Little Pioneers Nursery & Pre-School, Lanesfield

Absolutely amazing nursery with wonderful caring staff.The staff are hardworking and friendly,my child always looks forward to going to nursery.The staff are so friendly and warm and the children seem very happy there. I would recommend this nursery without reservation.

Very underwhelming feeling to conclude. I was so excited for my child to start here and my expectations have slowly been under met, as time goes on it's getting worse. I've addressed the same recurring issue time after time regarding another child. I've emailed and spoken verbally to the room staff and nursery managers about my concerns, but not one person has come to me to explain what the course of action is to be taken, and what procedures are in place to prevent the issue from occurring again. I've called yet again today and the nursery manager was unaware an incident happened for the fourth time. My child is not happy here anymore, I'm unhappy leaving my child here and holding my breath when I pick him up to hear another incident has happened. My child is coming home with bite marks from other children and I'm expected to roll with it, I'm sure if my child was going into nursery with bite marks it would be a different story. A lot of things were promised at first but under-delivered.

My two sons attended this nursery. There is a high turnover of staff, the baby room is overwhelmed 99% of the time, always multiple babies crying or sitting unassisted, falling over hitting heads. Often I would collect my son and they would then say “Oh we were just about to change him.” Nothing against the staff, I loved his key worker but the whole thing was off. Food is cheap and tastes horrible. I turned up one day to be told my bill was behind and they could not attend that day even though I had paid on the same day every month since we began. No warning from them at all. I was considering leaving and that was the final straw. I now have a childminder I found on a website, £50 a day as opposed to £70, home cooked meals, 3 trips a week, all included in price and my boys have progressed so much. It breaks my heart knowing my very forward 1-year-old was being held back so much. Within weeks of moving he was potty trained, counting to 20 and an all round happier child.

In my opinion, Ward Grove Nursery is the best nursery and I feel comfortable leaving my son with the team. Management in the reception are always welcoming and clearly display first aid staff and safeguarding leads on the wall so that parents can access all information. I am aware of safeguarding procedures and feel that the team understand how to keep all children safe whilst us parents have to work. Particularly several members of staff understand my son's comfort and care needs when I drop him off in the mornings, which in turn helps him regulate his emotions. It is bittersweet that my son moves into the preschool room, but again I feel happy to leave him in the care of one particular care worker, as she has already made a good rapport with my son during the transition stage. Working with children is one of the hardest roles to do yet the team at Ward Grove make it look like fun. I hope they all realise how important they are to us parents.

The facilities and design of the nursery are wonderful! Staff are willing to listen to any queries that you may have and try to understand home routines well! Staff are friendly and welcoming to both parents/caregivers and children on arrival and leaving which is lovely.

The nursery establishment is always clean and the staff are all friendly and really easy to speak to, my daughter has been going there since it opened in September 2023 and she has flourished beautifully.