Submit a Review for Mini Explorers Nursery
The Pepper Pot, Crabtree Hall Business Centre, Little Holtby, Northallerton, DL7 9LN
View Full Details of Mini Explorers NurseryLatest Reviews for Mini Explorers Nursery
29 September 2025
My two children absolutely love being Mini Explorers. They're always out and about visiting the animals or the tractors. They always have stories to tell when they come home. The staff are all incredibly friendly and approachable. Nothing is too much trouble. I'd have no issues in recommending Mini Explorers as a nursery to anyone.
22 September 2025
I find this nursery exceptional, not only is the care good but the surroundings and what it has to offer to my child is like no other nursey. My child's sibling also attended this nursery and he loved it, he had extra needs and they provided this unconditionally. I have no negatives about this nursery, staff are always happy to listen to your worries or concerns and put you at ease. The food is great all freshly made.
16 September 2025
Such an amazing facility, the staff are wonderful. I am amazed at the ongoing enthusiasm and diversity in activities including animals, tractors and Christmas trees- external visitors such as ponies, ice cream van,fish and chip van. They populate a wonderful Calander of events through the year to include parents and grandparents in their care. The play areas are wonderful just food fabulous!
16 September 2025
What can I day mini Explorers its such a fantastic nursery my little boy has been attending since he was 10months old and he is now three. The chnage in him is amazing all the ladies there are absolutely fantastic and work so hard. The things they do day to day is outstanding and there is no other nursery like it. They provied so much for all the children and always go that extra mile. I can't thank mini enough for my child's start of an amazing journey! The facilities are amazing the children have so much outside space to explore and the learning that comes with this are the best..
15 September 2025
Mini explorers have been nothing but accommodating towards my child and helping her progress. When she joined in May she was barely able to say 1 word clearly and was struggling with 'school life'. The time and energy the staff have put in to make her feel comfortable and safe enough to grow and thrive is amazing. And now she loves coming to school each day and is speaking more and more each day. Amazing team that actually care about children's growth and will accommodate to the children's learning needs.
05 August 2025
I've had 2 children go through this nursery over the last 3 years and have nothing but good things to say about the setting and the staff in all of the rooms. My children have thoroughly enjoyed their time at the nursery and have made connections with numerous members of the team. Would highly recommend it to anybody looking at a setting for their children.
09 June 2025
Our children have thrived here, they thoroughly enjoy attending and the activities they do. The food is brilliant and children with allergies are well catered for. The outdoor learning environment is amazing and the children are out in all weathers. Communication with parents has improved but we are never asked our opinions or thoughts on things. Staff turn over is high, there are some long standing members of staff but often staff move on. This is a higher end priced nursery and over the past few years prices have soared well above inflation. The price structure can be unfair, charging parents when it is bank holidays or the nursery is closed over Christmas so children can't attend if parents wanted them to. If you have a half day it is considerably more and you have to pay for lunch on top. There is no flexibility in when you use your funded hours it is a one time bracket fits all. Overall from a child care provider I do highly recommend Mini's.
23 September 2024
Things we would recommend - beautiful outdoor setting (forest school every day, including coming home very muddy!). - some staff in the rooms are brilliant. Things we don't recommend - poor communication with management, e.g. changing T&Cs of our payments without any notice and not being forthcoming with information when asked for details. - unfair bank holiday policy, including a consumable charge when no items are consumed. - 12% April price increase, well above inflation. - Feeling penalised as a customer needing additional days above funded hours e.g. swapping to term time only and having to continue to pay full price to keep the day, when families using only funded hours don't. - Not feeling listened to as a parent is hard, after an incident with our child using a hot tap in the children's sink, a warning sign was put up (can any children at the nursery read?). On balance, we would say our child would recommend the nursery, but, as parents, we would not recommend the customer service.
