Answers that put your parenting questions at ease

Precious Tots is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 am–6:00 pm, all year round. We close only on standard UK Bank Holidays and for one week over Christmas to allow deep cleaning and staff training. Fees remain payable during those closures, as staffing and overheads continue. Our flexible booking allows full-time or part-time attendance, with a minimum of three sessions per week (babies under two must attend full days to maintain routine continuity).

Before your official start date we invite you and your little one for a series of short, gradual visits spread over five days. These sessions allow your child to explore the room, meet their key person and become familiar with our routine while you share important care information with staff. We gently extend the time spent without parents each day, so by the end of the week most children are confident, happy and ready for full sessions.

Yes. Our in-house cook prepares fresh, balanced breakfast, lunch, tea and snacks each day using seasonal produce. Menus are planned to meet the Early Years nutrition guidelines and are displayed weekly for parents. We cater for allergies, intolerances, cultural or religious requirements—simply note the details on your registration forms and discuss them with the team. Fresh drinking water is always available and we involve children in mealtime routines to promote good manners and healthy eating habits.

All room leaders are Level 3 qualified in Early Years Education, with many holding Level 5 diplomas or degrees in childhood studies. Every team member undergoes enhanced DBS checks, regular safeguarding and SEND training, and at least 60 per cent are Paediatric First Aid certified at any one time—well above statutory requirements. We invest in continuous professional development through external courses, in-house mentoring and annual performance reviews to ensure teaching practice remains current, engaging and fully aligned with the EYFS.

Absolutely. We accept 15- and 30-hour government funding for eligible two, three and four-year-olds, along with all major childcare voucher schemes and tax-free childcare payments. Funded hours are delivered during our standard opening times and can be used against full-day or half-day sessions, subject to availability and minimum booking patterns. Any additional hours, meals or consumables not covered by the grant are charged at our standard rates. Our office team will guide you through the paperwork.

Please pack a labelled bag containing at least one full change of clothes, nappies, wipes, nappy cream and formula or expressed milk if required. We recommend weather-appropriate extras such as sunhat and sunscreen in summer, or waterproof coat, wellies and mittens during colder months. Comforters and dummies are welcome for rest times. All items must be clearly named to avoid mix-ups; we provide sheets, blankets, meals and drinking water, so there is no need to send food.

Every child is assigned a key person who records observations, photographs and next steps using our secure online learning journal, linked directly to the seven EYFS areas. Parents receive regular updates, termly reports and are invited to contribute their own notes from home, creating a complete picture of development. We hold bi-annual parent meetings to discuss progress, celebrate achievements and agree new goals, ensuring learning plans remain individualised, ambitious and fully supported both at nursery and at home.

Certainly. We encourage prospective families to book a personal tour so you can view our rooms, garden and resources in action, meet the team and ask questions face-to-face. Visits are scheduled during core hours to provide the most authentic snapshot of nursery life. Following the tour, you will receive our prospectus, fee structure and waiting-list form. Places are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so returning completed paperwork promptly is advised if you wish to secure your preferred start date.

If your child becomes ill at home, please call the nursery as early as possible to report their absence and receive guidance on exclusion periods. Should they fall unwell while with us, we will contact you immediately; children with a temperature, vomiting or contagious symptoms must be collected promptly for their comfort and to protect others. Medication can only be administered with written parental consent and must be clearly labelled. Fees remain payable during sickness to retain the reserved place.

Children access our secure garden every day, whatever the season, to develop gross-motor skills, investigate nature and enjoy fresh air. Activities include mud-kitchen cooking, den building, planting, mathematical treasure hunts and physical challenges with bikes, climbing frames and balance beams. We follow a free-flow approach whenever weather allows, enabling children to move between indoors and outdoors at will. Regular local walks to parks, libraries and shops further extend learning, foster community awareness and encourage respect for the environment.