Small Friends Day Nursery

15 Rectory Grove, Leigh-on-Sea SS9 2HA
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9.8 61 Reviews
  • Small Friends Day Nursery, Leigh-on-Sea
Conveniently located in Leigh-on-Sea, Small Friends Day Nursery provides a warm and welcoming atmosphere designed to support your child’s growth, learning, and play. The nursery offers exceptional care, enriched by unique learning opportunities for your child. One such experience is child-friendly cooking classes, helping to equip children with valuable skills and deeper knowledge of the cooking process.

The ethos at Small Friends is around the child’s happiness and wellbeing. The four large nursery rooms are complemented by a nursery garden and a beach house, which is dedicated to investigation and creativity through small parts play.

The home from home setting means that relationships play an important role at Small Friends; between the team and the children as well as between the children and their friends. They have four large playrooms, a garden and a beach house for the children to play and explore.

The children often visit the Old Leigh Beach, to further enrich their learning experiences. These outings offer the children a unique opportunity for exploration, sensory play, and fostering a love for the outdoors. It also gives the children the chance to further their social skills, build confidence, and encourage curiosity as they discover the natural world.

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Care Provided by Small Friends Day Nursery

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Julie Rayner (Nursery Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 15
  • Total Places for Children
  • 60
  • Age Range
    • from 2 years 0 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:30-18:30
    Tuesday 07:30-18:30
    Wednesday 07:30-18:30
    Thursday 07:30-18:30
    Friday 07:30-18:30
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays & Christmas

Funding & Fees Guide for Small Friends Day Nursery

  • Full Day Session £90.30

  • A £100 non-refundable registration fee is required to secure a place. Exact days of attendance should be confirmed no later than 6 weeks prior to the child’s start date. Any changes are subject to availability.
  • Parking

  • Local car parks near as well as off street parking available.


Small Friends Day Nursery Reviews (61)

Total of 61, showing 21-40
9.8

Small Friends Day Nursery has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.837) out of 10, based on 22 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Small Friends Day Nursery has 61 reviews.

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Review from Leila T (Mother of Child) published on 22 March 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff are amazing - they are lovely and friendly and genuinely care for the children. There are great activities for the children to do daily, and they get the children involved and learn about lots of different events throughout the year. The nursery is clean and well organised, with lots of visual
learning on the walls and the children’s artwork on display. My son loves going here! I highly recommend this nursery.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Thank you so much for your review; we really appreciate it!


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Review from Jade G (Mother of Child) published on 22 March 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very happy with the care my daughter receives. She is happy going in and leaving. She loves the food and always talks about what she has eaten that day. She is now starting to talk about friends. I love seeing updates on the app and seeing what she has been doing.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Thank you for your review and for taking the time to write it; we really appreciate it!


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Review from J J (Mother of Child) published on 23 February 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been at Small Friends for a year. I can not speak highly enough of this lovely nursery and its staff; they continue to exceed my expectations and have assisted us with some things we have needed to work through. I'm so grateful for the care, support and creative learning they bring to my
son's little world.
The communication is brilliant, and more importantly, my little guy has a very happy time there, and I feel content that he's safe and happy. Thank you to the manager and all the team.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Thank you ever so much for your review; we really appreciate it!


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Review from N V (Mother of Child) published on 25 November 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Have been really pleased with Small Friends ever since my children started there over a year ago. My kids run in every time they go, and they come out with smiles on their faces. The outdoor space is minimal, but unfortunately, that is the case with many nurseries in the area. It is a well-run and organised
setting, where the kids seem to have lots of fun with varied activities and good learning.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Hi, and thank you for your review; we really appreciate it!


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Review from T A (Mother of Child) published on 14 November 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Fantastic nursery.
Really friendly and welcoming. My child has thrived since starting in August 2021. I love how creative the nursery is. My child spends their days learning through play. My child has some health issues, and I have been very impressed at how the nursery has dealt with these.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Thank you for taking the time to write this review; we really appreciate it!


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Review from Tegwen H (Mother of Child) published on 11 November 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been attending Small Friends nursery for the last two months and loves it!
The staff are so smiley and friendly and have put me at ease.
I would recommend this nursery to everyone.
He wasn't keen on his last childminder and would be really upset.
This is a totally different experience,
and I feel much less anxious about leaving him.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Thank you so much for your review! We are so happy to hear how well your son has settled into the nursery.


