Little Rays Nursery Ballymena

83a Galgorm Road, Ballymena BT42 1AA
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9.4 107 Reviews
  • Little Rays Nursery Ballymena, Ballymena
Little Rays Nursery Ballymena caters for children aged 2 months to 12 years, offering parents the option of full and part time care.

The staff team are 100% qualified to meet high standards of childcare, as well as making the most of each child's early learning potential. An experienced team looks to build strong relationships with parents and has benefitted from low staff turnover.

A covered outdoor play area and 3G pitch allows for a healthy and versatile range of play, while physical development is also supported with a varied, delicious and nutritious food menu - a menu that has been devised with the help of top local nutritionist Jane McClenaghan author of 'Vital Nutrition'.

A stimulating atmosphere is enhanced with weeekly visits from music and movement teacher, Jo Jingles, as well as Sensory Kids.

In addition to childcare, parents can choose to use the school delivery and collection service, as well as a breakfast club and school holiday service.
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Funding & Fees

Daycare
Daily £67.01
Full Time Rate (5 x Days) £276.35


Afterschool
Daily £38.79
Full time rate(5 x Days) £161.72

Contact Little Rays Nursery Ballymena to get a personalised quote.

Contact Little Rays Nursery Ballymena to get a personalised quote.

Type of Service

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

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Lesley Walker (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 37

Total Places for Children

  • 197

Age Range

  • from 0 years 2 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

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

Little Rays Nursery Ballymena Reviews (107)

9.4

Little Rays Nursery Ballymena has a Review Score of 9.4 (9.395) out of 10, based on 19 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Little Rays Nursery Ballymena has 107 reviews.

