Mini Explorers Nursery is categorically one of the best nurseries in our area.Chloe H(Mother of Child)

This has been one of the best choices for our little boy! He absolutely loves itKatherine R(Mother of Child)

absolutely fantastic with lovely staff who are always supportive and helpful.L A(Mother of Child)

Mini Explorers Nursery is categorically one of the best nurseries in our area.Chloe H(Mother of Child)

This has been one of the best choices for our little boy! He absolutely loves itKatherine R(Mother of Child)

absolutely fantastic with lovely staff who are always supportive and helpful.L A(Mother of Child)

Mini Explorers Crabtree Hall – The UK’s First Recognised Farm School Nursery.
Mini Explorers at Crabtree Hall is proud to be the UK’s first recognised Farm School Nursery, offering a unique and enriching early years experience rooted in nature, outdoor learning, and farm life. Located on a working farm in the heart of the North Yorkshire countryside, the Mini Explorers provides children with daily opportunities to connect with the natural world.
From...
Funding & Fees
April 2026 – March 2027
0-2 Years: £83.25
2-3 Years: £81.75
3-5 Years: £81.25
Lunch hour (12noon – 1pm): £8.90 per hour
Optional consumables charge for 9 months - 3 years funded children (for children receiving Government Funded hours) - £1.50 per hour
Contact Mini Explorers Nursery to get a personalised quote:
Type of Service
- Day Nursery
Opening Schedule
Open all yearFull days available
YesHalf day sessions offered
YesOwner
- Mini Explorers Crabtree Ltd
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Rachael Lattimer (Operations Manager)
Admission Information
- 12 weeks - 5 years
Number of Childcare Staff
- 38
Total Places for Children
- 93
Age Range
- from 0 years 3 months
- to 5 years 0 months
Meals Provided
NoConsumables provided
NoOpening Times
- Monday 07:00-18:30
- Tuesday 07:00-18:30
- Wednesday 07:00-18:30
- Thursday 07:00-18:30
- Friday 07:00-18:30
When Closed
- Bank Holidays & 1 week at Christmas
Parking
- Mini Explorers is based on a private site with ample parking. They have a small amount of parking directly outside the rooms of the nursery and a larger car park 50m from the nursery.
Mini Explorers Nursery Reviews (41)
Mini Explorers Nursery has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.890) out of 10, based on 28 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Mini Explorers Nursery has 41 reviews.
My daughter has been attending Mini Explorers for a year and a half. She loves the setting and as do I! The staff are so friendly and professional, very knowledgeable on development and safeguarding and are just brilliant. My daughter comes home everyday happy, clean and full of stories to tell me. They have been very supportive in a personal circumstance which I can't thank them enough for and the communication between them and myself was clear and professional. I seriously can't fault Mini's one bit! Thank you for being fantastic! X
We are absolutely delighted to hear how happy your daughter is at Mini Explorers and that you feel so positive about the setting. Knowing that she comes home happy, full of stories, and enjoying her time with us is exactly what...
We have seen such an incredible transformation in our child's confidence and social skills since joining Mini Explorers. The range of activities from messy play to outdoor exploring is fantastic. The staff are clearly passionate about early years education and always find creative ways to engage the children. We couldn't ask for a more stimulating environment and highly recommended to other parents within the area.
We are absolutely delighted to hear about the positive changes you have seen in your child's confidence and social skills since joining Mini Explorers. Supporting children as they grow in confidence and build friendships is such an important part of what we do, so it's lovely to know this is being...
My little boy started in January in baby bunnies room, he is my first child and Mini Explorers is his first nursery and also first time away from me. The staff have been brilliant so helpful and reassuring every step of the way. He has settled great and goes in to nursery smiling and comes out just as happy with a full belly ( I think this is my son's favourite part). I can really see a big change since starting he is more confident going somewhere new and enjoys being outside a lot more than before. I'd recommend this nursery to any parents as the experiences like going to see the farm animals are like no other., thank you Mini Explorers
Thank you so much for your lovely review. It means a great deal to us, especially knowing that Mini Explorers was your little boy's first experience away from you.
We are so pleased to hear how well he has settled into Baby Bunnies and that he arrives with a smile and leaves just as happy (with...
We absolutely love this nursery. From the moment our daughter started in the baby bunnies room to now in the hoppity hares room we could not ask for more. The staff are nurturing, kind and supportive and know the children's interests perfectly to inspire and promote learning. Our daughter has so much confidence since attending the nursery, has made lots of friends and we love that the children are outside exploring the world around them most of the day. The environment is beautiful and it provides so many practical learning opportunities and it is great to see the children help care for the animals. The key worker our daughter has is amazing and knows her so well, which has made a huge difference to us as she now loves going to nursery and is very settled. We love to hear the stories from the day. We also find the app extremely useful.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. It means so much to our whole team to hear how happy your daughter has been throughout her journey with us, from Baby Bunnies through to Hoppity Hares.
