Little Brambles Nursery FAQs
Clear, practical answers about joining, settling in, daily life and funded childcare.
A Little Clarity Goes a Long Way
Every child and every family is different. These answers cover the essentials, while our team can talk through your preferred days, start date and any support your child may need.
Getting Started
Opening dates, ages, visits and how to begin your enquiry.
We will confirm our opening date directly with families as soon as it is agreed. If you have already registered your interest, we will keep you updated as preparations progress.
We plan to welcome babies from around three months old, after immunisation, through to children preparing for school. Children will spend time in rooms and experiences suited to their age and stage, with places subject to availability.
Please contact our team with your child’s name, date of birth, preferred start date and the days or sessions you are considering. We will discuss availability and explain the next steps. An enquiry is not a confirmed place until we have agreed this with you in writing.
Yes. We would be pleased to show you around, explain how the rooms will work and talk through your child’s routine. Select Book a Visit and send us your preferred date and time.
Our opening hours are Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6:00pm, excluding bank holidays. Session patterns and exact arrival and collection arrangements are agreed as part of each place.
Feeling at Home
Settling visits, key people, routines and keeping families connected.
We usually begin with short visits, build familiarity with the room, key person and increase time gently. We will ask about routines, comforters, interests and anything else that helps your child feel safe and happy. See our starting and settling-in guidance.
Yes. Every child will have a key person who gets to know them well, supports consistent care and builds a close relationship with parents and carers. Another familiar practitioner will also be available so care remains steady throughout the week.
Please bring clearly labelled spare clothes and weather-appropriate outdoor clothing. Depending on your child’s age and agreed routine, they may also need nappies, bottles or a familiar comfort item. Your welcome information will confirm exactly what to bring.
Days include child-led play, stories, songs, creative and sensory experiences, outdoor activity, meals and rest. Babies can follow their home routines as closely as practical, while older children gain confidence through familiar parts of the day.
Regular handovers and nursery updates will cover care, meals, sleep, interests, learning and memorable moments. We value two-way communication, so families can also tell us about changes at home that may affect their child’s day. We use Ovivio, the parental application, that will provide regular updates throughout the day.
Our baby suite offers a calm, nurturing home away from home, with a dedicated sleep room, changing area, separate milk kitchen and spacious play areas. Babies have space to rest, explore and grow, with familiar routines helping them feel safe and happy.
Learning Through Play
Curiosity, outdoor discovery, progress and preparation for school.
Yes. Our care and learning are guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for children from birth to five. At this age, learning is woven into play, conversation, movement, stories, creativity, relationships and everyday routines. Our Living Curriculum explains our approach.
Practitioners observe what children enjoy, what they can already do and what may help them next. Experiences are then adapted around those interests and needs, with space for children to lead their own play and make choices.
Yes. Our toddler and pre-school rooms open directly onto outdoor learning environments, helping children move between indoor and outdoor play. Our rooftop garden also gives children opportunities to grow fruit, vegetables and flowers, care for nature and explore. Outdoor experiences are adapted to each child’s age, confidence and the weather. Children will also explore the beautiful surroundings around Little Brambles.
Your child’s key person will share observations and progress with you through everyday conversations and planned reviews. Where the EYFS progress check at age two applies, we will work with you and provide the required written summary.
School readiness grows through confidence, communication, self-care, friendships, curiosity and a positive attitude to learning. We support these skills through play and daily routines, and work with families and receiving schools when the time comes.
Safe, Personal Care
Allergies, medicines, additional needs and secure nursery routines.
We will collect detailed information about allergies, intolerances, medical diets and cultural or religious requirements before your child starts. Where an allergy needs an individual plan or prescribed medication, we will agree the arrangements with you and follow relevant professional advice.
Our illness and medication policies will explain when children should remain at home and how prescribed medicines are managed. If your child becomes unwell at nursery, we will care for them, contact you promptly and follow emergency procedures if urgent medical help is needed.
Please speak with us as early as possible about your child’s needs, existing support and what works well at home. The key person and nursery team will work with your family and, where appropriate, other professionals to plan reasonable support and help your child take part in nursery life.
Safeguarding and wellbeing shape our rooms, routines and staff practice. We will follow current EYFS requirements, maintain appropriate staffing, use secure collection arrangements and keep clear procedures for safeguarding, first aid, accidents, medicines and emergencies. Read our nursery policies and safety guidance.
Yes. We will work with you so toilet learning is calm, consistent and appropriate for your child’s development. Please tell the key person what you are doing at home, and provide enough labelled spare clothes while your child is learning.
Yes. Our Nurture Room is available to every child throughout the day. It is a quiet, calming space to rest, share a story, reflect or enjoy a moment of peace, with support to understand and regulate emotions.
Understanding Funding
Clear guidance on funded hours, eligibility and nursery charges.
Yes. Little Brambles offers funded childcare subject to eligibility, availability and the attendance patterns available. Funded hours are free; families pay only for any additional private childcare and optional extras they choose.
Eligible working families in England may receive up to 30 funded hours a week for children aged from nine months to four years, usually over 38 weeks of the year. Eligibility and the date your entitlement starts depend on your circumstances and your child’s age.
All three and four-year-olds in England can receive 570 funded hours a year, commonly taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks. The entitlement normally begins from the term after the child’s third birthday.
Apply through the government childcare service, give the nursery your valid eligibility code and complete any information we need before the local deadline. Working-parent eligibility normally needs to be reconfirmed every three months. Check the current rules on GOV.UK.
A stretched arrangement may be available, using fewer funded hours each week over more weeks of the year. This depends on the session pattern and places available, so please discuss your preferred attendance with us.
Fees depend on the sessions booked, your child’s age and any funded entitlement. Before you accept a place, we will provide written fee information explaining what is included, any optional extras, payment dates, notice periods, absences and closures. See our current nursery fees.
Still Have a Question?
Our team is here to help with questions about your child, sessions and next steps.