For Your First Big Steps...

About Tiny Toes in Southampton

Established in 2016 - Family Run and Owned

We are a set of EYFS-based nurseries in Southampton. We care for children from 3 months to 5 years, and provide a range of age appropriate resources and activities to encourage their development right up until they are ready to join school.


We are here to help you and your family. We understand how important high-quality early years care and education is and we want to make it accessible for everyone.

We are a EYFS-based nursery in Southampton. We care for children from 3 months to 5 years, and provide a range of age appropriate resources and activities to encourage their development right up until they are ready to join school.


We are here to help you and your family. We understand how important high-quality early years care and education is and we want to make it accessible for everyone.

Our Philosophy

Our philosophy is based on learning and creativity. By blending indoor and outdoor classrooms and environments in a home-away-from-home environment, we are able to create a space where children feel empowered and ready to learn. We have created individualised programmes for each child to ensure their individual needs are met.

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Who We Are

Tiny Toes first opened its doors in Southampton in 2016 by Neil and Sasha Lewis, with our second location following in 2024. We decided to do things a bit differently by creating spaces that foster early learning in a fun and safe environment where children from 3 months to 5 years can explore the world around them. We are passionate about offering high-quality, accessible early years education to every child and setting them up for a lifetime of success. 


We believe our innovative approach gives children a bright and positive start in life as we encourage exploration, discovery, emotional intelligence and building friendships.

We also believe that you, the Parents, are our customers, and you need flexibility and understanding, together with the security of your child, for peace of mind that you have made the right choice with us.

Merging Teaching and Childcare

We offer a variety of programmes, including daycare for infants and toddlers and preschoolers.

We believe that it’s never too early to start learning and that it’s vital to always present opportunities for children to learn and grow as soon as they start at our setting. 

By developing our programme with curriculum experts and childcare specialists, we’ve been able to hone in on what makes early education a success and created a learning programme that allows our children to enter school seamlessly.


We are dedicated to creating a safe, supportive and engaging environment for children, where they will be encouraged to try new things and explore the world around them.

What We Offer

When you visit us here at Tiny Toes, you’ll see firsthand what makes us different!

We are able to offer a wide variety of activities, including gardening, mud kitchen, music, dance and many more fun and educational activities for small groups.


Our nursery has plenty of space for the 5 different rooms we have dedicated to each age group, from babies to preschool children.

Meals At Tiny Toes

At Tiny Toes, we adopt a healthy approach to food and exercise! We offer our children a well-balanced diet throughout the day, cooked by our own in-house chef. Every meal is home cooked from scratch, enabling us to confidently cater to allergies.

Cubs

At Tiny Toes, we provide safe and comforting childcare for babies aged 3 to 18 months. We understand that each baby is unique, with their own personality and developmental pace. Our tailored approach includes assigning a dedicated key carer to your baby, helping them settle in and build a secure and happy relationship. Our nursery is designed to encourage exploration and learning in a warm and welcoming environment. Our experienced baby team is committed to supporting your baby’s development and important milestones. We believe in a flexible routine that allows the cubs to develop at their own pace, while providing access to a range of fun activities indoors and outdoors for stimulation and learning.

Koalas

Here at Tiny Toes, we are passionate about providing outstanding childcare for your little ones. Our dedicated room is filled with exciting activities and resources to support their development, and our outdoor roof terrace garden offers even more opportunities for imagination and communication. We have areas for music, writing, mark making, construction, painting, and creative play. Plus we have special areas for role play and a cosy reading corner. Your child will spend their days exploring, expressing, and learning alongside other children. Our focus is on meeting their individual needs, encouraging them to try new things, and fostering social skills through play with others.

Monkeys

Our Monkeys room is a bright and airy space with large windows and doors that encourage children to explore and learn in the outdoor area. We believe in free flow, giving children the opportunity to extend their learning and enjoy themselves in our garden. Our team uses natural resources and creative materials like water, sand, and mud to engage children in age-appropriate activities that challenge their learning and support their development. Circle time adds structure to our day, with fun number games, songs, and stories that focus on phonics and early reading skills. Meal times are more than just nourishment, they’re also important social occasions for our little ones. Here, children learn to set tables, serve their own food, and use utensils like knives and forks. We foster independence and social skills at this stage of development.

