formally
Little Waltham
Nestled in the charming village of Little Waltham, our nursery is surrounded by a supportive local community that feels like family. Children enjoy learning and playing in our private garden, where curiosity and confidence bloom.
Ages: 2-5 years
Number of places: 26
Opening Hours:
8.30-3.30pm
4 days a week
Term-time
Location:
The United Reformed Church
The Street
Little Waltham
CM3 3NT
Operational Hours
When are we open?
Monday: 8.30am – 3.30pm
Tuesday: 8.30am – 3.30pm
Wednesday: 8.30am – 3.30pm
Thursday: Closed
Friday: 8.30am – 3.30pm
What Little Waltham Offers
Outdoor Space At Hillside Gems, outdoor space is essential to learning — children have access throughout the day, with the freedom to continue their play and exploration outside in all weathers. We provide carefully selected equipment to support physical development, helping children strengthen their bodies while building confidence and coordination.
Nutritious & Healthy Meals - At all times! Hillside Gems - Little Waltham currently has a hot-lunch arrangement with Little Waltham Primary school. Menus are displayed weekly on the front door of our nursery. As parents ourselves, we’ve spent our own parental journey preparing home-cooked meals for our little-ones. This same commitment to healthy eating is reflected in the food choices we provide at Hillside. As a family full of dietary needs, we are more than willing to accommodate your child's restrictions or food allergies. Just let us know.
Personalised Settling-in We tailor our settling-in approach to meet the unique needs of each child and family. We endeavour to ensure a smooth transition that fosters a sense of security and comfort from the start. Lets take small steps at a time.
Emotional Well-being: Our First Priority At Hillside, emotional health is not an add-on — it’s the foundation of everything we do. Our 5 Gems Values are carefully woven into each day to give children the language, strategies, and confidence to handle big feelings. From Gem 1’s Emotional Regulation & Positivity to Gem 4’s Kindness & Supportiveness, children don’t just hear about well-being, they practise it: calming themselves after upset, showing generosity in play, collaborating with peers, and taking responsibility as part of our community. This intentional, teacher-led approach means your child learns to shine not just academically, but emotionally too.
Special Educational Needs & Inclusion At Hillside, every child is valued as a unique learner and our inclusive approach ensures that all children receive the support they need to thrive. Our overseeing SENDCo, Adam, holds a Level 7 qualification in Special Educational Needs and is dedicated to creating an environment where all children, including those with additional needs, feel safe, supported and empowered. Adam works closely with families, staff and external professionals to provide tailored strategies, early interventions, and individualised support.
Makaton and Visual Cues * Makaton: We use a child-friendly communication approach that pairs speech with simple signs and symbols. This strategy supports children in developing language skills, expression, and understanding instructions. It enhances early language development, reduces frustration, and makes learning more engaging through songs and stories. * Visual Cues: We use visual timetables and cues to create a clear, structured daily routine. Visual cues help children feel secure, transition smoothly between activities, and build independence. Visuals benefit all learners, including those with additional needs or English as an Additional Language (EAL).
Physical Development Programme We see physical development as a cornerstone of holistic education, fostering a child’s independence, self-regulation, and confidence. Our physical development programme ensures that individual children are able to make progress based on their starting points. We integrate movement with problem-solving, emotional growth, social interactions and self-care.
Phonics in Everyday Learning At Hillside Gems, early phonics is woven into play, conversations and storytelling, making learning effortless and fun. With over a decade of experience as a Phonics Lead, Susie ensures that children explore sounds through songs, rhymes, movement, and sensory play. Educators naturally integrate phonics into daily activities, fostering confident early readers with a love for language.
Skills & Project Workshops * 1:1 Workshop Time : Skills Focus Skills Focus learning time is a one-to-one session tailored to children who are developing at their own pace and have interests that would benefit from individual support. If a child shows a particular interest, like painting, an adult will lead a focused session with a clear learning goal to help the child become confident and independent in using the equipment. * Group Workshops: Project Focused Our adult-led project-based approach connects activities with real-life experiences. Here are some ideas of these enriching activities: cooking, dancing, performing, construction, arts and crafts and planting.
Our Lovely Team at Little Waltham
Susan (Susie)
Manager
Max
Manager (Barn)
Daniela
Deputy Manager
Abigail
Educator
Kerry
Educator
Ellie
Educator
Jordanna
Educator
Faye
Educator (Bank Staff)
