About Us

Where curious minds create awe and wonder for everyone

About Us

Where curious minds create awe and wonder for everyone

Lime Tree nursery is a small family run business operating 7 children’s day nurseries across Rotherham, Barnsley and North Notts, catering for children from birth to five years.

We pride ourselves on providing a home from home environment, where you become part of our family as we welcome you into our world of early years.

Using the methods and ethos of The Curiosity Approach, we seek to create an inclusive, child-led environment, based on the children’s interests, building upon their knowledge and skills so they are ready for school and beyond.   Your child will have lots of opportunities to learn through play, encouraging their unique personality to shine by nurturing their curiosity and enthusiasm. We take them on a journey of exploration guided by fully qualified Early Years Practitioners and enhanced by our provision of natural resources.

We have rich environments, full of open-ended resources, authentic items, and loose parts. We have removed ‘toys’ which have a set purpose and can limit play. By replacing toys with these open ended resources, we allow our children the freedom and creativity to problem solve, use their imaginations and extend their play in any way they choose.

A stick is not just a stick….to a child it can be a wand, sword, potion mixer, paint brush, spade, the imagination, and creativity has no limit.

We aim to teach children ‘how’ to think rather than ‘what’ to think.

Our Ethos

Our ethos here at Lime Tree Nurseries’, is to help lay the foundations for a full, enriched, and happy start to each one of our children’s early years and education. We strive to provide the children with life skills which they need to thrive throughout their lives, all while giving them a sense of belonging, encouraging self-independence, confidence, and the ability to spread kindness.

Incorporating curiosity and awe and wonder into our nursery life encourages the children to become more adventurous and explore happiness and enjoyment within a nurturing environment.

Children playing
Reading outside

Our staff teams

We believe that a well trained and qualified workforce is key to providing quality care and learning opportunities for children and to support our childcare and education philosophy.

Our staff have been very carefully selected following Safer Recruitment guidance and all hold an enhanced DBS check. They are highly trained and hold recognised childcare qualifications in caring for children.  In order to maintain this level of quality, childcare standards and performance are continually monitored. All staff have the opportunity to participate in continual professional development and training throughout the year.  Regular team meetings and in-house training further promotes a feeling of team spirit and encourages staff to feel proud of the important role they play in your child’s development.

We pride ourselves on all our staff being Paediatric First aid trained. Lime Tree nursery is one of the few to have completed and gained the Millie’s Mark accreditation.

FAQ

How early do I need to put my child’s name down for a place?

We recommend as soon as possible to secure your place as the nurseries can fill up very fast.

How do I book a place for my child?

You can contact our nursery managers by telephone or email to arrange to have a look around the nursery and complete the paperwork.

Can my child visit before starting their sessions?

To ensure a smooth transition into nursery we recommend at least 3 settling-in visits for all children to enable them to adapt to their new surroundings and to meet staff and children in the room. Where possible, we suggest this is done over 2 weeks to ensure there is time if required, to increase the number of visits.

How often are your nurseries inspected by Ofsted?

OFSTED inspections take place approximately once every cycle, this is normally between 2 and 5 years. New settings are inspected with 2½ years of opening.

Are all staff DBS (police checked)?

Yes, all staff have to have a DBS check completed when they first start at Lime Tree Nursery. All staff are signed up to the DBS update service which allows us to regular check there have been no changes to the DBS status.

Do all staff currently hold a relevant level 3 qualification?

Our staff are qualified to Level 3 in childcare or higher. Staff who do not hold a level 3 qualification are currently studying towards one on our apprenticeship programme.

Are all the staff First aid trained?

All our staff are first aid trained.

How will my child’s progress be checked throughout nursery?

Every child is allocated a key person who will get to know and develop a special bond with your child. They will plan activities based on your child’s interests and complete their learning development journal through observation and link to progress within the EYFS. You will be able to access this through the Family app.

My child has special educational needs and disability (SEND), can they still attend Lime Tree Nursery

They most certainly can. We are a fully inclusive nursery and will adapt our care to the individual needs of each child who attends, where possible. At Lime Tree Nursery, in addition to the SENDCo (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator) based in the nursery, we have a SEND team who provide support, advice and guidance to the Nursery SENDCo for those children who present with additional needs.

How often will my child play outside?

We go outside daily in all-weathers within nursery and where children have direct access to the outdoors we operate free flow play (children choose whether they want to play inside or out).

Do you go for walk/trips?

Yes, it’s important that the children learn about their the local community. We go out on local walks to the park, to visit the library etc.

How can I pay for my childcare fees?

We accept payment by bank transfer, cash and childcare vouchers. We are registered with most childcare voucher companies for parents who receive childcare vouchers through work.

Do you offer 2,3 & 4yr old funded places?

Yes, we offer funded places for eligible 2 year olds, and 3-4 year olds are eligible for 15 and 30 hours free childcare. You can read more about Tax Free Childcare and funded places here (link to more info).

Is there a family discount available if you have more than one child attending the nursery?

Yes, if you have siblings at nursery, there will be a reduction in fees. Please speak to the Nursery Manager at your nursery for more details.

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