Small Friends Children's Day Nursery
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Leigh-On-Sea for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in May 2022. Open since 2002, with 60 places.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
SS9 2HAWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 25 May 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children absolutely thrive and flourish in this inclusive, loving nursery. They embrace each other's similarities and differences and show a deep understanding of how they can include and help their friends. For example, to communicate with sign language. Children form unbreakable bonds with staff and each other. They show extremely high levels of social skills and empathy for their ages. For example, children ask each other if they have food on their faces. They caringly tell each other if they have and when they have rubbed it all off.
Children benefit from a curriculum that completely encompasses and values their ideas and opinions. For example, children chose to have a pretend play café. This led to activities, such as writing food orders, food tasting and fruit painting, all ideas from the children and led by the children. Children are independent learners.
They embrace new knowledge and implement it into their play with the help of extremely skilled staff. Children acquire excellent communication and language skills. They confidently rhyme words, such as cow and how. They develop a strong love of reading, confidently recalling stories and making up their own.
- 25 May 2022Outstanding
- 22 July 2015Outstanding
- 3 June 2010Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Small Friends Children's Day Nursery
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.