We are so pleased to hear that she has grown in confidence, made lovely friendships and enjoys...
I guess the only things to be improved upon are the car parking around the hoppity hares room can feel quite dangerous at busy pick up times. Sometimes the structure of updates you get differ depending which staff member you get.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful review. We are delighted to hear that your daughter is so happy at Mini Explorers and that you have had such a positive experience with our team.
It's wonderful to hear that you value the updates through the app and at pick-up, as...
Mini Explorers is such a great choice! The staff are fantastic; they are caring and professional. They have kept us informed and are always there to help with questions. Our child has a fabulous time during his days there. He gets to do lots of different activities, is offered lots of food and gets to spend time inside and outside. We would highly recommend this nursery!
Thank you so much for your lovely review and kind words about Mini Explorers. We are so pleased to hear that your child is having such a wonderful time with us.
Our team works really hard to create a caring, engaging environment where children can explore, learn and have fun both indoors and...
We live on a farm so it's like a home from home, but we don't have as many wonderful types of animals.
I just love that when we arrive on a morning, whoever comes out to take him in welcomes him by name and I just know he's getting the best care. I would recommend to anyone!
Thank you so much for your lovely review. It's wonderful to hear how much your little boy is enjoying his time at Mini Explorers and how much he has developed since starting with us.
We're so pleased that our farm environment feels like a home from home for him, and that he enjoys spending time...
We feel so lucky to have found this nursery. Our little boy is 2 and a half and he absolutely loves going every single day. What makes it so special is how much time they spend outside. He is roaming the fields daily, exploring nature properly rather than just being in a playground. There are lambs, pigs and cows on site, and he gets to help feed them and learn where food comes from. It has given him such a natural understanding of the world around him at such a young age. The team are fantastic and so well organised. Everything is provided, which makes life so much easier as a parent. All we need to do is pack warm outdoor clothes and he is set for the day. In the summer they even have real barbecues next to the outdoor sandpit, which he still talks about. His absolute favourite part is playing on the tractors in Farm School 2 paddock. He comes home muddy, happy and full of stories every single time. We could not recommend this nursery more highly. It is such a special place for my son.
Thank you so much for such a wonderful review. It's lovely to hear how much your little boy enjoys his days with us and how much he values the outdoor experiences. We truly believe children learn best through real-life exploration, so it's fantastic to know he is enjoying roaming the fields,...
They make fantastic use of their outdoor space and regularly take the children out for walks to explore nature and see the animals, which I absolutely love. It's wonderful knowing my child gets so much fresh air and outdoor learning time. The updates on the app are brilliant - it's so reassuring to see what my baby has been up to during the day, especially as she's too little to tell me herself. The communication between home and nursery is always good, and I feel they really listen and cater well to my child's individual needs. The variety of home-cooked meals is amazing - my daughter often has seconds, which says it all! The only small downside for us have been that there can be a waiting list for certain days. However, overall we've had a very positive experience and feel confident leaving our child in their care.
Thank you so much for your lovely review. We're delighted to hear how much you value the outdoor experiences, walks, and time the children spend exploring nature and the animals. It's also wonderful to know the app updates help you feel connected to your daughter's day and that our team's...
Her speech and numeracy has had a firm foundation and she has a large repertoire of sign language. Most importantly thought she has so much fun, has made some wonderful friends and just loves going. The food is also outstanding. Freshly made on sight by the wonderful Tara and her team she has such a varied diet and definitely eats better at nursery than at home. Our son starts soon too.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. It's lovely to hear how much your daughter has enjoyed her time with us and how much you value the outdoor experiences and opportunities to learn about the countryside and animals. We're so pleased she has built such strong foundations in her learning,...
Our little one loves going to nursery he goes in with no problems and the updates throughout the day keep you updated with his progress and development. He gets on with all the teachers and I know he loves all the food he is served. He loves being outside walking and seeing the animals.
Thank you so much for your lovely review. We're delighted to hear that your little one enjoys coming to nursery and feels happy and comfortable with the team. It's wonderful to know you enjoy the updates throughout the day and that he loves the outdoor walks, seeing the animals, and of course the food! We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
My daughter started Mini Explorers in Sept 25 in the Baby Bunnies room and it has been the best decision we made. She has come on so much even though she only attends 2 days. The diary app is clear, the photos are lovely to see each day and the fresh cooked food they provide is exceptional, so varied. 4*'s for the staff and this is only a reflection of the handovers. It depends on who it is you collect your child from as to what kind of handover you get. Some are brilliant, informative with all information you would want. However there are a couple of staff that you need to prompt for any information at all. That being said there are too many positives to mention. The fact my child is being cared for and educated in the outdoors and around animals just makes the whole experience. Family are always included and often invited to spend time with your little one. We particularly loved the bonfire night they held, such a gorgeous wholesome event and there have been many more. She loves it!
