎉

Back on 26th August 2026 Ofsted came to visit Little Explorers Day Nursery for our inspection, and we've been patiently waiting to share the news...

🥁 DRUM ROLL PLEASE... 🥁

💚💚💚 LITTLE EXPLORERS ACHIEVED STRONG STANDARD IN ALL AREAS! 💚💚💚

This is a fantastic achievement for the whole team, especially as Ofsted's inspection framework and ratings have recently changed. We couldn't be prouder of what has been recognised.

Here are just some of the wonderful things Ofsted had to say:

💚 Children benefit from support for their learning, wellbeing and development through meaningful relationships, engaging experiences and high-quality care from dedicated staff.

💚 Inspectors recognised the consistently strong practice seen throughout the nursery and the positive experiences children receive every day.

💚 A particular strength of the nursery is the proactive, dedicated and knowledgeable leadership team. Leaders have the highest expectations of themselves and their staff, with a clear vision focused on prioritising the welfare of all children and families, ensuring everyone works together towards the same goal.

💚 Strong bonds between staff and children were highlighted, with children described as feeling safe, secure and happy in our nursery environment.

💚 The welcoming atmosphere created by staff was praised, ensuring every child feels valued and encouraged to grow in confidence.

💚 Safeguarding was identified as a key strength, with inspectors recognising a culture where keeping children safe is everyone's responsibility.

💚 Staff were commended for their knowledge, commitment and dedication to ensuring children feel protected, supported and heard.

💚 Children's independence and enthusiasm for learning were celebrated, with inspectors observing children confidently managing daily routines, serving their own food and embracing new experiences with curiosity and confidence.

💚 Positive attitudes, listening skills and behaviour were recognised throughout the report.

❤️ Our Nursery Manager, Lizzie Green, said:

"We are delighted that inspectors recognised the dedication, passion and commitment of our entire team. At Little Explorers, we are passionate about creating an environment where children feel safe, valued and inspired to thrive. Through our holistic approach to early years provision, we focus on supporting every aspect of a child's development, ensuring they receive the care, encouragement and opportunities they need to reach their full potential."

"Everything we do is focused on helping children feel safe, happy and confident while giving them the best possible start in life."

"This report reflects the hard work of our staff, the support of our families and, most importantly, the enthusiasm and achievements of our wonderful children."

She added:

"We would also like to thank our families for the trust they place in us. Working together in partnership is a key part of what makes Little Explorers such a special place, and we look forward to continuing to provide outstanding experiences for the children in our care."

A huge thank you to our amazing staff team, wonderful children and supportive families. This achievement belongs to all of you. 💚

Now it's time to celebrate this fantastic achievement together! 🥳🎉

Ofsted report click the link below 👇

https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2828473

💚🌟

25/09/2026

🍂 Our Baby Autumn Explorers 🍂
Armed with eagle eyes and lots of enthusiasm, our Babies set off on an autumn treasure hunt! We collected conkers and discovered a wonderful variety of leaves along the way. There was plenty of exploring, investigating, using language around the different colours, shapes and textures we found. 🍁
Not ones to stop at simply collecting treasures, we decided to extend our learning with a visit to our local basketball court! 🏀 Our babies had great fun testing out their throwing skills, using the conkers as their very own basketballs. There were lots of giggles as we watched them bounce, roll and occasionally make a break for freedom in completely unexpected directions!
The autumn fun continued back at nursery, where the children helped to wash and clean pumpkins ready for exploring.
By exploring our local environment and taking part in hands-on seasonal activities, the children were developing their physical skills, hand-eye coordination, curiosity and early problem-solving skills while learning through play. It was the perfect Autumn morning 💚🍂🎃

22/09/2026

🎨🍕 Art Inspires Pizza! 🍕🎨

This morning, our preschool children became artists, chefs and pizza makers all in one!

We gathered together to explore one of Kandinsky's colourful paintings, looking closely at the shapes and circles we could spot. As we shared our ideas, the children decided that the artwork looked a little bit like a pizza... and that gave us a wonderful idea!

Inspired by Kandinsky's use of circles and shapes, we created our very own pizzas. The children carefully cut out circles of cheese and ham, talked about the ingredients we needed, and excitedly discussed each step of the pizza-making process.

To make the experience even more special, we transformed our room into a little Italian pizzeria with music playing in the background. The room was filled with laughter, creativity and lots of enthusiastic cries of "Pizzeria!" as the children immersed themselves in their imaginative play.

Once our pizzas were ready, we carefully carried them through the corridor to deliver them to Cate in the kitchen. Along the way, our cheerful chants of "Pizzeria!" continued, with Lizzie and Nicky happily joining in the fun, turning a simple walk into a joyful celebration.