06 September 2023
My daughter has been going to Mini Explorers for a year, and it is the most amazing place. She’s so happy, loves all the activities and is excited to go there in the morning. I can’t recommend this nursery enough - absolutely fantastic with lovely staff who are always supportive and helpful.
06 September 2023
The most perfect nursery we could ask for. We are so happy that we found Mini Explorers Nursery as it is the ideal setting for our daughter. It’s based on a gorgeous farm/hall estate and the children’s time there is centred around being outdoors and exploring the wonderful scenery. They go out and see the various farm animals, watch the machinery at work, and take in the nature surrounding them. The staff are absolutely brilliant, always smiling and extremely professional - shout out to one member of staff in particular who is a superstar! They seem to really care about staff progression and celebrate their staff’s achievements which is so important. We feel so confident that our daughter is in safe hands and is going to have a fantastic day every time we drop her off. The facilities are amazing, with separate rooms/buildings for each age group but they will often come together for meals/celebrations which is really lovely. All in all, we would recommend Mini Explorers to everyone!
01 September 2023
This is a truly incredible nursery! The farm concept allows the children to spend the majority of their day outside exploring and having fun with their friends and children are given learning opportunities like no other. Feeding the animals, watching the farmer and running through the fields to name just a few activities that have happened this year. All snacks and meals are clearly carefully planned to develop the little ones' taste buds as well as being nutritionally beneficial, from roast dinner to BBQs around the fire pit (the odd hot chocolate in the field is an added treat), we are always amazed when the menus are shared. The highlight for us, as parents, is the staff. Our daughter joined when she was almost 1 and the love and care she was shown in Hoppity Hares, by not only her key worker but all the staff, meant that we have never had any separation issues at drop off. Toddlers has been equally as amazing this year, roll on the fun and frivolities of Farm School One!
01 September 2023
Mini Explorers has done wonders for our child’s development especially for being in a gorgeous outdoor setting. The Mini Explorers management team along with the incredible educators have been nothing but brilliant in helping develop and meet our daughter's needs. Our daughter has Special Educational Needs and an Autism diagnosis and Mini Explorers have met her needs more then we could have hoped. Working alongside the SenCo and having a 1-1 support assigned to our daughter has been amazing. The communication between us and the setting is easy and has made us feel comfortable and secure in knowing our daughter is being given the best chance possible being included alongside the other children and educators. We couldn’t have asked for a better place to send our daughter and the development from when she started to now is amazing. I would recommend Mini Explorers highly.
01 September 2023
The absolute best nursery, I don’t have a bad word to say. My daughter is absolutely thriving thanks to the whole team at Mini Explorers. She loves going to nursery, even on her days off it’s all she speaks about. They’re always outdoors playing, going on adventures and seeing their animals. The meals that get made for children are always amazing, I get jealous when I see on the app all the lovely food they’ve had each day. It really is an amazing nursery in every single aspect, I wouldn’t want my girl anywhere else.
01 September 2023
I could not recommend Mini Explorers enough. My little boy has been tube-fed since he was 6 weeks old and I knew finding a nursery to accommodate his needs wouldn’t be easy but the management/staff at Mini Explorers couldn’t have done more to help us. They welcomed him with open arms and every member of staff who played a part in his care learned how to feed him so quickly and with such confidence, it really did put my mind at ease that he was in safe hands when I went back to work. I couldn’t fault them in any way as they have everything and more anyone could ever ask from a nursery and taking care of their children. They provided him with such love and care, nothing was ever too much trouble when it came to his extra needs. He loved his time there in hoppity hares and the toddler room and settled in so quickly, he was very happy and all the girls are just amazing! We are very lucky he had such a wonderful start to his educational journey and I can’t thank you all enough!