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful review. We're delighted to hear how much your daughter is enjoying her time in Baby Bunnies and how well she has settled since joining us in September. It's lovely to know that the outdoor experiences, animals, activities, and events...
The nursery also put there everything into making sure the children are exposed to new experiences such as inviting people into nursery for plays, science activities and so much more.
The staff are incredible with the children which shows as my daughter feels so happy and comfortable with the and always looks forward to going to nursery.
Couldn't fault the nursery at all
Thank you so much for taking the time to share this lovely review. We're absolutely delighted to hear how well your little girl is thriving with us. Providing children with the freedom to explore, learn outdoors, and connect with nature and animals is at the heart of what we do, so it's wonderful...
Both of our children are so happy at Mini Explorers and are thriving in their settings. We both work full time so it was so important we found a childcare setting that was nurturing, fun and friendly. The children spend so much time outside playing and learning through play which is something we as a family really value. It's wonderful to see our toddler outside in all seasons and interacting with the animals and the farm - something we just couldn't offer them day in day out. When we moved to the area, all of our friends, without hesitation, recommended Mini Explorers and we can absolutely see why!
Thank you so much for this wonderful review. We're so pleased to hear that both of your children are happy and thriving with us. It means a lot to know that our nurturing, outdoor-focused approach fits so well with what you value as a family. Seeing children explore the farm, care for the animals, and learn through play in all seasons is exactly what Mini Explorers is all about.
The setting of the nursery is wonderful. The communication from all staff is fantastic with a detailed and in depth hand over, even when it's raining or other parents are waiting they always make sure the handover is completed for each child.
Can't recommend Mini Explorers enough.
We're absolutely delighted to hear how settled and happy your child is with us now - that transition you described means everything to our team. Knowing they now ask to come is the biggest compliment we could receive!
Thank you also for recognising our communication and handovers. Even on the...
My child loves his time at Mini Explorers, he always talks about the fun he has had with his friends and the staff. I love how much they learn and that we get to see about their day on the app. The menu always sounds amazing and the facilities are excellent.
We're so pleased to hear how much your child enjoys his time at Mini Explorers and that he comes home chatting about the fun he's had with his friends and our team - that really means the world to us. It's wonderful to know you enjoy seeing snapshots of his day through the app too, as sharing those...
The opportunities they give the children feel so unique and thoughtfully planned. Every week she's experiencing something new, creative and engaging, and it's been incredible to see how much it's brought her on. The nursery's core values really shine through in everything they do. It feels genuinely holistic - they care just as much about emotional development and confidence as they do about learning.
I've worked in a nursery myself, and my mum was a nursery manager for 25 years, so I feel like I have a good understanding of what quality childcare looks like. Mini Explorers truly stands out. The staff are warm, nurturing and passionate, and it's clear they love what they do.
I couldn't recommend it more highly.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a beautiful and thoughtful review, it truly means more to us than we can put into words.
Knowing that your daughter is so happy here that she's upset on non nursery days is the biggest compliment we could ever receive. Hearing how much she's...
My little boy loves it at this nursery! As he was my first child I was very nervous when I had to go back to work but mini explorers put me at ease. The staff are so lovely and make sure they know each child's routine before they start. I can't fault anything. I love getting photos on the app and being able to see what he's doing whilst I'm at work.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a beautiful and thoughtful review.
Knowing that your daughter is so happy here that she's upset on non nursery days is the biggest compliment we could ever receive. Hearing how much she's enjoying the experiences we plan and how you've seen her...
We love Mini Explorers. The staff is so kind and really attentive to each child and needs. Also love that my child gets to grow up surrounded by nature and animals and gets to explore outdoors. Baby is always happy to go and have fun.
Thank you so much for your kind words. We're delighted to hear how happy your little one is at Mini Explorers and that you value the care, attention, and outdoor experiences we offer. It means a great deal to our team to know our children are thriving and enjoying their days with us. Thank you for your lovely support.
I feel very lucky my son gets to go here and I just wish I had more days for him. He's learnt so much, is cared for, adores all staff in baby bunnies and gets excited to be there. My only small change would be staff at handover providing a clearer update in regards to food or naps as sometimes what is said doesn't match the app which can be confusing if he's poorly or understanding his food intake. It's nothing major just one small thing if I was to give it. I can't thank you all enough.
