Open all year round
Open 7.30am - 6.30pm
Ofsted Outstanding
Outdoor learning
At Small Friends Day Nursery, we offer a nurturing and stimulating environment where your child can truly flourish. Conveniently located in Leigh-on-Sea, our day nursery provides a warm and welcoming atmosphere designed to support your child’s growth, learning, and play. At the heart of our approach is a deep commitment to your child’s happiness and well-being. Our dedicated team of early years educators fosters a caring and supportive environment that promotes emotional and social development, ensuring that every child feels valued, inspired, and ready to explore the world around them.
Our nursery offers a home-from-home experience where personal connections and relationships are cherished. We focus on building strong bonds between our team and your child, as well as encouraging meaningful friendships among the children in our care.
In addition to our inviting indoor spaces, we are proud to make the most of our outdoor facilities, including our vibrant nursery garden and the nearby Bell Wharf Beach. The garden provides a fantastic setting for children to connect with nature through investigative play and creative activities.
Our beach outings to Old Leigh Beach further enrich their experiences, offering unique opportunities for exploration, sensory play, and fostering a love for the outdoors. These visits to the beach help children develop social skills, build confidence, and encourage curiosity as they discover the natural world.
With our thoughtful blend of indoor and outdoor experiences, we aim to provide a well-rounded and engaging environment that supports your child’s development in every way. As part of our preparation for school, we also focus on building key skills and readiness for the next stage of their learning journey, ensuring they are confident and excited as they transition to primary school.
View Ofsted report
The Brighter Learning Approach (BLA) is unique to The Old Station Nursery group and is our advanced approach to the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and core pedagogy. It differs from traditional nursery teaching methods by providing real-life opportunities to enhance children’s natural curiosity, with emphasis on hands-on experiences, child-led learning, and whole development.
The six core areas promote active engagement and critical thinking whilst encouraging exploration, creativity, and collaboration. Each child learns at their own pace and is challenged and extended at appropriate times.
The best place to see the BLA in action is via our local nursery Facebook page, where each post explains which part of the curriculum the children are working on. Our parents also receive updates on the Parent App too.
Championing children's holistic health and laying the foundations for a happy, healthy and successful life.
Helping the future generation of global citizens to understand the world they live in and to believe they can make a difference.
Enabling early experiences in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM). Nurturing our next generation of investigators, inventors and innovators.
Enticing children to develop a life-long love of books and reading through engaging and interactive storytelling experiences. Building strong literacy skills while sparking imagination and creativity.
Engaging children in meaningful mathematical learning. Developing knowledge, building skills and exploring concepts, through purposeful play and plenty of practice.
Developing confident communicators by engaging in quality conversations with children every day, in a language rich and communication friendly environment.
Activities at our Small Friends Day Nursery free-flow between indoor and outdoor learning, making the most of our outdoor classroom whenever we can.
We hold numerous extra clubs throughout the week that enhance our Brighter Learning Approach which is our bespoke version of the Early Years Statutory Framework.
Our children love nothing more than when the team calls time for meal preparation or works with the children to produce a teatime dessert or baking morning. The children learn so much in these activities including measuring, counting skills and following instructions.
With the aid of a ‘cool touch’ oven, child-safe equipment and the children’s chef’s hats and aprons we follow a set curriculum to learn about the joys of cooking.
Come rain or shine, we tend our vegetable plots, teaching the children about the different stages of growth cycles and exploring the different tastes and textures of the produce.
As Budding gardeners, children learn about the environment and gain lifelong sustainable growing skills and enjoyment, which they will carry with them throughout their lives.
At Small Friends Day Nursery, our Budding Movers dive into a variety of activities including dance, sports, and beyond.
These engaging experiences are adored by both children and practitioners, seamlessly integrating movement with structured learning to enhance coordination, build confidence, and foster a sense of joy at nursery.
Children learn so much during their early years and take great joy in exploring the world around them. At our nursery they’re immersed into the world of Science through age appropriate hands-on experiments and activities designed to spark their curiosity.
At Small Friends Day Nursery, Budding Artists are encouraged to explore their creativity through activities such as painting, drawing, and crafts.
With a host of resources available, children are encouraged to experiment with colours and textures, and create imaginative masterpieces that showcase their unique talents.
Budding musicians can explore different instruments at Small Friends Day Nursery, as well as enjoying rhythmic games, and participating in interactive sing-along sessions.
They’ll discover the joy of creating melodies, understanding beats, and expressing themselves through music.
Each activity is carefully crafted to inspire a love for music and develop their auditory skills in a fun and engaging environment.
Our nursery group is passionate about the link between home and nursery; the nursery experience is as much about the parent as it is for the child. Small Friends Day Nursery commits to verbally updating you about your child’s day at pick-up time and via digital updates on the parent App. We are here at any time should you wish to call us or want to discuss any area of your child’s care. We aim to look after our parents as well as our children so you can carry on with your day, work and career with a sense of peace.
First and foremost, you and we need to know that your child is safe. Before we can deliver the excellent curriculum that makes our nurseries so special, robust policies and procedures are followed to meet the exacting standards of Ofsted, building and fire regulations, food safety standards and staff DBS background checks and references.
Our staff are trained in numerous areas and we offer further training opportunities for staff who have an interest in a particular area.