Lions

Our qualified and experienced preschool team is dedicated to your child’s success, helping them excel in their early education. Our holistic approach focuses on developing the whole child, and our preschool facility is fully equipped with materials and activities for their development. What sets us apart is we focus on school readiness, and ensuring children have those vital skills needed before they move to big school. We celebrate their progress and achievements with a graduation ceremony at the end of the preschool year.

Big Foot Clubs

Breakfast And After School Club

Big Foot’s Breakfast Club and After School Club is available from 7:00 am - 8: 30 am and 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm during term time. We also offer a pickup service from local schools in the area for children up to 11 years old. 

Our engaging club is led by highly qualified professionals that have curated a range of educational and fun activities. We also offer school homework and learning support! 

We also provide breakfast, snacks and drinks for children attending our Before and After School Club. 

Holiday Club

We understand that parents have busy schedules, so we offer full day provision from 8:00 am - 6:00 pm during holidays. Our holiday club is designed for children aged 5 to 11 years old, and we have a wide range of daily activities led by our fully qualified professional staff. We believe that active children are happy children, and our club provides opportunities for children to make new friends while enjoying many activities we have on offer.

Big Foot’s Activities include:

  • Sketch Club

  • Play in the garden

  • Sports

  • Messy Play

  • Arts and Crafts

  • Face Painting

  • Free Play

Meals

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Meet the Tiny Toes Team!

The Tiny Toes family includes a diverse team of passionate educators who are committed to your child’s success.

Diana Buckell - Nursery Manager

My name is Diana, and I am honoured to lead the wonderful team here at Tiny Toes. With over 15

years of experience in the childcare field, my journey began as a childminder, where I ran a successful personal business for many fulfilling years.

Throughout my career, I've dedicated myself to

continuous learning and professional growth. I hold a Diploma in Childcare, a Foundation Degree in Early Years, andafirst-class BA (Hons) degree in Education. My passion for supporting children's

development led me to become a Special Educational Needs Coordinator, ensuring that every child

receives the tailored care they deserve. Transitioning into management over a decade ago, I've had

the privilege of overseeing early years settings with a focus on excellence. With four Ofsted inspections under my belt, I'm proud to say that two were graded Good, and two were graded Outstanding, reflecting our commitment to quality and care. At the heart of my work is a deep-seated belief in the importance of laying strong foundations for children and nurturing a lifelong love of learning.

I am dedicated to ensuring that every child who walks through our doors at Tiny Toes has

the opportunity to flourish and thrive. As a manager, I hold the values of Tiny Toes in high regard, and I am passionate about supporting my team to deliver the very best care possible. Every child, family, and staff member are valued and cherished, and | am committed to creating a warm, inclusive

environment where everyone feels like a part of our incredible Tiny Toes family.

Amber - SENDCO

My name is Amber Smith and | hold a Level 3 qualification in childcare, as well as a Level 3 SENCo award. At Tiny Toes, my role involves being a SENCo and leading on supporting positive behaviours. I have 10 years of experience in childcare, supporting children aged 0-10 years. My journey includes

two years at college to achieve my qualification, followed by eight years at Tiny Toes. | began working

at Tiny Toes at 17 years old and progressed in my career, eventually becoming a room lead, a position I held for 6 years. My particular interest lies in supporting children with additional needs, which led me to gain my SENCo qualification in 2021.

Energetic, passionate, supportive, and with a smile

always at the ready, I aim to provide focused support for the children and guide my team in supporting those with additional needs. The most fulfilling part of my job is assisting children in

achieving their long-term goals and celebrating their achievements with them. I value the strong partnerships I have built with parents and take pleasure in supporting them as a whole family.

Dani - Lions Room Lead

My name is Dani, and I have a Level 3 qualification in childcare. My role within Tiny Toes is as a Room Lead. I consider myself to be fun, trustworthy, and caring. With 2 years of experience in childcare, I have worked with children aged 0-5 years. While | was always drawn to childcare, | initially pursued a

different career path in college. However, with the support of my family, I changed my career

direction 2 years ago. I thoroughly enjoy working with children, helping them learn, grow, and develop. It's bittersweet when they move on to school, but I look forward to the adventures and

opportunities that await them. My favourite activities include messy play, art, and design, as I love being creative and crafty.

Nikki - Giraffes Room Lead

My name is Nikki and I hold a Level 3 childcare qualification. My role within Tiny Toes is as a Room

Lead. I have 14 years of experience working in childcare, specifically with children aged 2-4 years. I

consider myself to be fun, creative, and nurturing. I thrive in a team environment and value building strong relationships with both the children and their families. My passion lies in planning and engaging in arts and crafts activities with the children, helping them to express themselves through

art.

