The Early Years Academy Stone

Meaford, Stone ST15 0PX
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8.6 4 Reviews
  • The Early Years Academy Stone, Stone
The Early Years Academy Stone offers a thoughtfully curated environment where every child is nurtured, inspired, and genuinely cared for. Situated in a welcoming community setting, the Stone nursery provides a calm and engaging atmosphere, designed to feel like a home from home. From the baby room through to preschool, each space is intentionally created to spark curiosity, encourage independence, and foster secure emotional connections.

At the heart of this setting is a team of experienced and passionate educators who understand the unique journey of early childhood. The curriculum is guided by a play-based, child-centred approach inspired by Steiner and blended with modern early years practices. Children enjoy a wide range of enriching experiences including outdoor exploration through the Forest School Academy, hands-on sessions in the Baking Academy, and opportunities for real-world connection via the Intergenerational Academy.

Parents value the open communication, flexible booking patterns, and unlimited settling-in sessions which help children and families feel immediately at ease. Whether a child is taking their first steps into nursery life or preparing for school, The Early Years Academy Stone ensures they are met with warmth, expertise, and endless opportunities to thrive.
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Lauren Francis-Hassall (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 25

Total Places for Children

  • 62

Age Range

  • from 0 years 1 months
  • to 5 years

Opening Times

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

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays & 1 week at Christmas

The Early Years Academy Stone Reviews (4)

8.6

The Early Years Academy Stone has a Review Score of 8.6 (8.594) out of 10, based on 4 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time The Early Years Academy Stone has 4 reviews.

Overall Experience
  • 4
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  • 4
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Reviewer Connection to The Early Years Academy Stone
  • 4
Total of 4, showing 1-4
Review from Sophia H (Mother of Child) published on 15 December 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have had the most wonderful experience with our nursery, all of the staff throughout my son's time there have been incredible. They are all so caring and helpful and my son comes home happy and telling me all about his day and how much he loves his teachers and also the friends he has made there.
I genuinely feel so comfortable knowing he is so well taken care of and it has such a beautiful outdoor spa space where the children can play.
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Review from H F (Mother of Child) published on 15 December 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
All three of my children have been through the nursery, although two left before it became the early years academy, and they have all had a wonderful time. My youngest child is still attending and has a good relationship with the staff, she seems to be thoroughly enjoying her time at nursery, and is
learning a lot too. We get good information sharing from staff at collection and also via the app which is excellent. The staff and manager are approachable and helpful, and genuinely care about making sure the children thrive in their care! They have just updated the menu which sounds healthy and delicious, are doing additional training to support staff to deliver proper forest school sessions and are helping kids enjoy being outside with allotments as well.
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Review from B B (Mother of Child) published on 24 November 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The Early Years Academy has been absolutely wonderful for my son. He has been attending since he was 8 months old, and the progress he has made is incredible. The staff are caring, patient, and genuinely invested in every child's development. They create such a warm and nurturing environment. I've seen
improvements in his social skills, confidence, and overall growth. The activities are well thought out, engaging, and age-appropriate, and the communication with parents is excellent. I always feel reassured knowing he's in such safe and capable hands.
I'm truly grateful for everything the Early Years Academy has done for our family. Highly recommended!
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Review from N J (Mother of Child) published on 15 October 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Such a lovely nursery, I have only got good things to say about it. My child has been going from 10 months old and it's been a positive experience from the beginning. I feel my child is very safe and well looked after and they love going each day. The staff are lovely, so helpful and friendly. My child
has learnt so much there, from the alphabet to numbers, it's been amazing seeing the progress. Thank you to all of you for everything you do.
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Current Review Score: 8.6 (8.594)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 8.6 (8.594) out of 10 for The Early Years Academy Stone is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 4 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 3.7 out of 5 from 4 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:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.896 for The Early Years Academy Stone is calculated as follows: ( (44 Excellents x 5) + (3 Goods x 4) + (1 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 48 Ratings = 4.896
  2. 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 3.698 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for The Early Years Academy Stone is based on 4 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 20 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews, 0.05 Points for the next five Positive Reviews, and finally 0.025 Points for the next ten Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.050, 7th = 0.050, 8th = 0.050, 9th = 0.050, 10th = 0.050, 11th = 0.025, 12th = 0.025, 13th = 0.025, 14th = 0.025, 15th = 0.025, 16th = 0.025, 17th = 0.025, 18th = 0.025, 19th = 0.025, 20th = 0.025) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 = 3.375
    2. 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 62 number of registered child places is 12.4. 4 Positive Reviews ÷ 12.4 = 0.323
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (0)

Meet the Team (1)

Lauren

Lauren Francis-Hassall

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Lauren brings a calm, confident leadership style to The Early Years Academy Stone, underpinned by a deep passion for early childhood education. With years of hands-on experience and a thorough understanding of child development, Lauren leads her team with both professionalism and warmth, ensuring that every child in her care feels safe, seen, and supported.


Known for her approachable nature and meticulous attention to detail, Lauren takes great pride in creating a nurturing and well-organised environment where children can flourish. She works closely with families to build strong, trusting relationships and is committed to maintaining the highest standards in care, education, and safeguarding.


Under Lauren’s leadership, the nursery thrives as a calm, welcoming space filled with rich learning experiences. She champions the academy’s ethos of Belonging, Being and Becoming, ensuring every member of the team feels valued and that each child is given the time and space to grow in their own way. Whether supporting new parents through settling-in or guiding her team through curriculum planning, Lauren is a steady, reassuring presence who leads by example.

Frequently Asked Questions about The Early Years Academy Stone

What is the Age Range of Children that The Early Years Academy Stone accepts?

The Early Years Academy Stone accepts Children aged from 0 years 1 month to 5 years.

What Days & Hours is The Early Years Academy Stone Open?

The Early Years Academy Stone is open: Monday 07:00-18:00, Tuesday 07:00-18:00, Wednesday 07:00-18:00, Thursday 07:00-18:00, Friday 07:00-18:00.

How many Children does The Early Years Academy Stone have capacity for?

The Early Years Academy Stone has capacity for a total of 62 Children.

How far is The Early Years Academy Stone to the centre of Stone?

1.1 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 The Early Years Academy Stone to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. The Early Years Academy Stone has an Enhanced Service - more info.