Little Hands Daycare

We know that starting nursery can bring lots of excitement - and a few nerves too! As part of our Big Futures Curriculum, we support children to develop confidence, independence, resilience and a strong sense of belonging from the very beginning. 💛

Here are a few simple ways families can help make the transition smoother:
✨ Talk positively about nursery and what your child can expect.
✨ Practice little routines at home, such as putting on their coat or carrying their own bag.
✨ Visit nursery together for family workshops and talk about your experience
✨ Bring a favourite comfort item if your child finds this reassuring.
✨ Most importantly, trust the process - it’s completely normal for children (and parents!) to need time to settle.
✨ Tell us all about your child – Please take some time to complete the “All About Me” section on the EYparent app. This gives you the opportunity to share your child’s interests, personality, routines, comfort cues, favourite things and anything else that helps us get to know them. Our team can use this information during Stay & Plays and throughout your child’s journey with us, helping us tailor their experiences to them and create that important sense of belonging from day one.

🍼 For breastfeeding families – If you choose to express breast milk, practising with bottles or your chosen feeding method at home before your child starts can help your baby become familiar with a different way of drinking, making the transition to nursery a little smoother and more comfortable.

🌙 For children who co-sleep or are rocked to sleep – You may wish to gently introduce other ways of settling, such as cuddles, reassurance or settling in their own sleep space. This can help them become familiar with different ways of falling asleep while still keeping the routines that work for your family at home.

✨Most importantly, we’re here to work with you. The more we know about your child, the more we can make their experiences meaningful, nurturing and individual to them.

Together, we’re building big futures - and creating a sense of belonging from the very beginning.

What a special time we’ve had celebrating our wonderful leavers at Little Hands Daycare as they graduate and begin their next exciting chapter!

Our HoW College Graduation celebration was filled with special memories, smiles and lots of fun. We invited families to join us as we looked back at photos from throughout the year, shared favourite nursery experiences and created special handprint keepsakes to remember just how little their hands once were.

The children enjoyed dressing up in their caps and gowns for our graduation photo booth, taking part in activities, developing their skills through play and finishing the celebrations with a lovely tea party.

We then came together for the special graduation ceremony, where each child received their very own certificate and we celebrated everything they have achieved during their time with us.

While we're sad to say goodbye, we're incredibly proud of each and every one of them and can't wait to see where their Big Futures take them next! 🎓💛

This week, we're shining a spotlight on our wonderful Kaushi, who works with our Little Investigators.

Here's what Kaushi loves most about her role:

🌱 Watching children grow and develop - "It's so special to see the little milestones every day and watch each child become more confident as they learn and explore."

🎶 Singing together - "One of my favourite songs to sing with the children is It's a Windy Day, I Want to Play by the Sea. It reminds me of how amazing the outdoor world is and brings back happy holiday memories. I love seeing the children join in with the actions and smiles!"

💬 Building trusting relationships – "I love talking with the children and seeing them interact back with me. Creating warm, trusting relationships helps every child feel safe, happy, and confident to explore their world."

We are so lucky to have you as part of our team Kaushi! 💕

A quick reminder for families using funded childcare hours.

If you're using funded childcare from September 2026, please make sure your funding code has been applied for or reconfirmed by 31st August 2026 to ensure your funding continues without interruption.

If you have any questions or need any support, our team is always happy to help. 🌟

At Little Hands, wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do. Our regular yoga sessions give children the opportunity to slow down, move their bodies, practise deep breathing and take a moment to pause.

These calming experiences support children as they begin to recognise and regulate their emotions, helping them develop self-awareness, confidence and resilience. Taking part alongside a familiar and trusted adult also helps children feel safe and secure as they explore different ways to relax and manage their feelings.

Through movement, mindfulness and connection, we’re nurturing happy, healthy minds and creating calm, supportive environments where every child can thrive. 🌱💛

Our thoughts are with the families and members of our local community who have been affected by the recent fires. We know this will be an incredibly difficult and worrying time for those involved, and our hearts truly go out to everyone impacted.

As a Little Hands family, we believe in looking after and supporting the communities around us. Our Central Team have made donations on behalf of Little Hands Daycare to help support those affected and contribute where we can.

We’re thinking of all the families, individuals and local services who have been impacted, and sending our love and support during this difficult time.

Together, we can support our community when it needs us most. 🫶🏼

Who says learning has to stop when the temperatures rise? At Little Hands, we've been making the most of the sunshine with exciting outdoor experiences designed to keep children cool while continuing to learn through play. ☀️

From icy sensory investigations and water painting to splash-filled number games, nature scavenger hunts in the shade and refreshing water play, our children have been exploring, creating, problem-solving and building friendships, all while enjoying the summer sunshine.

Outdoor learning provides endless opportunities to develop communication, physical skills, creativity and confidence. By embracing the changing seasons and following children's interests, we create meaningful experiences that support every aspect of their development.

There's still time to share the Little Hands experience with friends and family!

Recommend a new family to any Little Hands Daycare Group nursery, and if they enrol, you'll receive a £100 nursery fee credit.

☀️ Available across all four Little Hands nurseries
☀️ £100 nursery fee credit
☀️ Minimum booking of 2 full days per week
☀️ Offer ends 31st August 2026

Simply ask your friend to mention your name when they enquire.

Don't miss out – our summer referral offer ends soon!

📚✨ Happy Book Lovers Day! ✨📚

At Little Hands, we love sharing the joy of stories with our children. Reading sparks imagination, builds language, and creates special moments that children will remember for years to come.
To celebrate Book Lovers Day, we asked some of the children in our Little Innovators and Little Inventors rooms what they love most about books...

💬 "It makes me happy to read a book. My Mummy is good at reading books."
💬 "I read books with my Nanny. She has birdy books."

We also chatted about some of our favourite stories at nursery. One book the children especially enjoy is ‘Getting to Know Penguins’! 🐧 The children love exploring the beautiful illustrations, talking about where penguins live and what the weather is like. One child loved the penguins' colours, while another asked lots of thoughtful questions that inspired an exciting ice play activity afterwards. We even sing our favourite penguin song as we read and waddle, jump and bounce around just like penguins!

These lovely conversations remind us that books inspire so much more than reading. They spark questions, encourage movement, inspire imaginative play and help children make sense of the world around them.

What's your child's favourite story to read together? We'd love to hear in the comments! 📖

We're incredibly proud to celebrate our staff members who have successfully completed their Level 3 Early Years qualification, all achieving an outstanding Distinction! 🌟

This is a fantastic achievement and a true reflection of the hard work, commitment and passion they bring to early years education every single day. Their dedication to learning and professional development helps ensure we continue to provide the very best experiences for the children and families in our care.

Well done to each of you - you should be so proud of everything you've achieved. We certainly are!