The excitement didn't stop there! When our pizzas had been cooked, the children took them outside to the field where they enjoyed them for their tea in the fresh air. Sitting together, sharing conversations and proudly eating the pizzas they had helped to create made for a wonderful end to a fun-filled day of creativity, imagination and learning.

What a fantastic way to combine art, creativity, language, imagination, teamwork and a delicious outdoor tea into one memorable learning experience! 🍕❤️

11/09/2026

Our Preschool have enjoyed an adventurous day at Eureka!. We hopped on the train... then another train... and maybe even another train (we lost count after a while! 😂) before arriving at Eureka! ready for a day full of adventure.

We spent the whole day exploring, investigating, creating, and getting completely stuck into everything Eureka! has to offer. From hands-on activities to imaginative play, there was excitement around every corner.

Our Preschooler's were absolutely amazing throughout the day. Their curiosity, enthusiasm, kindness and brilliant listening made us so proud. They represented Little Explorers beautifully and embraced every opportunity with huge smiles and endless excitement.

Parents... just a little warning: if your child now insists they're a scientist, shopkeeper, engineer, doctor, artist and train expert all at once, we're afraid Eureka! may be responsible.

What a fantastic day filled with learning, laughter and memories. Our Little Explorers truly made the most of every moment. Now the big question is... where will our adventures take us next?

27/08/2026

💚A Message to Our Wonderful Families 💚
We are absolutely delighted to share that our Ofsted grading inspection took place yesterday, and what a wonderful experience it was!
The inspection was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our amazing children, dedicated team, and the warm, nurturing environment that makes our nursery such a special place. We couldn't be prouder of everyone involved.
While we are not yet able to share the official grading outcome, we can say that we are very, very, very, very, happy with the result and are eagerly awaiting the final report. We expect to receive this within the next 15 days and will share the details with you as soon as we are able.
We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the parents and families who took the time to contribute your feedback and speak so positively about your experiences with us. Your support, kind words, and partnership mean so much and played an important part in helping us tell the story of our nursery.
Thank you for being such a valued part of our nursery community. We are incredibly grateful for your continued trust and support and look forward to sharing the official report with you very soon.

03/08/2026

🍂🕯️ Calling All Early Years Practitioners 🕯️🍂

Are you the kind of practitioner who believes a rainy day is perfect for blanket dens and story time? 📚

Do you get excited about loose parts, muddy puddles and creating magical moments from cardboard boxes? 🍁✨

Can you sing "What's the Weather?" for the 147th time and still bring Oscar-worthy enthusiasm? 🎭😂

If so, we might have the perfect spot for you!

We're looking for someone who can:
🤎 Create calm, nurturing spaces where children feel safe and loved
🕯️ Embrace all things hygge, cosy corners, twinkly lights and meaningful moments
🍂 Value curiosity over perfection
🎨 Turn everyday experiences into unforgettable adventures

In return you'll get:
✨ to work with the most wonderful children and families
✨ A supportive team
✨ Plenty of laughter
✨ The chance to make a real difference every single day
✨ Salary: £25,620 - £25,989 pro rata
✨ 27.5 hours per week, permanent contract

Because in Early Years, the best days aren't always the busiest. Sometimes they're spent wrapped in blankets, sharing stories, watching children's imaginations light up brighter than the fairy lights. 💫

Warning: Side effects of this role may include finding pinecones in your pockets, singing nursery rhymes in the supermarket and becoming strangely obsessed with fairy lights. 😂🍂🕯️✨

📩 Apply now and join us in creating a little bit of hygge magic every day.

https://nycjobs.engageats.co.uk/Vacancies/W/2544/0/472579/23460/early-years-practitioner

Little Explorers Day Nursery is seeking a caring, enthusiastic Early Years Practitioner to join our friendly and dedicated team. We are an Ofsted‑registered setting providing high‑quality early years education and childcare for children from birth to preschool age.

17/07/2026

✨ Come and take a peek at some of our most treasured moments throughout the day. ✨

From our tiniest babies to our energetic toddlers and curious preschoolers, our Little Explorers love gathering for story time and circle time.

These special moments are filled with laughter, imagination, friendship, and a wonderful sense of belonging. As we share stories, songs, and conversations, children build confidence, develop their communication skills, and create meaningful connections with their friends and practitioners.

At Little Explorers we understand that every child is unique, which is why participation is always encouraged but never forced. Some children love to jump right in, while others prefer to watch, listen, and join when they feel ready. We celebrate and support every child's individual journey, helping them feel safe, valued, and confident in their own way.

