Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School

Hill Farm House, 44 Old Groveway, Simpson, Milton Keynes MK6 3AA
Review Us
9.5 17 Reviews
Children at Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School have the freedom to have fun, develop personal and social skills and grow in confidence.

Every child is given the chance to learn about the world through a range of fun activities as well as by using their own creativity, curiosity and initiative.

Experienced staff give children a well structured day of learning through effective teaching methods that allow children to explore, experiment, plan and make decisions for themselves.

Parents are kept informed by staff about their child's progress and staff are keen to build close bonds with parents and carers. Parents are encouraged to share their views about the nursery.
   
Each child enjoys a healthy, delicious meas prepared at the nursery.
   
Kind and caring staff show children how to care for others and treat the play equipment around them with care.
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Owner

  • Sarah Kershaw & Janet Ralley

Person in charge

  • Janet Ralley (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 12

Total Places for Children

  • 30

Age Range

  • from 0 years 3 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Funding & Fees

  • We are open from 7.30 until 18.00, 51 weeks of the year. Please call or email us for our up-to-date fees and funding information.

Opening Times

  • Monday 07:30-18:00
    Tuesday 07:30-18:00
    Wednesday 07:30-18:00
    Thursday 07:30-18:00
    Friday 07:30-18:00

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays & 1 week at Christmas

Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School Reviews (17)

9.5

Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School has a Review Score of 9.5 (9.459) out of 10, based on 6 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School has 17 reviews.

Overall Experience

  • 16
  • 1
  • 0
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Date Published

17
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Review from G M (Mother of Child) published on 12 June 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My child has been attending this nursery since February 2023 and they have loved every minute of being there. The manager and her team are a fabulous group of caring, understanding and dedicated individuals. They have gone above and beyond in every aspect but especially since my child's diabetes diagnosis
in December 2024, they took on board all the training that was given and my concerns following my child's return to nursery and their lifestyle changes.

Reply from Sarah Kershaw, Co-Owner at Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School

Thank you for the fantastic review. It's wonderful to read how the manager and our team have met your child's needs. We wish you all the very best with your house move and your child's future successes.

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Review from Anna D (Mother of Child) published on 29 May 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Little bears is the most wonderful, family feel setting. Both my just turned 4 year old and 1 year old attend and have settled there very quickly. They have formed close attachments to all the staff there and do such a lovely range of activities which I can see from their online portal of photos and
updates daily. I know they are safe and happy and loving their best life at Little Bears. Thank you so much for all you do!

Reply from Sarah Kershaw, Co-Owner at Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School

Hello and thank you for your super review. Our aim when settling up our nursery and pre-school many years ago was to create a home from home feel which really does support transition from home to our setting. I am delighted to read that your children have settled in very quickly, forming attachments with our lovely staff, also that you enjoy seeing what your children's involvement is on our online portal.

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Review from C N (Mother of Child) published on 28 May 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

I always feel comfortable and confident when dropping my son off at Nursery, I know that he will be well taken care of. The Little Bears team are so involved and hands on with all the children. An overall lovely nursery.

Reply from Sarah Kershaw, Co-Owner at Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School

Thank you for your lovely review. It is great to read that you are confident that your son will be well taken care of whilst with us. Our team really do love what they provide the children to help them learn and grow.

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Review from Natalie O (Mother of Child) published on 23 May 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Little Bears is a wonderful, homely nursery. Inside is decorated beautifully and the rooms are big for each age group compared to what I've seen elsewhere. The babies have the whole top floor to explore!
Little Bears staff genuinely take care to enact parent's wishes and I've seen them on multiple
occasions putting child above profit. They don't overcrowd the rooms. They don't move children up a room prematurely just because they fit the bracket for the new age ratio. They don't charge top up fees on the free hours and they have a good range of session times too.
They are a bit old fashioned/low key in some respects and not all over social media, but they are spending time on giving children the most supportive start. Highly recommend.

Reply from Sarah Kershaw, Co-Owner at Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School

Thank you very much for your 5 star review! We have an owner manged nursery and pre-school, as such, our heart and soul goes into all we offer. I am delighted that you feel that our nursery is homely, it really does help children to transition well from home to setting. Our adapted farmhouse really does offer large rooms, including our beautiful gardens and allotments with its Forest School. We constantly strive to reinvest in our offering and our staff, I feel that this shines through. We are a traditional nursery and pre-school and you quire correct in pointing out our lack of social media, however, our parents/carers do have access to the App, which I do hope makes up for this.

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Review from Anna S (Mother of Child) published on 23 May 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Little Bears is full of caring and communicative staff. It is lovely to see my son get excited for a day at nursery and to spend time with his key workers and friends. They work tirelessly to ensure that he is safe and happy on a daily basis. The facilities are well looked after especially the outside
area! We are very happy with the nursery.