Jo - Koalas Room Lead

My name is Jo and I have a level 3 qualification in childcare. My role within Tiny Toes is as an Early Years Educator. I would describe myself as fun, caring, and enthusiastic. I have over 25 years of experience in childcare and education, with 10 years spent in nurseries and pre-schools. I have had

the opportunity to work with children of all ages, from babies to college students. I love my job because every day is different when I am around children, and I enjoy seeing them learn and grow. I enjoy engaging in fun, messy, and noisy activities with children, as well as sharing a good story.

Jess - Cubs Room Lead

My name is Jess, and I am currently working towards my Level 3 childcare qualification as an

apprentice at Tiny Toes. I have progressed to the role of acting room lead to support my professional development. I have experience working with children aged 0-5, but I specialise in caring for under

2s. I consider myself to be calm, caring, and creative. I enjoy being involved in children's progress and

supporting them in achieving their goals, no matter how “small”. It is a privilege to be a part of their journey. I particularly enjoy planning and participating in messy play activities, such as using toy farm animals in 'mud' gloop!

SEND

Starting nursery can be stressful at the best of times, but we understand through firsthand experience just how challenging the experience can be for parents of children with additional needs. 

Here at Tiny Toes, we have a special relationship with children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and we are committed to assisting families with any additional support they may need. 

We have excellent SEND Coordinators, who always keeps up to date with all external training and passes that knowledge on through our nursery. Our team always works incredibly hard to make sure children at Tiny Toes are given the best possible start in life, regardless of their individual requirements. 

We emphasise the importance of ensuring that all practitioners within our nursery are aware of and understand their responsibilities to SEND children, as well as the nursery’s approach to identifying and meeting SEND requirements.

Tiny Toes also holds a strong relationship with the Local Authority; it is important to us that we liaise with professionals and agencies beyond our setting, and we are very experienced at assisting parents with SEND questions and/or challenges. We make sure that parents are closely involved throughout their child's learning journey, and their insights are taken into account in regard to any decisions we make.

Small Steps, Big Impact!

We are proud to be partnering with 9Trees.

Tiny Toes is teaming up with 9Trees to make a real difference to our planet. This partnership is all about giving Mother Nature a hand and creating a sustainable future for our little ones. 

9Trees has a vision to tackle climate change by restoring woodland habitats. In doing so, they promote biodiversity, create jobs and connect people to nature. 9Trees is ensuring that tackling Climate Change is accessible and achievable to all. With a simple philosophy: plant 9 trees per person, per year, to help balance individuals' carbon footprints. 

In around 25 years, the trees planted today will be locking away roughly 40lb of carbon each year! And in 50-100 years, they’ll have sequestered a tonne of carbon! This is not just about offsetting our carbon footprints it’s also about creating a paradise for nature, keeping our grasslands, woodlands and peat bogs intact and thriving.

 It’s all about planting the seeds of positive change in the greenest, most accessible and empowering way possible. 

Here at Tiny Toes, we are proud to be partnering with 9Trees! We’re the first nursery to join 9 Trees on this mission; for every new starter at Tiny Toes, we will buy and plant a tree. It’s a wonderful way to start our partnership and make a positive change together. 

We are over the moon to be helping create a sustainable and vibrant future for our little ones.

What to Expect from Tiny Toes

Our mission is to provide the highest quality childcare in Southampton, if not the UK

As part of our commitment, we provide all of our kids with:

  • Healthy chef-prepared meals each day that meet dietary restrictions such as gluten-free, vegan, etc.

  • Parking to allow for easy pick-up and drop-off

  • Flexible hours to accommodate parents with busy schedules 

  • Beautiful and extremely spacious outdoor and garden space

  • A diverse, all-inclusive environment where all cultures and traditions are honoured and respected

  • Dedicated SEN program to ensure your child receives the highest-quality care to meet their needs

We would be thrilled to have you join the Tiny Toes family in Southampton. Contact us on 02380 735061 or click the button below to schedule a showaround!

Schedule A Tour At Tiny Toes Day Nursery

The best way to discover what makes Tiny Toes special is to see it first hand. We provide engaging and interactive showarounds at our Southampton location daily. We look forward to meeting you soon and getting to know you and your child more.

1 Sutherland Road, Lordshill, Southampton, Hampshire, SO16 8GA

66 Warren Avenue, Shirley, Southampton, SO16 6AG

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