01 September 2023
I have two children at Mini Explorers who are 3 years and 12 months and we have been using this fantastic nursery for over 2 years now. They provide the most incredible learning environment for the children, utilising the farm and land around them to the full. They are outside come rain or shine, and they expose the children to things that most standard nurseries couldn’t even dream of. There are always lots of parent engagement activities and we get lots of daily updates both on the app and at pick-up. The food is phenomenal, all home cooked and offering superb variety and flavours. The staff are always so helpful and my children have grown very attached to them throughout their time. I couldn’t recommend it more highly - a home from home.
01 September 2023
Amazing opportunities for all children to learn outside and on the farm! Learning all about the real world and environment around them. My children love it here. And really thrive from their sessions at nursery. Not to mention the food is amazing and includes some homegrown fruit and veg!
01 September 2023
The most wonderful nursery, staff and environment! My son has been going to Mini’s for two years, and I couldn’t be happier with every aspect. The food is cooked onsite using local organic produce and is varied. The outdoor environment is fantastic in all weather, which creates learning in a great environment. I could not be more grateful for the highest level of care that is given by the teams in the rooms to the management.
01 September 2023
Mini Explores provide such a fun, caring, adventurous environment where learning and the outdoors are at the forefront. Marvellous staff that are passionate about their jobs and is demonstrated in their caring attitude towards all the children.
01 September 2023
This has been one of the best choices for our little boy! He absolutely loves it, and we have loved everything he does there. He is in his element, playing outside, in the mud, splashing in puddles, and just being an adventurer! Everything is provided, most importantly, the snacks, which isn’t that every child’s favourite time of the day?! The staff are fantastic, and he runs in happily on a morning, ready to start his day! The outside space is amazing, and feeding the animals whilst learning all at the same time - he even teaches us about different farming machinery now! We always knew this was the right place for him as he just loves the outdoors and will soon be sending our youngest there. From singing and drinking hot chocolate around the campfire to growing their own vegetable, this really is a child’s heaven! The nursery also gets the whole family involved, which is lovely - firework displays and nativities, there is so much going on!
01 September 2023
A lovely experience, as always, with all the team at Minis; they look after and genuinely care about my daughter's well-being and learning. Always catering to her interests with the rest of her friends. She has developed great relationships at Minis with young and adults alike.
Latest Reviews for Mini Explorers Nursery
29 September 2025
My two children absolutely love being Mini Explorers. They're always out and about visiting the animals or the tractors. They always have stories to tell when they come home. The staff are all incredibly friendly and approachable. Nothing is too much trouble. I'd have no issues in recommending Mini Explorers as a nursery to anyone.
22 September 2025
I find this nursery exceptional, not only is the care good but the surroundings and what it has to offer to my child is like no other nursey. My child's sibling also attended this nursery and he loved it, he had extra needs and they provided this unconditionally. I have no negatives about this nursery, staff are always happy to listen to your worries or concerns and put you at ease. The food is great all freshly made.
16 September 2025
Such an amazing facility, the staff are wonderful. I am amazed at the ongoing enthusiasm and diversity in activities including animals, tractors and Christmas trees- external visitors such as ponies, ice cream van,fish and chip van. They populate a wonderful Calander of events through the year to include parents and grandparents in their care. The play areas are wonderful just food fabulous!
16 September 2025
What can I day mini Explorers its such a fantastic nursery my little boy has been attending since he was 10months old and he is now three. The chnage in him is amazing all the ladies there are absolutely fantastic and work so hard. The things they do day to day is outstanding and there is no other nursery like it. They provied so much for all the children and always go that extra mile. I can't thank mini enough for my child's start of an amazing journey! The facilities are amazing the children have so much outside space to explore and the learning that comes with this are the best..
15 September 2025
Mini explorers have been nothing but accommodating towards my child and helping her progress. When she joined in May she was barely able to say 1 word clearly and was struggling with 'school life'. The time and energy the staff have put in to make her feel comfortable and safe enough to grow and thrive is amazing. And now she loves coming to school each day and is speaking more and more each day. Amazing team that actually care about children's growth and will accommodate to the children's learning needs.