Reply from Sarah Kershaw, Co-Owner at Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School

Thank you for your mostly 5 star review and that you are very happy with our nursery. I am delighted to read that you feel that our staff are caring and communicative and it brings me joy to read that your son gets excited for his day at our setting. Safety and Safeguarding is of paramount importance as is the well-being and happiness of all of the children that are under our care. Our menus meet the guidelines as set by the Department of Education.

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Review from Carly W (Mother of Child) published on 23 May 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We as parents absolutely love this nursery. We feel a lot of comfort that our children love going into nursery and we never have any issues getting them to go. The nursery itself is equipped with all of the right tools and accessories for the children to learn and have fun.
The staff are all very
friendly and we know pur children are well cared for. The meals are nutritious and the nursery is fantastic value for money.

Reply from Sarah Kershaw, Co-Owner at Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School

Thank you for your 5 star review! I am delighted to read that both you and your children love our nursery. You are absolutely correct that with the right tools, in a fun environment and supported with great staff, children thrive and learn.

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Review from Yvette V (Mother of Child) published on 8 September 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Amazing staff with so much heart and caring mindset. It's wonderful seeing my son get excited about going to nursery here. The teachers really make an effort to engage the kids and develop them in a very individualised way. The management is really committed to providing a safe, fun, and loving environment
and I am very thankful to Little Bears Day Nursery and the whole team there. My son had been going here for three and a half years plus and I couldn't ask for a better nursery. Please keep on the great job that you ladies do. I love this place and so does my child. As a single parent, I deeply appreciate the staff being nice and caring, and the Manager of Little Bears Day Nursery really cares about the children and works with the parents. I'm grateful for their hours as well. The facility is well thought of, rooms separated to keep the ages apart but structured so that the teachers are able to help each other out. My son is happy and that makes me a happy parent.

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Review from Elisabeth W (Mother of Child) published on 17 May 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

When we phoned to view the nursery, we were invited to drop in there and then. This filled us with confidence, compared with pre-arranged open days elsewhere, where you never know whether what you encounter is a true reflection of their every day routine.
The staff were super friendly and down to
earth from the outset, eliminating separation anxiety. It was clear that they appreciate every child as an individual. The system changed while our son was there, but to begin with, they had themed weeks of activities. Even within these, there was always still scope for our son's individual interests. When we had any questions, the staff were always accessible, even in complicated Covid times. They went out of their way to stay in touch and cultivate a relationship with us via Tapestry and phone consultations. Our son would speak of the nursery staff so fondly at home that even our much younger son, who had never met them, started speaking of them. Warm, friendly, fun and unpretentious.

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Review from Becki S (Mother of Child) published on 9 September 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Little Bears was one of many nurseries I visited when looking for childcare options for my daughter back in 2017, from the minute I stepped foot in the door I knew I'd found what I was looking for! The settling in sessions were invaluable for a first time parent leaving a precious child for the first
time, I had nothing but confidence in the staff and the care they would provide.
The setting itself is very homely and all the children seem to be thriving in the environment, my daughter has made such close friendships during her time there. Over the years the staff have become like members of our extended family, they have helped my little girl grow so much over the years and have adapted to her pace/interests throughout. We have since enrolled our son into Little Bears, I had his name down before he was even born as I couldn't imagine sending my child anywhere else. I would definitely recommend Little Bears to other parents!

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Review from Monique B (Mother of Child) published on 1 September 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I moved to the area 6 years ago and I had no idea about childcare or the best nurseries in the area. I visited Little Bears with my eldest child (3 at the time) and I knew straight away this was the right place. I was welcomed by all staff and the children were lovely; playing and engaging with activities
around them. The nursery itself is more like a home as it's cosy, not to overwhelming and has a lovely garden and outside area that they use all year round. My eldest thrived there so it seemed to make sense to send my youngest, who has just finished there to start school this September. Again, the staff were welcoming, patient, calm and extremely professional in how they interact with both families and children. My youngest has definitely had the best experience for her early years as she has grown and developed so much! The staff have been phenomenal, especially through lockdown. We've laughed together, the communication is fantastic and I'm gutted to be leaving as a parent!

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Review from Maxine W (Mother of Child) published on 11 November 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both of my children attended Little Bears Day Nursery and due to the love and dedication given to the children, they never had any separation anxiety and loved every minute of it. We found Little Bears through a recommendation from a friend and was very impressed from day 1. The staff interacted immediately
with both my son and daughter. Little Bears gives you a home away from home feel and they get to wear their slippers indoors. The garden is also amazing; they grow vegetables, have lots of outdoor space and are always exploring the outside world. They even have a petting zoo which comes to the nursery once a year, which my children loved.
We are only leaving due to my children starting school, the staff are amazing and we will truly miss them all. I would like to say a huge thank you to all the staff at Little Bears and would 1000% recommend to other parents!

