Small Friends Day Nursery

My son started Small Friends just before the first lockdown in 2020, and all of the staff were very supportive during this time. He's now been with Small Friends for nearly a year and has flourished. Their cleanliness in response to Covid has been exceptional, and I really had no concerns about him being back and socialising with other children as I knew that every measure was being taken to protect them.

The nursery does lots of activities on a daily basis with the children - nearly every evening we get a new painting or craft that he's done that day, and he is always happy when we arrive to collect him. He loves talking about the friends he's made and refers to the staff within this too, we hear lots of stories from him about what he has done that day - and we get sent updates regularly via the app the nursery uses. Despite the garden space being small (which was my initial concern), they still get time in the fresh air, and I don't think they even notice the size!

As the mother of boy/girl twins with multiple food allergies, I used to spend up to 2-hours each evening preparing three meals and two snacks per child for the next day because they couldn't eat the pre-made food at their former nursery. Also, I had to purchase the food plan as a part of my contract and couldn't opt out! Switching the twins to Small Friends with an on-site kitchen means the nursery preps fresh meals and snacks each day, which are specially tailored for the twin's food allergies. I have clawed back 2 hours each evening that I can now spend playing with my children instead of in the kitchen! The nursery has also been on top of administering medicines in relation to any reactions and keeping me well informed. Nursery reinforces the messages they learn at home about which foods they can't eat and offer substitutions for celebration foods during Halloween and Christmas. Such care and attention to detail, with the children's well-being at the very centre of their focus!

Highly recommend.

I feel very confident leaving my child for the day, and I know I will be picking up a very happy, content child at the end of each nursery day.

Small Friends is a fantastic nursery. The children are happy, engaged and catered for their individual developmental needs. They form strong bonds with their key workers and other staff members, and friendships with the other children. My twins have made giant steps developmentally at Small Friends, and I feel 100% confident they are safe and happy there at all times. Communication with the staff is excellent and every staff member is friendly, caring and attentive to both the children's and parents' needs.

My son joined the nursery approximately a year ago when he turned two, and choosing Small Friends was one of the best decisions we could have made for both his happiness and development. The nursery itself is bright, airy, and clean. It is welcoming, colourful, and treated with care and respect. The staff are just incredible. Even when it is busy, they are more than willing to stop and chat about the day and what he has been getting up to. The fact that my son is almost begging to go to nursery each day is a testament to how well he is looked after and how much fun he has. Parents talk about the 'terrible twos' and it's fair to say that I am experiencing it first hand. The staff have always been willing to give me guidance, give me tips to try at home, and keep me well informed of what he needs to work on. He is turning into a clever and conscientious child, who loves to sing, and I really do owe it all to Small Friends. I couldn't recommend them more highly.