It's amazing how much learning happens when we simply share a story, sing a song, or sit together as a group. ❤️📚✨

26/06/2026

🌟 Little Explorers: Where Magic, Maths… and a Bit of DIY Genius Happens! 🌟

We’ve had a very busy time at Little Explorers lately and honestly, we couldn’t be prouder of our amazing team (and extended team! 😉).
First and foremost, we want to say a huge, heartfelt THANK YOU to Helena and her wonderful Grandad Fred 🪵💚
What started as needing to cut back the willow tree turned into something truly special. With creativity, patience, and a real commitment to sustainability, Helena and Grandad Fred have worked incredibly hard to transform the leftover wood into the most beautiful natural maths resources for our children.
The time, care, and love that has gone into these resources is just amazing and it really shows. They’ve not just made learning materials… they’ve created something meaningful for our Little Explorers to use, enjoy, and learn from every day. 🌿✨
We are so grateful for everything you’ve done your kindness, effort, and resourcefulness have made a real difference. Thank you both so much you are absolute superstars! 💫
(And yes… Carol Vorderman, you might want to watch this space… our Little Explorers are coming for you! ➕➖😂)
Of course, no great project is complete without teamwork… and Liz our cleaner certainly didn’t stay on the sidelines! She got stuck in chopping wood like a pro 💪—proving she’s not just amazing at keeping everything spotless, but also a total team player (and possibly our new resident lumberjack! 😂).
Team work really does make the dream work!

And we’re not done celebrating yet…
🎉 Nicky – Passed her Level 3 Early Years qualification with a DISTINCTION!
Working full time AND caring for her family… we are in awe. Incredible achievement! 🙌
🎓 Millie – Achieved a First Class Honours degree in Early Childhood Studies!
An amazing accomplishment, and we love that she still comes back to Little Explorers to support us in the holidays. 🌟
📚 Carley – Has secured a place on the highly competitive DfE SENCo course!
A huge achievement and a big commitment—especially alongside a busy family life. We’re so proud! 💚

So much happens behind the scenes at Little Explorers—whether it’s creating resources, learning new skills, or pushing ourselves to be even better every day.
To Helena and Grandad Fred especially—thank you again. Your hard work and generosity mean so much to us and to all of our Little Explorers. 💚

09/04/2026

💚Parents, we’ve got NEW resources… and they’re absolute game‑changers!

We know parenting comes with many questions like “Why won’t my child use the potty?”, “Is three hours of Peppa Pig too much?”, and “What even IS school readiness?”

Good news… we’ve got you.

🚽 Potty Training Guide – Starting Reception
https://startingreception.co.uk/potty-training/

Because nothing says “I’m ready for big school” like finally retiring the nappies.

📱 Screen Time Guidance for Under‑5s (GOV.UK)
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-screen-time-guidance-for-parents-of-under-5s

Helpful advice for when you’re wondering if CBeebies counts as a co‑parent.

🌱 Best Start in Life
https://beststartinlife.gov.uk/

A brilliant one‑stop shop for everything from funding and healthy eating to school readiness. Basically, it’s the website we all wish existed when we first became parents.

At Little Explorers, we’re all about giving you the best support possible and making the early years feel a little less like guesswork and a little more like “Okay, I’ve got this.”

You’ve got this. And we’ve got you. 💚

Potty training is an important milestone in your child’s development. We understand that all children develop at their own pace, but research shows it’s best for your child’s bowel and bladder health to stop using nappies, including reusable nappies, pull ups and training pants, between 18 and...

08/04/2026

🌿 We’re Hiring: Level 3 Early Years Practitioner 🌿

Are you a warm, reflective and child‑centred practitioner who believes in slowing down, connecting with nature and creating truly meaningful moments for children?
We are looking for a Level 3 Early Years Practitioner to join our hygge‑inspired nursery, where calm spaces, outdoor adventures and nurturing relationships are at the heart of everything we do.
What we offer
💚A cosy, home‑from‑home environment rooted in hygge principles
💚A strong focus on wellbeing, connection and child‑led exploration
💚Beautiful natural resources and outdoor learning every day
💚A supportive, values‑driven team who care deeply about early childhood

Benefits

⭐️ All bank holidays off
⭐️ One week off at Christmas
⭐️ Hourly rate starting at £12.85 rising to £13.47
⭐️ Local Government Pension Scheme with employer contribution
⭐️ Free gym and swim membership at the Active North Yorkshire, Harrogate District sites.
⭐️ Generous annual leave entitlement
⭐️ High street discounts
To apply please click on the link below

https://nycjobs.engageats.co.uk/Vacancies/I/4626/0/465616/23460/nursery-practitioner