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Review from Hannah N (Mother of Child) published on 15 October 2019
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I cannot believe how amazing this nursey is. My baby is so loved and has advanced so much. They genuinely care about the children, they are constantly stimulated.
Leaving my baby to go back to work full time is hard, it is really reassuring that she is in the care of Little Bears.
She is encouraged
to try new experiences and new foods. There are always new themed learnings through play and music plus a lovely garden for them to play in.
It is like her extended family.
If you are looking for a place that will be warm, welcoming and homely, this is the right place for you.

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Review from Tim C (Father of Child) published on 7 October 2019
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our boy has been attending Little Bears since he was 14 months and has now been there for just over a year. We had originally arranged care at a different nursery but it quickly became evident he was not settling from the taster days. We visited Little Bears after recommendation and immediately felt
more comfortable - due to the warmth, enthusiasm and kindness of the staff along with a nice homely feel of the nursery overall.
Most importantly, he thoroughly enjoyed himself and had no trouble at all settling in with his taster days at Little Bears. What a difference!
Since then he has progressed up to the toddler room and we are very happy with the way he is developing. There is plenty of variety in the activities and our boy's confidence is definitely improving as part of his experiences at Little Bears.
We both feel very happy and relaxed in the knowledge that our boy is in safe hands at Little bears and it is very clear that our boy is very happy there too.

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Review from Vicky M (Mother of Child) published on 18 September 2019
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My child really enjoyed almost four years spent at Little Bears. The staff are easy to talk to and put us and our child at ease from day one, keeping us informed of what our child had done and eaten (lots of healthy food) each day. They have a lovely garden (recently re-done) where the children can
play and do gardening as well as lots of indoor activities (including messy play) and games for the children. They also have walks that the parents can go along to, as well as French lessons and music/dancing and the occasional petting zoo which our child loved. They use tapestry to upload photos and give in-depth information about your child’s development using the early years foundation stage curriculum. The staff really bond with the children and look after them really well. We have only fond memories of the time our child spent there (as does our child who always came home happy) and we will all miss the staff.

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Review from Elizabeth S (Mother of Child) published on 17 September 2019
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Little Bears is a fabulous nursery where both my children have been so happy. The staff go above and beyond to look after each child personally and it’s clear the staff genuinely care about each child.
They also spend as much time as you like telling you about your child’s day and their progress,
so you never feel rushed.
My children loved the activities like French class and toddler time. I cannot recommend this nursery enough.

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Review from Jodie P (Mother of Child) published on 17 September 2019
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We found Little Bears Day Nursery by recommendation after moving to the area with our first child. We were completely impressed with the viewing as each staff member took an active interest in our daughter and interacted with her from that first time. The staff were so helpful with easing my first-time
parent nerves and our daughter settled beautifully.
The nursery is a home away from home and our daughter has grown substantially in confidence and ability. It is a really friendly setting and they always take the time to tell us about their day.
Our daughter calls it "nursery home" and we have only ever felt comfortable with her being there. The staff go out of their way to make sure the children are supported. One of the great things is that all of the children eat breakfast and tea together. This has meant there has not been any disruption when the children move to the next room as they already know the staff and children.
I would absolutely recommend to other parents!

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Review from Katherine W (Mother of Child) published on 11 September 2019
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We joined Little Bears after my son's previous nursery let him escape. I was very nervous about leaving him at another setting, however, within the hour of meeting them to look around Little Bears and discussing our situation, I knew this was the Nursery for us.
My son attended Little Bears for
2 years and 2 months, he has had the best time and learned so much. All of the staff at the setting are amazing and have been so supportive to us through his transition to Little Bears and some very sad times in our family. I cannot thank them enough for all of the support and good times we have all had there.
Our son has had an amazing time there, we always knew he would be safe and well looked after.
We will all miss you Little Bears!

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Current Review Score: 9.5 (9.459)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.5 (9.459) out of 10 for Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 6 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.6 out of 5 from 6 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.859 for Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School is calculated as follows: ( (61 Excellents x 5) + (10 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 71 Ratings = 4.859

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 4.6 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School is based on 6 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 = 3.6

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 30 number of registered child places is 6, which has been reached with 6 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

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Awards / Recognitions (2)

RHS Level 1, 2 and 3

Recipient: Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School

Date: Saturday 01 Jan 2022 More details

Smile

Recipient: Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School

Date: Friday 01 Jan 2016 More details

Meet the Team (0)

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Frequently Asked Questions about Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School

What is the Age Range of Children that Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School accepts?

Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School Open?

Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School is open: Monday 07:30-18:00, Tuesday 07:30-18:00, Wednesday 07:30-18:00, Thursday 07:30-18:00, Friday 07:30-18:00.

How many Children does Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School have capacity for?

Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School has capacity for a total of 30 Children.

How far is Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School to the centre of Milton Keynes?

1.7 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Little Bears Day Nursery & Pre School has an Enhanced Service - more info.