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Review from Amanda W (Mother of Child) published on 6 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have been using Little Rays for 10 years now with 2 children in the setting. The staff are lovely and treat the children as family and the girls love to go. They put on a wide range of activities for the children, including baking, painting, arts and crafts and much more. We are kept well up to date
on the app and what the children have been doing and eating.
Any issue that I have raised (about 2 in 10 years) has been resolved swiftly by management but never had a grievance with the nursery or staff.
Overall I am happy that the girls are well looked after in the facility and get to have plenty of fun including time outside in the enclosed space.
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaThank you so much for taking the time to share this heartwarming review! We are incredibly grateful for your trust and confidence in us over the past ten years and hope it continues!
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Review from C M (Mother of Child) published on 6 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter is coming 4 and has been at Little Rays since she was 10 months old. It has always been the easiest drop-off as she just loves all the girls. The amount and range of activities is fantastic, always celebrating different occasions. Would highly recommend it to anyone needing childcare.
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaThank you for your positive review of Little Rays! The team work hard to provide a stimulating and inclusive environment, I'm so glad your daughter loves to be a part of it.
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Review from R T (Mother of Child) published on 6 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been attending Little Rays for over a year now. Since his first day, he has been so well looked after. All staff show they care and are always happy to chat with us at the end of the day. The manager is always available if we have any questions or need advice. My little boy always comes home
happy and is excited to go to Little Rays each morning! I am delighted with the care he has received.
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaThank you so much for taking the time to share your review of Little Rays! We're incredibly grateful for your trust and confidence in us, it drives us to continue to provide top-quality childcare.
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Review from Kerry O (Mother of Child) published on 23 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My two sons attended Little Rays since they were a year old. This was made easy with the Amazing and friendly staff that care for them. The interaction and activities they do are great for a child's development. Lovely atmosphere and my son loves attending. Highly recommend
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaThank you so much for taking the time to share your review! We're very grateful for your kind words and thrilled to hear that your sons have had such positive experiences at Little Rays!
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Review from Laura C (Mother of Child) published on 22 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My two girls have been attending Little Rays for a while now - my eldest 2 and a half years and my youngest just over a year!
They both love their nursery! The staff are all so lovely and my eldest is always telling me about her "teacher friends" in nursery - especially two members of staff in particular!
We
especially love the app - the wee updates and pictures you get throughout the day are just great. Over the last year I have seen even more improvements with fundraising days, more details on what topics the kids are learning about and now COVID restrictions are lifted it's great being able to actually go into the building to collect the girls.
I feel my kids are very safe here, with closed in outdoor areas, locked front doors to the staff ensuring all policy and procedures are followed especially when it comes to who is collecting the girls.
I would definitely recommend Little Rays to any friends or family.
Keep up the great work everyone - you're all fab!
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaIt makes our day to hear such positive feedback about your experience with us. Our staff take great pride in creating a fun and nurturing environment for all our children!
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Review from L M (Mother of Child) published on 19 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter initially struggled to settle in daycare having been home or with me for over the first year of her life - but the staff were so patient and thoughtful with her, and worked with her to settle her alongside myself and my husband - their support was fantastic. Now 8 months later she is delighted
to head into the staff, telling us all the fun she is having. Communication is excellent and the staff really know my daughter, her likes and dislikes and work with her in this! Really grateful for all they do.
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaThank you for taking the time to share your review! It's wonderful to know your daughter is thriving and having fun!
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Review from Aoife M (Mother of Child) published on 9 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has attended Little Rays since 2022 and she has loved every minute of it. She has bonded with every single staff member as they like to get to know every child on a personal level. I love how much the staff are involved with the parents just as much as they are with the children. The Manager
has always helped me through anything I needed help with! My daughter has progressed so much through all the activities that Little Rays Nursery have for the children every day. They always focus on what is best for every child in their room, no matter how many there are! Always will recommend this nursery to my friends and family!
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaThank you for sharing your kind words about our team and their dedication to each child and their family, it truly means the world to us.
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Review from L C (Mother of Child) published on 9 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our son has been attending Little Rays for just over a year now. He started at 9 months in the baby room. The care he has received has been fantastic. We are always kept up to date with his daily activities and he looks forward to nursery. Food is varied each day. The staff are friendly and clearly
take care and time in getting to know each child. I couldn't recommend this nursery enough!
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaThank you for the wonderful review! It's fantastic to hear your son loves Little Rays since he started in the baby room.
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Review from Kate C (Mother of Child) published on 9 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been going to Little Rays for 2 years. It is a great facility, providing him with a welcoming environment and endless activities to stimulate him. He gets a variety of nutritious meals every day. The staff are brilliant, always greeting him with a smile every morning and caring for him so
well. They have really helped in his development especially in terms of speech and potty training. He loves going every day! I would recommend Little Rays to anyone.
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaWe're thrilled your son loves Little Rays! The team take a lot of pride in caring for each child. Thank you for your review.
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Review from Emma C (Mother of Child) published on 8 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
What a wonderful nursery. Lovely staff who go above and beyond for our 2 boys. We have sent our boys here for childcare for the last year, and are super happy with the level of care, and effort put in by all staff. It’s so nice to receive daily pictures and updates, especially as both my husband and
I work full-time. Thank you to everyone at Little Rays, you do an amazing job.
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaThank you for your wonderful review! We're so happy to hear your boys are enjoying their time at Little Rays.
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Review from Lorraine O (Mother of Child) published on 8 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been attending Little Rays for 8 months now and she absolutely adores the place and the staff. On the way to nursery she talks about the staff in her room and gets excited when she sees them. The social skills she is gaining here are amazing. We couldn't be happier with how she has settled
and the relationships she has made.
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaIt sounds like she is thriving in the nursery and that she has settled well into nursery life! Thank you for sharing your positive experience!
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Review from L D (Mother of Child) published on 8 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Little Rays has been great for our girls, the staff are brilliant and very in tune with the children's needs, the variety of activities they do with them is fantastic and so good for their development. A really great nursery that I would strongly recommend to anyone with small children.
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaIt's great to know that the nursery team are caring for your children's needs. Thanks for the review!
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Review from S M (Father of Child) published on 8 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Friendly staff that care for the children in their care. Helpful and have put together great programs for children, I know that mine always look forward to going whether that’s in daycare or preschool.
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaIt means the world to us to know that you find our staff friendly and caring. We take pride in creating a warm and welcoming environment. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a kind review!
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Review from J C (Mother of Child) published on 8 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter loves going to Little Rays each day. They have a jam-packed schedule of things to do and I'm very confident she is being kept busy and engaged throughout her week. This is much more than a room with other kids and toys. My child is obviously very engaged in the nursery community; she has
her own little friends and a genuine connection with the staff. My younger child will be starting Little Rays soon and I would recommend it to anyone needing childcare in the area.
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaThank you for taking the time to leave us such a wonderful review. I'm so glad your daughter enjoys her time in Little Rays and we look forward to welcoming your younger child soon!
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Review from L A (Mother of Child) published on 8 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both my kids have been to Little Rays and we can’t fault them! The girls are so lovely and very welcoming! My little girl is there at the moment and she loves it. The updates on the app are great! I can see that they get her involved in lots of different activities! Thank you.
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaThank you for taking the time to leave us a review. Your kind words about our nursery mean so much!
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Review from L A (Mother of Child) published on 8 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child has been in Little Rays for 18 months and absolutely loves it, we’ve never had any problems whatsoever. Good indoor and outdoor play facilities and he is really enjoying the current ‘Space’ topic in the preschool. The staff are very friendly and helpful, the app is updated live with meals and
images of what has been happening throughout the day, I can check in at any time to see how is he. Would recommend it to anyone currently looking for childcare and/or preschool options.
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaIt's great to hear that your child absolutely loves their time in Little Rays! Your kind words mean a lot to us!
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Review from Adrian Tonny P (Father of Child) published on 8 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Little Rays has been a delightful place for my 18-month-old. The caring staff creates a warm atmosphere, and the tailored activities foster his development. The emphasis on safety and hygiene adds to my peace of mind. I appreciate the personalised attention, making it a wonderful start to his learning
journey.
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaYour kind words about our caring staff and engaging activities mean a lot to us! Thank you for the review!
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Review from Alex T (Mother of Child) published on 7 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has attended since she was 1 and she is about to start the preschool unit in the nursery. The nursery staff are all fantastic, from management and room staff right through to the cleaner and maintenance man- it is such a lovely, warm and welcoming environment and everyone will stop to say
hello!
My daughter runs in the door in the mornings and sometimes forgets to give us a hug before she goes she’s so excited! At home time she is full of chat about her fun day with her teachers and friends!
Thank you to all of the staff for everything you do for her!
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaIt was lovely to read your kind words regarding our team, I'm glad that you and your daughter are happy with the care in Little Rays! Thank you very much for taking the time to review us!
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Review from Natalie S (Mother of Child) published on 7 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My oldest girl has been going to Little Rays since she was 9 months old and is 3 now. She absolutely loves it there, my youngest has now just started there too and has settled really well. The team are friendly and supportive! They always have activities and themes every week to keep them busy and entertained.
It really is like a home from home for them. I am kept updated via an app to see what they have been up to throughout the day. Couldn’t recommend Little Rays enough!
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaThank you so much for your wonderful review of Little Rays! Your kind words motivate us to continue providing the best possible care at Little Rays.
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Review from A R (Mother of Child) published on 7 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little boy has attended the nursery since he was in the baby room. The staff have been nothing but outstanding. Meeting his allergy needs and helping with his eczema. He learns so much in his room and enjoys all the different topics. My other little boy is starting the nursery and the support from
management is incredible, giving me so much reassurance and making the process so easy.
Reply from Ashleigh McCrum, Area Manager at Little Rays Nursery BallymenaThank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful review of our nursery! Your kind words about the staff and how they cared for the additional medical needs of you son mean a lot to us.
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Current Review Score: 9.4 (9.395)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.4 (9.395) out of 10 for Little Rays Nursery Ballymena 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 19 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.5 out of 5 from 19 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 4.938 for Little Rays Nursery Ballymena is calculated as follows: ( (212 Excellents x 5) + (12 Goods x 4) + (1 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 225 Ratings = 4.938
  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 4.457 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Little Rays Nursery Ballymena is based on 19 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 + 0.125 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 = 3.975
    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 197 number of registered child places is 39.4. 19 Positive Reviews ÷ 39.4 = 0.482
  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.

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