Outstanding Practice Recognised at The Little Learners Watford

If you’ve ever walked through the doors of Little Learners Montessori in Watford, you’ve probably heard the sound of children laughing, seen tiny hands covered in flour or paint, or been greeted with a warm smile from one of our team.

This week, we were lucky enough to share that same daily magic with a visitor from Hopscotch Early Years Consultancy, an independent organisation that supports nurseries in delivering the very best for children. Their consultant spent a full day with us, observing practice, asking questions, and getting a real feel for how our nursery runs.

A Few Words That Say Everything

One sentence stood out to us the most:

“The atmosphere is simply fantastic, with imagination, curiosity, and deep engagement evident throughout.”

That’s the heart of what we try to create every day. A place where children feel safe to explore, where learning is joyful, and where relationships are filled with warmth, respect, and trust.

So, What Did the Consultant See?

• Children completely absorbed in their play, mixing dough, splashing in water, counting vegetables, and even drawing road signs in a mini world of cars and traffic lights.
• Babies giggling during peek-a-boo, toddlers naming emotions in mirrors, and pre-schoolers baking in chef hats, learning through laughter and life-like experiences.
• Staff working at children’s level, speaking gently and encouragingly, asking open questions, and helping children stretch their thinking and grow their independence.
• Beautiful, calm mealtimes where children pour their own drinks, try new foods, and chat with friends like a little community.
• Thoughtfully prepared environments indoors and outdoors that invite exploration, from sensory trays to vegetable patches and climbing frames.

The consultant recognised that our Montessori and EYFS curriculum is not just well-planned, but truly lived and breathed across the nursery. Every staff member understood the “why” behind what they do, and it showed in the children’s excitement and confidence.

Why This Visit Mattered

We’re equally proud to be finalists for the Parent Engagement Award, which highlights our consistent dedication to building As some of our long-standing parents will remember, our last Ofsted inspection downgraded us from Outstanding to Good back in July 2024. That decision was disappointing, not just for us as a team, but for families who know how hard we work and the care we pour into everything we do.

We raised our concerns and made a formal complaint, but the outcome didn’t change. So, we focused on what we could control: continuing to do the job we love, with the children at the centre of everything.

This visit, almost a year later, was our chance to showcase the incredible work we do to an independent quality assessor.

This latest visit from Hopscotch has reaffirmed what we’ve always believe that we are still delivering outstanding early years education and care.

Looking Ahead (Because We Never Stand Still)

We’re always learning and improving, it’s part of who we are. The consultant gave us a few small areas to build on: developing a sensory garden, making our curriculum story even clearer to visitors, and continuing to upskill our newer team members. And we’re excited to get started.

Thank You, Always

To every parent who has walked this journey with us, thank you. Your trust means the world. And to those of you thinking about joining our nursery family: we’d love to welcome you in, show you around, and let you experience our atmosphere for yourself.

Because more than anything, we want you to feel what that consultant felt on the day they visited: A place where children are thriving and where they are genuinely loved.

With warmth and pride,

The Little Learners Montessori Watford Team