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Day nursery in St Helens

Small Wonders Day Care Nursery (lea Green)

Good★ 3.9 on GoogleBirth to 8+Long established

A day nursery in St Helens for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2024. Open since 2017, with 156 places.

Call 01744 633144Their website

The basics

Places, hours and the day

Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.

Who they can take
Birth to 8+Registered from birth. Whether there is a baby room is a question for the call.
When it's open
07:30 to 18:00, 5 days a weekFrom their Google listing
Funded hours
Not published, so ask them
Google rating
3.9 out of 5From 7 Google reviews. NurseryWise has none of its own.
How many children
156 placesVery large for England
How long open
10 yearsLong established
Address
Small Wonders, 15 Chester Lane, St Helens, WA9 4DA

Where it is

WA9 4DA
Ofsted URN EY542306On the register since 17 January 2017
Ofsted

What 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, 2 May 2024 · read the full report

What it is like to attend

Well-qualified and experienced staff welcome children into this safe and inclusive setting. The acting manager has embedded a robust key-person system which helps staff to build strong and caring relationships with children. Babies happily reach their arms out to familiar staff, while older children skip into their rooms, eager to see staff and their friends. The enthusiastic and dedicated acting manager has a clear ambition for all children to succeed. She plans the curriculum with a focus on communication and language. Staff continuously model good conversations and they build on children's language during play. Children in preschool use complex words. For example, staff introduce words such as 'solution' as they help children to make up a story. They help children to think about what this word means. Children build a wide vocabulary and they hold increasingly detailed conversations. This prepares them well for their transition to school.

The acting manager has high aspirations for all children. She works tirelessly to ensure that all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), benefit from the full curriculum. For example, in partnership with other professionals, the acting manager made changes to the outdoor area. As a result, all children can safely access and benefit from the outdoor learning environment. Children, including those with SEND, make good progress.

What Ofsted told them to improve

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:

- support staff to plan learning experiences that encourage all children to remain focused and develop high levels of involvement and engagement.

  • 2 May 2024Good
  • 6 June 2018Good

Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.

Still missing for Small Wonders Day Care Nursery (lea Green)

  • 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.

Before you ring

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.
Compare

Day nurseries within a couple of miles

This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.

Little Journeys Day Nursery

Day nursery · Sutton Cricket Club, 168a New Street, St. Helens, WA9 3UU

GoodBirth to 8+06:00 to 18:00, 7 days a week36 placesLong established
0.5 mi
10 min walk
07956260127

Portico

Day nursery · 106 Mere Grange, Leaside, St Helens, WA9 5GG

Report card Dec 2025Birth to 8+07:30 to 18:00, 5 days a week118 placesLong established
0.7 mi
14 min walk
01744 833777Their website

Small Wonders

Day nursery · Sutton Road, Peasley Cross, St Helens, WA9 3BN

GoodBirth to 8+07:30 to 18:00, 5 days a week★ 5.0 Google, 6110 placesLong established
1.4 mi
4 min drive
01744759768Their website

Portico Poppets

Day nursery · 1 Leicester Street, Thatto Heath, St. Helens, WA9 5QH

OutstandingBirth to 8+07:30 to 18:00, 5 days a week50 placesOpen for decades
1.6 mi
4 min drive
01744 811112Their website

Pick two or three to compare.

Everything here comes from Ofsted's published childcare register, under the Open Government Licence. Ratings are quoted exactly as Ofsted gave them, with their dates. Read the full Ofsted reports · How we put this together.

All childcare in St Helens