05 August 2025
I've had 2 children go through this nursery over the last 3 years and have nothing but good things to say about the setting and the staff in all of the rooms. My children have thoroughly enjoyed their time at the nursery and have made connections with numerous members of the team. Would highly recommend it to anybody looking at a setting for their children.
09 June 2025
Our children have thrived here, they thoroughly enjoy attending and the activities they do. The food is brilliant and children with allergies are well catered for. The outdoor learning environment is amazing and the children are out in all weathers. Communication with parents has improved but we are never asked our opinions or thoughts on things. Staff turn over is high, there are some long standing members of staff but often staff move on. This is a higher end priced nursery and over the past few years prices have soared well above inflation. The price structure can be unfair, charging parents when it is bank holidays or the nursery is closed over Christmas so children can't attend if parents wanted them to. If you have a half day it is considerably more and you have to pay for lunch on top. There is no flexibility in when you use your funded hours it is a one time bracket fits all. Overall from a child care provider I do highly recommend Mini's.
23 September 2024
Things we would recommend - beautiful outdoor setting (forest school every day, including coming home very muddy!). - some staff in the rooms are brilliant. Things we don't recommend - poor communication with management, e.g. changing T&Cs of our payments without any notice and not being forthcoming with information when asked for details. - unfair bank holiday policy, including a consumable charge when no items are consumed. - 12% April price increase, well above inflation. - Feeling penalised as a customer needing additional days above funded hours e.g. swapping to term time only and having to continue to pay full price to keep the day, when families using only funded hours don't. - Not feeling listened to as a parent is hard, after an incident with our child using a hot tap in the children's sink, a warning sign was put up (can any children at the nursery read?). On balance, we would say our child would recommend the nursery, but, as parents, we would not recommend the customer service.
06 September 2023
My daughter has been going to Mini Explorers for a year, and it is the most amazing place. She’s so happy, loves all the activities and is excited to go there in the morning. I can’t recommend this nursery enough - absolutely fantastic with lovely staff who are always supportive and helpful.
06 September 2023
The most perfect nursery we could ask for. We are so happy that we found Mini Explorers Nursery as it is the ideal setting for our daughter. It’s based on a gorgeous farm/hall estate and the children’s time there is centred around being outdoors and exploring the wonderful scenery. They go out and see the various farm animals, watch the machinery at work, and take in the nature surrounding them. The staff are absolutely brilliant, always smiling and extremely professional - shout out to one member of staff in particular who is a superstar! They seem to really care about staff progression and celebrate their staff’s achievements which is so important. We feel so confident that our daughter is in safe hands and is going to have a fantastic day every time we drop her off. The facilities are amazing, with separate rooms/buildings for each age group but they will often come together for meals/celebrations which is really lovely. All in all, we would recommend Mini Explorers to everyone!
01 September 2023
This is a truly incredible nursery! The farm concept allows the children to spend the majority of their day outside exploring and having fun with their friends and children are given learning opportunities like no other. Feeding the animals, watching the farmer and running through the fields to name just a few activities that have happened this year. All snacks and meals are clearly carefully planned to develop the little ones' taste buds as well as being nutritionally beneficial, from roast dinner to BBQs around the fire pit (the odd hot chocolate in the field is an added treat), we are always amazed when the menus are shared. The highlight for us, as parents, is the staff. Our daughter joined when she was almost 1 and the love and care she was shown in Hoppity Hares, by not only her key worker but all the staff, meant that we have never had any separation issues at drop off. Toddlers has been equally as amazing this year, roll on the fun and frivolities of Farm School One!
