Little Learning Ladder

The Chips, 2 Lampwick Lane, New Islington, Manchester M4 6BU
Review Us
9.6 66 Reviews
Little Learning Ladder is a family-run, high-quality childcare setting based in the Iconic Chips Building, situated in New Islington on the Outskirts of Manchester City Centre.

The nursery follows a child-centred approach providing a combination of child and adult led activities with lots of opportunities for "in the moment" learning. The team take inspiration from a variety of approaches which helps to foster a love of learning, igniting awe and wonder in children. The child's interest lies at the heart of everything they do at Little Learning Ladder.

The nursery opens from 7.30am to 7pm Monday to Friday, 52 weeks per year, only closing on Bank Holidays.
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Type of Service

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

Owner

  • Rob Little

Person in charge

  • Melissa McNamee (Nursery Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 35

Total Places for Children

  • 80

Age Range

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

Funding & Fees

  • Morning session 0730 - 1pm £53.20,
    Afternoon session 1pm - 7pm £53.20,
    Full Day 0730 - 7pm £75.40,
    Full Time Monday to Friday 7.30am - 7pm £333.51,
    Weekly Morning Sessions £239.43,
    Weekly afternoon sessions £239.43,
    Weekly School Hours (9-3) £278.26

  • Discount offered for 5 day sessions.

Opening Times

  • Monday 07:30-19:00
    Tuesday 07:30-19:00
    Wednesday 07:30-19:00
    Thursday 07:30-19:00
    Friday 07:30-19:00

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays

Little Learning Ladder Reviews (66)

Total of 66, showing 1-20
9.6

Little Learning Ladder has a Review Score of 9.6 (9.630) out of 10, based on 19 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Little Learning Ladder has 66 reviews.

Overall Experience

  • 58
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66
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Review from O T (Mother of Child) published on 28 July 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son was in from 8 months old and we've recently moved house so no longer go there. But I wish we did!!
From our first visiting tour to our last day, we was treated with respect and kindness. We were always reassured through the process and given really regular updates to feel more connected with
our son.
He grew to like every staff member and always greeted them with open arms in the morning. Its a testament of how caring and nurturing they are.
We absolutely loved him being in LLL and we reflect back fondly on his experience there.
Thank you everyone for all your hard work

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Review from Molly F (Mother of Child) published on 3 July 2025
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Since I began looking for a nursery Little Learning Ladder stood out for me. Amazing reviews and even better when I went to visit. Picking a nursery was difficult for a first time mum I was nervous. My little girl fit right in she was happy, playing and I could tell the nursery cared for her with pure
love and care from the start we felt so close to everyone and my heart felt full leaving my baby their. Nearly a year later my girl has come on massively.
We are so happy our girl feels safe and loved.

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Review from M B (Mother of Child) published on 3 July 2025
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This nursery is really great place for you little one to start adventure with other children, teachers etc. It has been truly great experience for the past years for us, as parents, and we believe for our child too! All staff is caring, friendly and passionate about their role. The approach they have
to children is beautiful, really individual, authentic and lovely. They provide creative activities during the day, organise trips, spend time outside, they offer options giving kids choice. Nice place and nice people you can trust!

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Review from M Z (Mother of Child) published on 6 March 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 2.0 out of 5

The keyworkers and previous managers were amazing and made LLL a warm, community-centered place.
Sadly, under new management, this is no longer the case. The new owner/director runs the nursery more like a profit-driven corporation. Their fees increased twice within 3 months.
We gave plenty of notice
that our child would be away for 3 months. During month two, we provided 5 weeks' notice to terminate his place, but 8 weeks' notice was required. As a result, we were charged for around 3.5 months of full-time fees - without him attending a single day - amounting to around £4.5k.
Changes to the nursery's environment also reflect this shift - increased barriers and electronic devices at reception between staff and parents, and a lack of opportunity to visit the rooms since our initial tour. Three nursery manager changes in just over a year. We hope LLL can rediscover the community spirit that made it special.

Reply from Johanna Little, Director at Little Learning Ladder

As a family-owned business, we pride ourselves on stability; the owners & directors have remained unchanged, & we've had just 2 managers over the past 8 years. Our fees are reviewed annually in April, so if you noticed two fee increases in a short time, it may be related to funding that align with your child's age. During the time your son was with us, you repeatedly asked for fee-free periods due to costs on a building project abroad. In line with our T&C's, we were able to offer 1 fee free wk each year. We clearly explained our policy regarding fees during absences, as maintaining a highly qualified team is essential. You were presented with the option to give notice on your son's place and re-register, but opted not to take this route. Regarding the security upgrades in our reception area, these measures are part of our safeguarding, which we take very seriously. Our community events, like brunch with Santa, provide lovely opportunity for families to connect within the nursery.

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Review from D W (Father of Child) published on 12 September 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter has been attending Little Learning Ladder for almost two years now and we are very happy with them! Their communication with us flows smoothly and they are always available through the app, email, or phone. During this time, we had one exceptional request that was addressed by the management
team and we were really pleased with how they understood our situation and showed empathy. Our youngest will be starting at Little Learning Ladder by the end of the year and we are confident he will have a great time there.

