Smalloak
Small Oaks Childcare
5.0
Our Summary
About Us
Small Oaks is a teacher led nursery with a huge focus on the outdoors. All staff members have a passion for the early years and strive to provide fun, exciting and engaging childcare in a home from home environment. We have two rooms which are used by our different age groups (under 2s, over 2s and school age) however, we believe that children benefit from mixing with children of other ages and we therefore spend a lot of our time together.
Our rooms and outdoor area are designed and carefully thought out to support all areas of the Early Years curriculum, including reading and quiet corners, construction areas, writing areas, small world and role play areas. We have weekly trips out to nearby farms, zoos, National trust properties, parks, music groups and the library. We are firm believers in giving children the opportunities to take part in everyday activities such as going to the shop or a cafe to support their development. Our owner and manager Kate, who is a qualified forest schools leader as well as a teacher, runs regular forest schools sessions which give our Small Oaks the opportunities to learn about the world around them through exploration.
Our Availability
Our Fees
- Childcare from £67.00 per day
Full day £67 (7.30-5.30pm includes breakfast, snack, lunch and tea)
Short day £44 (9-3pm includes snack and lunch)
Before school £9 (includes breakfast)
After school until 6pm £14 (includes tea)
Our Ofsted Inspections
The inspection grades below have been obtained from the Ofsted website based upon the registration number the childcare provider has provided to us. You should verify this information yourself prior to using the childcare provider.
Our Documents
- Ofsted Certificate (added 31/07/2019)
Reviews
5 out of 5
Latest reviews
Below are the latest reviews for SmallOak. Please note that reviews represent the subjective opinions of other Childcare.co.uk members and not of Childcare.co.uk. Parents must carry out their own checks and references on childcare providers to ensure that they are completely happy before enaging in the use of their services.
Our baby started at Small Oaks when he was one year old, and from the very first viewing I was incredibly impressed. I was looking for a very specific setting – forest school values, small class sizes, healthy food, plenty of outdoor play, days out and Small Oaks ticked every box.
When Theo started, we felt so supported. We received constant updates and photos, and Kate and the team would often reply within five minutes. As a nervous first-time mum, this made such a difference and really put me at ease.
Now, he walks straight in with a smile on his face, and the changes we’ve seen in him have been amazing. Within just one month at Small Oaks, he was feeding himself independently with a spoon at only 13 months old. He absolutely loves singing nursery rhymes, and at 16 months he can sing The Wheels on the Bus, Wind the Bobbin Up and more, complete with all the actions. He constantly surprises us with his knowledge and understanding of so many things.
A moment that truly amazed us was counting with him and hearing him join in at just 16 months old. It was such a proud, unexpected moment and a real testament to the learning and encouragement he receives at Small Oaks.
Kate and the entire team are truly passionate about early years education, and it shines through in everything they do. We feel incredibly lucky that our baby attends a nursery that feels like a home from home and is so perfectly aligned with our values as a family.
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Daniella
on 20/01/2026
My three boys have been going to Smalloaks since it opened, Kate has cared for my youngest since he was 20weeks old and he can’t wait to be passed over to her in the mornings which is always a great sign. The two older ones love all the before and after school activities and all three love the engaging time they spend there. Kate uses Tapestry Learning Journey to update me on what they’ve been doing and all their achievements which is great especially all the photos which show they are enjoying every minute of their care. I would definitely highly recommend Smalloaks to anyone looking for excellent childcare in the Doveridge - Uttoxeter area.
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Sonia B
on 02/10/2018
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This profile was last updated on 20th January 2026 and has been produced from information provided to us by the user. We have not verified or confirmed the accuracy of any of the information and members should undertake their own vigorous checks and references. Please ensure you read our Safety Advice and information on how to Check Childcare Provider Documents.