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful and balanced review. We're so pleased to hear how happy your son is in Baby Bunnies and how excited he is to be here - that really means the world to us. Knowing he feels cared for, secure, and is learning so much is exactly what we strive for every...
Child Vacancies
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
News (2) & Events (0)
- Posted: Tuesday 27 May 2025Mini Explorers Crabtree Hall is proud to announce that it has once again been awarded Millie’s Mark – the gold standard in paediatric first aid for early years settings in...
- Posted: Tuesday 27 May 2025?? We’re proud to share that Mini Explorers has successfully renewed its Sun Safe Nurseries accreditation for another year! ???? This recognition highlights our ongoing commitment to keeping our Mini...
There are no upcoming events for Mini Explorers Nursery.
Awards / Recognitions (2)
- Recipient: Mini Explorers NurseryDate: Friday 25 Oct 2024
- Recipient: Mini Explorers NurseryDate: Wednesday 24 Jul 2024
Meet the Team (8)
Founder and owner Steph is the beating heart of Mini Explorers and is often the first point of contract for any new families to the nursery. Often seen running about the farm with a phone in one hand and a notepad in the other, Steph is always knee-deep in one project or another. From recruiting flocks of pregnant Herdwick sheep, to re-developing the mud kitchens, Steph is on a never-ending quest to make Mini Explorers an even more exciting and dynamic setting for our children.
Mark Pybus, or ‘Farmer Mark’ as he is known to our children, is our resident farmer and agronomist. When he’s not zooming about the farm in his distinctive black Land Rover looking busy and important, he can often be found talking to small groups of Mini Explorers about his work and enlisting their help to plant trees, move chicken sheds and mend fences. There are always jobs to be done!
Charlotte is our Nursery Manager, leading Mini Explorers with warmth, experience, and a strong focus on high-quality early years practice. She ensures the nursery runs smoothly each day while supporting engaging, purposeful play that promotes learning, curiosity, and children’s development across all areas of the EYFS.
Sarah holds Early Years Professional Status (Level 6) and joined Mini Explorers in August 2023. As Nursery Manager and curriculum lead, she brings energy, creativity, and a deep passion for outdoor learning to Farm School One.
With over 15 years of early years experience, Sarah champions our farm-based ethos using nature, animals, and hands-on exploration to spark curiosity, build confidence, and inspire a lifelong love of learning in every Mini Explorer.
Claire joined Mini Explorers in September 2023 and is our Baby Room Manager and Deputy Nursery Manager. She holds a Level 3 qualification in Early Years Education and brings over 12 years of experience working with children of all ages.
Having previously managed a 2–3-year-old room in Cyprus, Claire is passionate about creating nurturing, stimulating environments where babies feel safe, curious, and confident to explore. She loves sensory and messy play, making the most of our outdoor spaces to support early development and independence.
Warm, welcoming, and endlessly caring, Claire brings both professional expertise and a calm, reassuring presence to Baby Bunnies every single day.
Tara leads our café, The Nest, where she prepares nutritious, home-cooked meals that children truly enjoy. From hearty lunches to freshly baked treats, Tara takes great care in providing balanced food that supports children’s health, well-being, and energy for learning. She is always welcoming, and her warm, friendly approach helps children feel comfortable and confident around food.
Gabby works alongside Tara in The Nest, supporting the preparation of nutritious, freshly made meals and snacks for the children each day. She plays an important role in ensuring food is prepared safely, thoughtfully, and with children’s needs in mind. Gabby’s calm, caring nature helps create a positive mealtime environment where children are encouraged to try new foods and develop healthy eating habits.
Proving that Mini Explorers really is a family-affair, Grandad Bobby is one of the many characters you will hear your children talk about. Grandad Bobby is our resident maintenance guru and groundsman. He helps the children with many of their gardening projects, and oversees the landscaping of the Crabtree Hall grounds. Whilst the children know him as Grandad Bobby, he will be more familiar to many parents as ‘the man on the mower’!
Frequently Asked Questions about Mini Explorers Nursery
What is the Age Range of Children that Mini Explorers Nursery accepts?
Mini Explorers Nursery accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.
What Days & Hours is Mini Explorers Nursery Open?
Mini Explorers Nursery is open: Monday 07:00-18:30, Tuesday 07:00-18:30, Wednesday 07:00-18:30, Thursday 07:00-18:30, Friday 07:00-18:30.
How many Children does Mini Explorers Nursery have capacity for?
Mini Explorers Nursery has capacity for a total of 93 Children.
How far is Mini Explorers Nursery to the centre of Northallerton?
6.7 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 Mini Explorers Nursery to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Mini Explorers Nursery has an Enhanced Service - more info.