For example, some of our nurseries have attained Millie’s Mark, an accreditation gained by having 100% of staff on site trained in paediatric first aid.
Nutritious hot meals are prepared on-site at Small Friends Day Nursery by our cook and menus are rotated every three weeks. Good nutrition is essential during childhood as it is a time of rapid growth, development and activity.
Our chefs are trained using the Eatwell NHS guidelines to ensure mealtimes are delicious, packed with good things that enjoyable for children to eat.
Every child has a nursery key person who knows them best and who will be the child and parent’s main contact. Your key person at our nursery will update you about your child’s day and is there to answer your questions.
When your child moves to the next age group room, we hold several settling sessions with a new nursery key person.
We encourage our parents to view the new room too, and we will work with you to discuss the new routines, just like we did when you first started nursery.
It is wonderful to nurture and see our children graduate to primary school. Part of the unique offering at our nurseries is our focus on the next stage of your child’s learning journey. We prepare the children through school activities, teacher meet and greets and graduation ceremonies. Our commitment is to support our parents too by providing child learning journey updates, parents evenings or one-to-ones and home link learning kits to enhance the link between nursery and home.
When our children leave us in June, July, August and September the term before joining primary school, each family will receive a £30 Clarks voucher to help towards your child’s first pair of school shoes. It’s our way of saying thank you for being part of our nursery family.
All our nurseries follow the Brighter Learning Approach, our bespoke version of the Early Years Statutory Framework. Within this, each nursery chooses extra clubs, activities, and enhancements suitable for their space.
Small Friends Day Nursery enjoys multiple clubs including Budding Gardeners, Movers, Artists, Scientists, Chefs, Musicians and Teddy Football.
We also hold open days where parents and carers are encouraged to come along and meet other parents to build their own personal friendships and networks ahead of primary school.
Small Friends Day Nursery commits to providing a simple fee structure so you can manage your nursery costs.
At this nursery, we provide private and government-funded sessions for eligible parents. Contact us for the nursery fee that is correct for your individual circumstances.
Our Toddler Room is a stimulating space for our youngest explorers. Here, children from 22 months to 3 years-old engage in hands-on sensory activities that lay the foundation for future learning. From exploring textures in our sensory bins to experimenting with water play, every activity is designed to spark curiosity and build foundational skills.
We also offer a cosy nap area where children can rest and recharge. With access to our secure garden, children can develop physical skills through climbing, balancing, and imaginative outdoor play.
Group activities and story times help build early literacy and social skills, while outdoor play in our garden encourages gross motor development and teamwork and this room fosters a sense of independence and curiosity, essential for a smooth transition to the next stage of their education.
In our larger Pre-School room, this is where children from 3 to 5 years-old can let their creativity soar. This space is filled with opportunities for role play, dramatic play, and collaborative projects that enhance problem-solving and social interaction.
Children engage in structured learning activities that include pre-writing exercises, number games, and early literacy skills designed to prepare them for school.
The room also features access to our beach house where children can explore sand, water, and imaginative play environments. This combination of structured learning and creative exploration helps children develop the skills and confidence they need for school.
Our Pre-School room offers a balanced schedule of structured learning and free play with activities including art projects, interactive story sessions, and math and literacy games that align with early school curriculum standards.
Children engage in group discussions and collaborative projects that build critical thinking and communication skills. Our large outdoor area features vegetable gardens and space for imaginative play, where children can apply their learning in a real-world context and develop a love for nature.
Our garden is a vibrant, natural space where children can explore and learn through play. The garden includes a variety of plant life, a sandpit, and a play structure that encourage physical activity and environmental awareness.
The beach house at Small Friends Day Nursery offers a unique space for imaginative play, with sand, water tables, and themed play areas that stimulate creativity and exploration. Together, these outdoor environments provide rich, hands-on experiences that complement our indoor learning activities.
At Small Friends Day Nursery, we are dedicated to creating a nurturing environment where every child can thrive. Through our carefully designed rooms and engaging outdoor spaces, we prepare our little ones for school and beyond, fostering a love of learning and discovery that will support them throughout their educational journey.
Time: 9am – 11am
Looking for the perfect start to your child’s early years? Come along to our Open Day and discover what makes our nursery a warm, nurturing, and inspiring place for little ones to learn, play, and grow.
Meet our friendly team, explore our engaging facilities, and learn about our tailored approach to early childhood education. Whether it’s our creative activities, outdoor play areas, or focus on individual development, we’re excited to share how we can support your child’s unique journey. Contact us today to book a time slot.
"Small Friends is a wonderful nursery in the heart of Leigh-on-Sea with a highly qualified, dedicated, and caring staff. Our friendly team will support and encourage your child to learn, develop and flourish whilst in our care."
Julie Rayner, Nursery Manager at Small Friends Day Nursery
A massive shoutout to the wonderful team at Small Friends Day Nursery for being finalists in the Nursery...
Small Friends Day Nursery Achieves Outstanding Ofsted Report, Providing Exceptional Care and Education.
The Old Station Nursery Group is delighted to welcome Small Friends Day Nursery to their growing family.
Please note that this is not a confirmation of your tour. One of our nursery team will endeavour to get back to you ASAP to confirm your date and time. Thank you.
If you are looking to arrange a tour within the next 48 hours, we recommend calling the nursery directly.
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