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Review from S R (Mother of Child) published on 8 November 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I've had a child at this nursery since 2018, and the standards haven't changed. My son attended until he went to school and loved this nursery. My daughter now attends and has a lovely time here. My main reason for reviewing this is the staff; they're the best! They are warm, welcoming and kind to the
children, and that helps my children feel safe and cared for. The entire staff are incredible.
The resources are great, the chef is lovely, and the management team are excellent. The only negative is the lack of outdoor space, and the building itself isn't huge, but being so centrally located to the town means some sacrifices have to be made, and the entire team try to make the space feel bigger than it is.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Thank you for taking the time to write this review; we really appreciate it. Our staff at Small Friends work above and beyond and will be so delighted with your comments. Thank you again!


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Review from Brioni M (Mother of Child) published on 8 September 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son just finished at Small friends after nearly 1.5 years. He has loved the nursery from day one and never hesitated to go in each morning. He made lots of friends, and although he is a shy little boy, his confidence has grown so much since starting. He starts in reception next month, and I am confident
the transition will be smooth, thanks to the preparation he has gained from the preschool room. He is using the toilet himself, eating really well, trying new foods etc; he plays nicely and shares with other children, his speech and communication are really good, and all these things I put down to him attending Small Friends and the amazing staff there. The only thing I would say is the updates via the app are a bit sporadic; however, I fully support the decision to focus entirely on the children and not be uploading things on the computer or phones. It's only that I like to know what he's been up to, and he doesn't tell me much at the end of each day!

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Thank you for your review; we really appreciate it! As a group, we are always trying to improve our communication with our families. We aim to provide high-quality and regular updates through our social media channels, monthly nursery newsletter, bi-monthly group newsletter and via our app. Following the recent changes to the EYFS in September 2021, the number of updates that you will receive on the app will have reduced to once per week. The new EYFS curriculum aims to reduce the nursery team’s the paperwork/admin workload so that they can spend more valuable time with the children in their care. Thank you again for your review.


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Review from A W (Mother of Child) published on 2 August 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We absolutely love Small Friends. We moved to the area in November 2019, and my daughter immediately joined Small Friends after being at home with a nanny prior to this. Since joining, she absolutely excelled in social and communication skills and looks forward to every day at nursery. The move to the
pre-school room was made super easy and actually a really exciting time. She loves talking about her friends and 'grown-up friends' at nursery and telling me about everything she gets up to. Any challenging issues are always dealt with, with the utmost professionalism. We will be sad to leave when she joins school but will definitely be back with her baby brother soon.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Thank you for taking the time to write this review; we really appreciate it! We are delighted to hear how well your daughter has developed during her time at nursery!


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Review from Norelle G (Mother of Child) published on 2 August 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son had been very anxious starting at nursery at the end of June, and the staff are very patient and accommodating with him. Communication between us and the nursery has been great! Lovely staff and facilities.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Thank you so much for your review; we really appreciate it!


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Review from Jon B (Father of Child) published on 28 July 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Small Friends is simply an amazing nursery. I have two boys and have lived in a few locations, so have experience in several nurseries. Small Friends is by far the best I have ever experienced. My son loves going; he gets to play and learn with lots of variety. All the staff are exceptional and unbelievably
caring. My son is graduating to start school this year and is very sad to leave. I can't recommend this nursery and all its staff highly enough. Thanks for everything you have done for us!

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Thank you for taking the time to write this review; we really appreciate it!


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Review from Lerissa L (Mother of Child) published on 27 July 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Fantastic experience for my son over the last few years. He has come on leaps and bounds with all the help from everyone. He will be sad to be leaving all the teachers and his friends. Thank you all at Small Friends!

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Thank you for your review; we really appreciate it!


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Review from L S (Mother of Child) published on 26 July 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Small Friends, led by the manager and a great team, has been fantastic for my 3-year-old. When she joined 6 months ago, she had limited speech and found interacting with other children difficult. But under the manager and her team, she is flourishing and now talks about her day and her friends at nursery.
Small Friends has been fantastic for her development.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Thank you so much for your review; we really appreciate it! We are delighted to hear how much your daughter has thrived in her time at our nursery and that she is developing well.


