Guide for parents
Here at Little Owls nurseries we provide high quality, affordable childcare and early years education in a safe and inspiring environment.
We are one of the city’s leading childcare providers, caring for children aged three-months to five-years.
We are proud that all of our nurseries have an ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’ Ofsted rating. Each nursery is managed to the same high standards, yet each one has its own unique atmosphere and surroundings.
At a Little Owls nursery, you’ll find a loving, safe, and nurturing environment, where your child’s individual talents are encouraged to flourish and grow; and children are supported to become happy, confident, and independent learners.
We also offer unique access to a wide range of free resources for families through local children’s centres. We have strong links with local family services, maternity services and health visitors, giving your whole family easy access to free parenting support and advice.
Children from all communities and backgrounds are welcomed at Little Owls nurseries. We’d love you to come and visit your local Little Owls nursery to meet the staff, ask questions and discuss your child’s needs.
Our Team
Welcoming you and your child with a smile every day
We have a warm, talented team of childcare experts at Little Owls. Many of our staff are parents or grandparents themselves and they understand the pressures parents face.
We recruit staff with full and relevant childcare qualifications, as well as apprentices who are paid the Leeds Living Wage. All our staff except our apprentices have at least a level 2 qualification in childcare and many have level 3 or above. Our apprenticeship program ensures that we nurture and grow those new to childcare in a safe and supportive way, learning and observing before being given a full key group of children in their third term with us. Almost all our apprentices go on to secure a permanent post in Little Owls once qualified to level 2. Staff receive paediatric first aid and safeguarding training. We continue learning, with regular training for all teams to ensure we provide the very best care.
When you join us, your child gains a key person, the person who is with your child the most. You’ll see them regularly. Your child’s key person will build strong relationships with you and your child. They ensure your child is safe and happy, also tracking their development and learning.
Learning is at the heart of Little Owls and our qualified and experienced teacher team support each nursery to develop and sustain excellent early years education, giving your child the very best start.
We have a skilled team of support staff and management, including on-site cooks who prepare fresh meals and have access to a dietician who can ensure each child is supported with special menus for allergies and food intolerances if they need them. There is always a vegetarian option.
Little Owls recruits committed, enthusiastic people with a passion for childcare. Come and meet your local team to find out why our parents rate us so highly.
Learning through play
Sparking young imaginations
We provide warm, caring, stimulating settings in which children learn through play. Our nurseries offer different rooms and environments adapted for babies, toddlers and older children aged up to 4.
Our highly trained staff are supported by qualified teachers offering Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum support, helping your child start to learn skills getting them ready for school, from maths to language. Our curriculum for 3–4-year-olds is the same as the one delivered in school nurseries and we work in partnership with schools across Leeds to make sure that your child’s transition to school will be as smooth as possible for both you and your child.
Children enjoy imaginative free play, spending time in our spacious outdoor areas throughout the day. Whether they’re a fan of the mud kitchen, water area or cosy reading nooks, children can follow their needs and interests.
In our large green spaces, the children plant flowers or vegetables, enjoy climbing areas, painting and drawing, and special construction and creative areas, while older children can explore den-making and a bug hotel.
When it rains or is cold you can still find us outside wrapped up against the elements, enjoying splashing in puddles, playing in the snow, or picking up the falling leaves to make collages to take home.
Educational activities boost children’s communication and language development, and we offer individual support plans for children who need a little extra help.
In smaller groups we also run special sessions, such as baking for older children, or songs, dance and rhymes for babies.
In some centres we work with Opera North, Northern Ballet, Leeds Museums and Galleries and other local organisations to provide opportunities to explore the arts.
Keeping in touch: FamlyApp
Don’t miss a moment of your child’s day
With Famly, you’ll be able to access pictures, videos and announcements via the newsfeed, or your child’s profile. At the click of a button, you can update permissions, report sickness and holidays, pay your bill, and send direct messages to us whenever you need. At the same time, there’s a bunch of admin tools and support, that will give our staff even more time to spend with your children.
Mouthwatering meals
Created by a dietician, our tasty meals fill little tummies!
Mealtimes are fun, social occasions at Little Owls. Staff and children enjoy eating and chatting together, and we encourage children to try a range of different foods.
You may find your mouth watering when you read descriptions of your child’s menus. Meals are covered in the cost of day care. Our menus are specially designed by dieticians to be appropriate to your child’s age and stage, and we prepare them freshly onsite every day.
If your child is with us during mealtimes, they can expect nutritional morning snacks, lunch, and a light tea.
We cater for all children with allergies and dietary requirements, offering alternatives for children who cannot eat the main menu. We’ll work closely with you to address your child’s needs.
If your baby is breast or bottle fed when they join us, we’ll take care to keep following your routines. If you are weaning, we will support your preferences and help your child learn to eat independently.
Special educational needs and disabilities support
We welcome children with a range of needs
Little Owls offers excellent support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). We are recognised as one of the best providers of care for children with additional needs in Leeds, and this is reflected in our Ofsted reports.
Children with SEND add a richness to the diversity of our settings and we highly value the progress that all our children make when they are with us. Our aim is to help children to integrate into our nursery settings and support them responsively to reach their full potential.
Little Owls Nurseries work with health and education professionals to ensure that all the children in our care and their parents access available support around raising children with SEND.
We maintain a balance of children with diagnosed and emerging needs and children who have no SEND, to ensure that children with SEND enjoy a fully integrated nursery experience which supports their transition to school. Our team members are also well trained to spot and support any emerging difficulties.
From mild speech delay to life-limiting illnesses, we support each child with understanding and encourage them to be the best they can be.
To get in touch with a specific nursery, please visit our nurseries page.
You can also download our prospectus as a PDF below: