At Little Nurseries, we believe early childhood should be full of wonder, discovery, and joy. That’s why we’re so excited to share something very special – The Little Curriculum, our brand-new early years curriculum for children aged 0–5.
Created by Gary Jeffries, our experienced Early Years Director, The Little Curriculum is already being delivered across all our nurseries – and parents, staff and Ofsted alike are seeing the difference.
What is The Little Curriculum?
The Little Curriculum is a holistic, child-centred framework built around seven rich and purposeful areas of learning. Each area nurtures a different part of a child’s development through curiosity, play and meaningful experiences:
- Little Me – personal, social and emotional growth
- Little Talkers – building communication and language
- Little Movers – developing physical confidence and control
- Little Learners & Thinkers – sparking early literacy and curiosity
- Little Investigators – exploring maths, science and the world around us
- Little Explorers – discovering nature, communities and diversity
- Little Creators – expressing themselves through music, art, drama and imagination
This approach aligns beautifully with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework – but goes even further, giving our practitioners a flexible, creative way to meet every child where they are, and help them thrive.
Why We Created It
“Writing my own curriculum has always been something I’ve wanted to do,” explains Gary Jeffries, Director at The Little Nurseries Group.
“I wanted to create something that truly reflects the magic of early childhood – a curriculum that is rich in relationships, full of wonder, and meaningful to each individual child. The Little Curriculum encourages deep learning through play, discovery, and connection.”
Already Making an Impact
The Little Curriculum isn’t just a vision – it’s working.
Ofsted has praised its quality and depth, noting:
“Leaders have designed a highly effective curriculum to provide all children with an excellent start on their learning journeys.”
“There is a well-developed curriculum that identifies what children will learn through a wealth of learning opportunities. There is a clear focus on building children’s language and communication.”
Parents have shared glowing feedback too:
“My child comes home every day full of stories about what they’ve explored, created, or discovered. The variety of activities and enrichment opportunities is amazing – including a sports coach, dance and French. I also love how the curriculum is shared with parents. It really helps us understand what they’re learning and how we can support that at home.”
And our staff love it just as much – telling us it’s helping them teach with confidence, plan responsively, and focus on what really matters: the children’s wellbeing, development and readiness for school.
A Foundation for the Future
The Little Curriculum ensures children across our nurseries don’t just build the skills they need for their next steps – they feel seen, supported, and inspired from their very first experiences in education.
Because for us, this isn’t just about preparing children for school. It’s about preparing them for life.