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Review from E T (Mother of Child) published on 17 May 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very happy with the care my little girl is receiving here, she absolutely loves her key worker and the rest of the team are great. It is the cleanest and safest nursery out of all I've seen in Manchester. The children are very well looked after and they are doing all sorts of fun activities. They celebrate
a country each month and also a lot of other events like World Book Day, Autism Day, Red Nose Day etc. Outside space could be better but they are having regular outings in the area.

Reply from Johanna Little, Admin at Little Learning Ladder

Thank you so much for your wonderful review, we love taking care of your daughter. We are pleased to say the outside area revamp is nearly ready with so much for the children to enjoy.

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Review from Xiaoying J (Mother of Child) published on 24 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter has been attending this nursery for the past two years. We are really pleased with the nursery. The nursery has different rooms set up for children with different age ranges and provides care and activities most suitable for the children. Our key person tailored the activities for our daughter
to overcome her weaknesses in her development. Our daughter is very happy in the nursery and looking forward to playing with her friends every day.

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Review from Natalie W (Mother of Child) published on 24 April 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The team have gone above and beyond to help my son settle into his new room. He is really enjoying going on adventures to the part and around the marina. He loves the staff in his room, always saying their names.

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Review from Amy L (Mother of Child) published on 19 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am super happy with the care my child gets from LLL, from the baby room right up to his last few months of being in LLL. The love and the care my child gets from the members of staff in there are lovely to see. The end of the day feedback is always honest and they always share the next steps, whether
it's with positive or negative behaviour, the staff always fill me with confidence that my child is in safe hands. The food supplied to the children from the nursery always sounds delicious. The outdoor area was unavailable for a short period due to cladding replacements, but they were open and kept us updated, ensuring my son went for daily walks around the beautiful marina and local parks.

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Review from B O (Mother of Child) published on 18 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughters have been going to Little Learning Ladder since they were both a year old. I couldn’t be more happier with all the staff and management for all the hard work and dedication they have done for my daughters, and that goes for all children at Little Learning Ladder. They always go above and
beyond. Being at Little Learning Ladder, they have truly come out of their shell and become more confident and outgoing, and that is due to the nursery and being comfortable with the staff. A massive thank you to everyone at Little Learning Ladder.

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Review from K R (Father of Child) published on 18 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son attended LLL from being 7 months old. As a first-time dad, I was pretty clueless as what to expect from a nursery, but from the time we looked around until now the staff have been amazing. Nothing is ever too much trouble, we receive updates throughout the day which is always a joy. Our son has
numerous food allergies which have been managed meticulously, he is always offered a tasty alternative when required.

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Review from Monica V (Mother of Child) published on 18 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Best nursery you can ask for! I feel like my baby is cared for and looked after. There are always activities and special events going on - they deserve all the praise. We've been with them for almost a year now and everything is going smoothly.

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Review from Debbie W (Mother of Child) published on 18 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been at this nursery for the past 1.5 months and he’s been very happy here. We were at a different nursery prior to this for one month and after that we moved here as it was closer to home. He settled in really well with no tears on his first day(!) and the girls were amazing at keeping me
updated with lots of pictures. Even till today, I get daily pictures which I love! The nursery has lots of age-appropriate toys and activities for the kids. Staff are lovely, caring and invested in looking after the children. We get mini-updates each day when we pick him up from nursery which is fab. Our son is all smiles at this nursery and we are equally very happy with it and would definitely recommend this nursery to our friends and loved ones! Thank you to all the staff for their hard work.

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Review from P R (Father of Child) published on 18 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

LLL has been an excellent nursery for both our daughters who continue to attend there full time since being 9 months old. The staff/teachers have been excellent throughout and the children have always loved them through all the classes. The exposure and learning they have got here has been top class
and never had any reason to complain. They have also been accommodating to any personal choices we have in terms of upbringing, food etc. Also, the longer timings from drop off and pick up have been immensely helpful to us as a family. Well recommended!

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Review from D D (Father of Child) published on 17 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Great nursery. My daughter loves going there. Clearly well looked after, they do loads of activities. Very secure. Always get feedback at the end of the day.

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Review from Kitti R (Mother of Child) published on 17 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter started a year ago. She goes to the nursery every day with joy and I can see from this that we have chosen a good place for her. All members of the staff are helpful, kind and smiling (this means a lot to me). The system they use is transparent and easy to use. Every day I get detailed information
about my daughter's day. The meals are varied and healthy! (I'm glad they drink water and eat fruit every day.) I thank all the workers that my daughter is happy when she spends her time in the nursery.

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Review from P T (Mother of Child) published on 9 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 1.0 out of 5

Told there were available spots open, so I paid a deposit and a registration fee, then after 5 settling in days, they told us that they don’t have the capacity to have him in the nursery and then did not refund the registration fee.
Complete bait and switch. Bad business practices. Waited 2 months
to get him into Little Learning Ladder. Paid the deposit and registration fee, only to be told he would not be able to attend due to their own abilities.
No secure outdoor play area at all. Construction work for over 2 months had closed the outdoor play area.

