Our Story                     

Happy Hearts, Curious Minds, Bright Futures

We believe childhood is a magical time of wonder, joy and discovery. We celebrate each child’s uniqueness and are committed to providing a nurturing, safe, and inclusive environment where children feel free to explore, play and grow, developing the independence and resilience they need for the adventures ahead. Guided by strong moral values, we model kindness, fairness, integrity and respect in all we do. We teach children to care for themselves, others and the world around them, developing empathy, honesty and responsibility. These values shape our relationships, our practice, and how we support children to become confident, compassionate and principled members of their community and the wider world.

To nurture happy hearts and curious minds in a warm, caring, stimulating and secure environment where children feel safe, confident and free to be themselves. We inspire a lifelong love of learning while developing independence, kindness, resilience and integrity through joyful, meaningful play, and loving guidance - preparing children for the next stage of their learning journey and beyond with confidence and excitement, enabling them to fulfil their potential and become active contributors to the community and the wider world.

We aim for every child to leave Leigh Lollipops with:

• A strong sense of self-worth and emotional security
• A lifelong love of learning
• Confidence to embrace new challenges
• Values of kindness, honesty, respect, and resilience
• Cherished memories of magical early years
• Independence and readiness for the next stage of their journey
• The ability to fulfil their potential and become active contributors to the community and the wider world

• Happiness and Wellbeing - We prioritise joy, laughter and positive mental health, nurturing happy hearts
• Kindness - We model compassion, empathy and care, supporting positive contributions to others
• Curiosity and a Love of Learning – We celebrate curious minds through exploration, creativity and a lifelong love of learning about the world around us, building bright futures
• Safety and Security - We provide a warm, caring and secure environment where children feel safe, confident and free to be themselves
• Respect and Inclusion - We value each child and embrace diversity within our community and the wider world
• Confidence, Independence and Resilience - We help children believe in themselves, embrace challenge and grow into active contributors to their community and the wider world
• Integrity - We act with honesty, consistency and fairness in all relationships
• Partnership with Parents - We work closely with families, listening, valuing and involving them in all aspects of Nursery life and the wider community

Together, our ethos, mission, vision and values ensure Leigh Lollipops is a place where children feel truly at home - where learning is an adventure and happiness, curiosity, safety and kindness shape every moment of the day. We are passionate about creating an environment where every child is known, valued and understood, and where their individuality is celebrated and nurtured.

This strong foundation underpins our promise to families: that every child will be cared for, inspired and supported to thrive with confidence, resilience, and joy. We are committed to helping each child develop the skills, attitudes and dispositions they need not only for their next steps in learning, but for life - building bright futures as confident, capable and compassionate individuals.

We have a wonderful garden and like to spend as much time as we can in it! We take the children of lots of countryside and woodland walks, fostering an interest in, and appreciation of, nature, the outdoors and the rural environment.  We teach the children how and why the rural landscape, and the activities of the countryside, change with the seasons.  The children love 'wet wellie walks' and following trails through the woods.

Our team is at the heart of everything we do. Warm, experienced, and genuinely caring, they create a nurturing environment where every child feels safe, valued, supported, and able to thrive.

We are proud to be a teacher-led nursery, with our Head of Nursery holding Qualified Teacher Status, a Bachelor of Education (Honours) Degree, and the National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership - one of the first early years leaders to achieve this highly regarded qualification.

Alongside strong qualifications and experience, our team shares a real passion for early years education and building meaningful relationships with children and families. Every member of staff is fully vetted with enhanced DBS checks and meets all Ofsted requirements.

Ongoing training and professional development are central to our ethos, helping our team stay up to date with best practice across all areas of childcare and early years learning. Currently, 75% of staff hold Paediatric First Aid certificates, and staff regularly attend further training to continually develop their knowledge and skills.

We believe in investing in our people. By encouraging reflective practice, continual learning, and personal growth, we create a positive and supportive culture where our staff can flourish - and in turn provide the very best care and education for every child.

Families often tell us how much they value the trusting relationships they build with our team, and we are always here with a smile, a listening ear, and a helping hand.

Leigh Lollipops provides an environment in which all children, including those with special educational needs, are supported to reach their full potential.  The Nursery SENDCo (Special Educational Needs’ and Disability Co-ordinator) plans, implements, monitors, evaluates and reviews individual support plans (ISPs) to ensure that the Nursery is putting in place effective support for each child with special educational needs, and we work closely with families and other external agencies to ensure a whole team approach to meeting these needs.  All staff work together to provide a caring environment, within which, the contributions of all children and parents/carers are valued. Staff maintain high expectations for all children and continuously provide opportunities for them to succeed and build their self-esteem.

Leigh Lollipops Nursery is a non-profit making organistation, run by a parent committee, and registered with the Charity Commission.

Registered Charity Number 1033808