Our Philosophy
Our Story
Little Tots was founded in 2001 by Julie Torrible and Heather Schofield, two educators who shared a love of children and a passion for combining Montessori learning with modern early years practice. In 2024, Natasha Ascott became the proud owner, bringing with her a background in teaching, a degree in child psychology, and most importantly, a genuine care for every child who walks through our doors.
Natasha's vision is simple: to create an exceptional nursery experience where children feel safe, nurtured, and inspired every single day. She believes in bringing awe and wonder into daily learning and invests wholeheartedly in high-quality resources, meaningful experiences, and the wellbeing of both children and staff.
What We Believe
Every Child is Unique
We recognise that all children are individuals with different needs, interests, and ways of learning. Our teaching approaches are tailored to celebrate these differences and help each child reach their full potential.
Safe and Joyful Learning
Children learn best when they feel secure and happy. Our nursery has a warm, family feel that helps children feel ready to explore, discover, and grow.
Partnership with Parents
Parents are their child's first and most important teachers. We work as true partners with families, welcoming you into your child's learning journey and supporting you to continue this development at home.
Our Daily Principles
Nutritious Eating
We believe good nutrition supports good learning. Each child brings a piece of fruit or vegetable to share at snack time, teaching generosity and healthy choices. Water is always available, and we provide well-balanced hot meals or welcome packed lunches from home. Mealtimes are relaxed, social occasions where children learn table manners and enjoy each other's company.
Practical Clothing
Children need to move, explore, and sometimes get messy! We encourage comfortable, manageable clothes that children aren't afraid to play in. While we offer optional polo shirts and jumpers, the most important thing is that your child feels free to learn through play. We always have spare clothes available and ask that you bring waterproofs and wellies for our outdoor adventures.
Our People
Qualified, Caring Staff
Our team is made up of fully qualified and experienced early years practitioners who genuinely love working with children. We maintain excellent adult-to-child ratios and bring in specialist teachers for activities like yoga, dance, and Forest School. Every member of our team is committed to seeing, nurturing, and inspiring the children in our care. Meet our team.
Open Communication
We believe the best outcomes happen when everyone works together. Our staff are always available to chat, and you can arrange meetings with nursery managers whenever needed.
Technology That Connects
Through our EY Parent app, you can see photos, videos, and notes from your child's day at nursery. Better yet, you can share your own photos and observations from home, creating a complete picture of your child's development. This partnership approach ensures we're all working together to give your child the very best start in life.
Our Promise
At Little Tots, we promise to celebrate every success, support every challenge, and nurture every dream. We're not just caring for your child during nursery hours – we're partners in their early years journey, committed to giving them the confidence, skills, and joy in learning that will serve them throughout their lives.
Choosing your child's first educational experience is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a parent. We're here to answer any questions and welcome you into our nursery family.