Reply from Johanna Robertson, Director at Little Learning Ladder

Upon registering with LLL, all families receive a min of 6 settling sessions over a 2-week period. Following this initial settling-in period, our Nursery Manager requested to meet with you to address concerns regarding social communication difficulties & related behaviors. The NM discussed the prevalence of children with special educational needs in our preschool cohort & expressed apprehension about our ability to adequately support your child alongside the existing children. Suggestions were made, such as potentially reducing your child's sessions, which you chose not to pursue. Despite this, due to an upcoming trip, we agreed to continue the placement with frequent reviews. After 4 weeks, we decided that we could no longer safely maintain the placement. Following consultations with both parents, a mutual agreement was made for a 4-week notice period. It is important to note that independent regulatory bodies have conducted investigations and refuted the allegations made against us.

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Review from Alena S (Mother of Child) published on 11 March 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son has been attending this nursery since he turned one, and we couldn't be happier with the experience. From the moment we enrolled him, it's been evident that the staff genuinely care about his development and well-being.
The support and advice we've received from the nursery staff have been
invaluable. They go above and beyond to ensure that our son receives the best care and attention possible. We're especially grateful to all the key workers who have played a significant role in his growth and development. It's clear that they put their heart and soul into their work, and it truly shows in the way they interact with the children.
Moreover, our son loves attending the nursery. This speaks volumes about the positive and welcoming atmosphere that the nursery provides.
Overall, we wholeheartedly recommend this nursery to any parent looking for a nurturing and supportive environment for their child. Thank you to the entire team for everything you do!

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Review from Amber E (Mother of Child) published on 6 September 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Ever since my daughter joined Little Learning Ladder it has always felt like she was at a home away from home. Every room she has been in, the staff have been so supportive, kind and caring. The focus on her development has been outstanding. I am so glad I chose to send her to Little Learning Ladder.
Would 100% recommend them!

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Review from A W (Father of Child) published on 28 July 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Excellent nursery with competent and caring staff. Well run with a diverse array of daily activities for all ages up to four years, including a delicious menu prepared by a kitchen which caters to all culinary requirements. It's a pleasure to take our son to this establishment and cannot recommend it
highly enough.

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Current Review Score: 9.6 (9.630)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.6 (9.630) out of 10 for Little Learning Ladder is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.6 out of 5 from 19 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 17 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 4.630 for Little Learning Ladder is calculated as follows: ( (187 Excellents x 5) + (18 Goods x 4) + (9 Satisfactorys x 3) + (4 Poors x 2) + (9 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 227 Ratings = 4.63

  • 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 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Little Learning Ladder is based on 17 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 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • 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 80 number of registered child places is 16, which has been reached with 17 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 (0)

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Meet the Team (6)

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Melissa McNamee

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 2025

Hello, My name is Melissa and I have been the nursery Manager at Little Learning Ladder since January 2025. I have 18 years worth of experience in early years and a level 6 qualification in childhood studies and early years. Childcare has always been my passion. I believe that every child should have the best start in life! At Little Learning Ladder we strive towards creating the best environment for children to learn, grow and develop.
... Read more
Ellie

Ellie

Job Title: Early Years Educator

Joined: 2019

Ellie is Level 3 Early Years Educator who has just completed a degree in Childhood studies. She is a warm, kind individual who loves working with children.

Ellie is based in our Baby room but you will often see her working with all ages.
... Read more
Kiera

Kiera

Job Title: Early Years Educator

Joined: 2016

Kiera is a L3 Early Years Educator who works in our pre-school room. Kiera is our only team member who has worked with every age group at Little Learning Ladder.

The children love Kiera, she is extremely passionate about Early years development.
... Read more
Jess

Jess

Job Title: Early Years Educator

Joined: 2022

Jess is based in our under two's unit, she is qualified for Level 3 and is working towards her Level 5 in Early Years.

Jess is a wonderful role model and is passionate about Early Years education!
... Read more
Deanna

Deanna

Job Title: Room Leader

Joined: 2023

Deanna is currently maternity cover for our Pre-school room leader, she is based in our pre-school and have a genuine passion for getting our older children school ready.

Deanna holds a Level 3 qualification in Early Years.
... Read more
Christine

Christine

Job Title: Nursery Cook

Joined: 2017

I have several years of experience in catering and joined the team at LLL in 2017. I enjoy preparing nutritious, home-cooked meals for the children in our care.
... Read more

Frequently Asked Questions about Little Learning Ladder

What is the Age Range of Children that Little Learning Ladder accepts?

Little Learning Ladder accepts Children aged from 0 years 2 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Little Learning Ladder Open?

Little Learning Ladder is open: Monday 07:30-19:00, Tuesday 07:30-19:00, Wednesday 07:30-19:00, Thursday 07:30-19:00, Friday 07:30-19:00.

How many Children does Little Learning Ladder have capacity for?

Little Learning Ladder has capacity for a total of 80 Children.

How far is Little Learning Ladder to the centre of Manchester?

1.0 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 Learning Ladder to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Little Learning Ladder has an Enhanced Service - more info.