01 September 2023
Mini Explorers has done wonders for our child’s development especially for being in a gorgeous outdoor setting. The Mini Explorers management team along with the incredible educators have been nothing but brilliant in helping develop and meet our daughter's needs. Our daughter has Special Educational Needs and an Autism diagnosis and Mini Explorers have met her needs more then we could have hoped. Working alongside the SenCo and having a 1-1 support assigned to our daughter has been amazing. The communication between us and the setting is easy and has made us feel comfortable and secure in knowing our daughter is being given the best chance possible being included alongside the other children and educators. We couldn’t have asked for a better place to send our daughter and the development from when she started to now is amazing. I would recommend Mini Explorers highly.
01 September 2023
The absolute best nursery, I don’t have a bad word to say. My daughter is absolutely thriving thanks to the whole team at Mini Explorers. She loves going to nursery, even on her days off it’s all she speaks about. They’re always outdoors playing, going on adventures and seeing their animals. The meals that get made for children are always amazing, I get jealous when I see on the app all the lovely food they’ve had each day. It really is an amazing nursery in every single aspect, I wouldn’t want my girl anywhere else.
01 September 2023
I could not recommend Mini Explorers enough. My little boy has been tube-fed since he was 6 weeks old and I knew finding a nursery to accommodate his needs wouldn’t be easy but the management/staff at Mini Explorers couldn’t have done more to help us. They welcomed him with open arms and every member of staff who played a part in his care learned how to feed him so quickly and with such confidence, it really did put my mind at ease that he was in safe hands when I went back to work. I couldn’t fault them in any way as they have everything and more anyone could ever ask from a nursery and taking care of their children. They provided him with such love and care, nothing was ever too much trouble when it came to his extra needs. He loved his time there in hoppity hares and the toddler room and settled in so quickly, he was very happy and all the girls are just amazing! We are very lucky he had such a wonderful start to his educational journey and I can’t thank you all enough!
01 September 2023
I have two children at Mini Explorers who are 3 years and 12 months and we have been using this fantastic nursery for over 2 years now. They provide the most incredible learning environment for the children, utilising the farm and land around them to the full. They are outside come rain or shine, and they expose the children to things that most standard nurseries couldn’t even dream of. There are always lots of parent engagement activities and we get lots of daily updates both on the app and at pick-up. The food is phenomenal, all home cooked and offering superb variety and flavours. The staff are always so helpful and my children have grown very attached to them throughout their time. I couldn’t recommend it more highly - a home from home.
01 September 2023
Amazing opportunities for all children to learn outside and on the farm! Learning all about the real world and environment around them. My children love it here. And really thrive from their sessions at nursery. Not to mention the food is amazing and includes some homegrown fruit and veg!
01 September 2023
The most wonderful nursery, staff and environment! My son has been going to Mini’s for two years, and I couldn’t be happier with every aspect. The food is cooked onsite using local organic produce and is varied. The outdoor environment is fantastic in all weather, which creates learning in a great environment. I could not be more grateful for the highest level of care that is given by the teams in the rooms to the management.
01 September 2023
Mini Explores provide such a fun, caring, adventurous environment where learning and the outdoors are at the forefront. Marvellous staff that are passionate about their jobs and is demonstrated in their caring attitude towards all the children.
01 September 2023
This has been one of the best choices for our little boy! He absolutely loves it, and we have loved everything he does there. He is in his element, playing outside, in the mud, splashing in puddles, and just being an adventurer! Everything is provided, most importantly, the snacks, which isn’t that every child’s favourite time of the day?! The staff are fantastic, and he runs in happily on a morning, ready to start his day! The outside space is amazing, and feeding the animals whilst learning all at the same time - he even teaches us about different farming machinery now! We always knew this was the right place for him as he just loves the outdoors and will soon be sending our youngest there. From singing and drinking hot chocolate around the campfire to growing their own vegetable, this really is a child’s heaven! The nursery also gets the whole family involved, which is lovely - firework displays and nativities, there is so much going on!
01 September 2023
A lovely experience, as always, with all the team at Minis; they look after and genuinely care about my daughter's well-being and learning. Always catering to her interests with the rest of her friends. She has developed great relationships at Minis with young and adults alike.