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Review from R E (Mother of Child) published on 24 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My second child has now started at Small Friends. I really thought she’d have a tough time leaving me, but she walks in happily every day and is always so happy when I pick her up, telling me about everything she’s been up to. It’s great to see both of my children so happy there, getting on with the
staff like they do with family and friends. All I ever wanted from the nursery was for my children to be happy and comfortable with everyone around them, and they definitely have this at Small Friends!

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Thank you for this review; we really appreciate it!


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Review from J G (Mother of Child) published on 24 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter loves going to nursery and always comes home happy with lots of fun things to tell me.
We particularly like how Small Friends has a strong learning structure for different topics each month whilst having fun.
Overall, a very happy and safe place for my daughter to go.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Thank you for taking the time to write this review and for your feedback; we really appreciate it!


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Review from E F (Mother of Child) published on 8 March 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My child has settled in really well at Small Friends. The settle sessions and key person really helped with this. We’ve received great communication from staff verbally at the end of each session, via the app and by email. It’s really lovely seeing my child’s confidence grow each week and hearing about
the different activities. The parent's evening was really helpful too.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Thank you for taking the time to write this review and for your positive comments! We are delighted to hear how well your child has settled into the nursery!


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Review from Louisa B (Mother of Child) published on 14 February 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

During my child’s time at Small Friends Nursery, she is cared for by wonderful staff. My child enjoys her time very much at the nursery. Communication is great with the staff, and they keep me informed through the app/emails. My child also enjoys participating in a variety of activities/use of the equipment
and role-play to enhance her learning.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Thank you for your positive comments and for taking the time to write this review - we really appreciate it!


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Review from S W (Mother of Child) published on 14 February 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My daughter has been at the nursery for her 2nd year and absolutely loves it. I would recommend it to friends and family. The only improvement I would suggest would be communication could be improved as a No1, and No2, the meals could improve a little. But I would still recommend.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Thank you for your review! As a group, we are always trying to improve our communication with our families. We aim to provide high quality and regular updates through our social media channels, monthly nursery newsletter, bi-monthly group newsletter and via our parent app. Furthermore, our menus change regularly and aim to provide a variety of healthy options for the children, meeting the required nutritional guidelines. We are always looking to better our menus so please do let us know if you have any particular suggestions as to what you would like to see on our menus. You can provide this feedback at letusknow@theoldstationnursery.co.uk. Thank you again for this review!


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Review from Stacey B (Mother of Child) published on 10 February 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Very happy with my child's progression. Haven't been able to go inside due to 'Covid', so looking forward to learning more about her nursery on parents evening. She's always happy when she's had her nursery time.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Thank you for taking the time to write this review; we really appreciate it! We are thrilled to hear that your child has settled well!


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Review from Shanice C (Mother of Child) published on 10 February 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been going to Small Friends Day Nursery for a little over a year now, and she absolutely loves it! I can’t fault them one bit. My daughter has made friends, loves her teachers, and is developing beautifully.
They really cater to each child’s unique needs with ease.
I couldn’t wish
for a better environment for my little one.
Thanks, Small Friends!

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at Small Friends Day Nursery

Thank you for your lovely review; we appreciate it! We are delighted to hear that your daughter is flourishing in her nursery!


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Current Review Score: 9.8 (9.837)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.8 (9.837) out of 10 for Small Friends Day Nursery is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.8 out of 5 from 22 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 22 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.837 for Small Friends Day Nursery is calculated as follows: ( (225 Excellents x 5) + (33 Goods x 4) + (5 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 263 Ratings = 4.837

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Small Friends Day Nursery is based on 22 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 60 number of registered child places is 12, which has been reached with 22 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

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Meet the Team (1)

Julie

Julie Rayner

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 2018

Hello! I'm Julie and I'm the Nursery Manager here at Small Friends Day Nursery.


Small Friends is a wonderful nursery in the heart of Leigh-on-Sea with a highly qualified, dedicated, and caring staff.


Our friendly team will support and encourage your child to learn, develop and flourish whilst in our care


We look forward to welcoming you to our nursery!


Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Small Friends Day Nursery to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Small Friends Day Nursery has a Platinum Service – more info.