SS&L Employer of the Month – January 2026

“Apprentices are an integral part of Little Discoveries. They bring fresh ideas, up-to-date knowledge, and enthusiasm, helping us build strong practitioners and future leaders.”

Kicking off the year with a triplet of excellence, Little Discoveries have won our Employer of the Month award for January 2026!

With three sites across Somerset Little Discoveries have worked closely with SS&L for a long time with many of their staff having trained with us as apprentices at the very beginning of their careers. We visited and caught up with the managers of each branch: Naomi in Yeovil, Sarah in Frome, and Sadie in Nunney.

Who are Little Discoveries?

“We are a small group of nurseries, passionate about creating the best opportunities for every child in our care. Our mission is to provide rich, meaningful experiences that spark curiosity, build resilience, and lay the foundations for lifelong learning.”

“We are proud to have developed a strong Early Years Curriculum in collaboration with our dedicated team. Our curriculum, Thrive, is built on our core values: Growth, Excellence, Nurture, and Communication. These principles guide everything we do, shaping an environment where children feel safe, inspired, and empowered to thrive.”

What do apprenticeships mean to you?

“Apprentices are an integral part of Little Discoveries. They bring fresh ideas, up-to-date knowledge, and enthusiasm, helping us to build strong practitioners and future leaders. We have supported staff through Level 2, Level 3 and Level 5 qualifications, and will continue to do so for years to come. At our Yeovil setting, there was a time when most of the team had qualified through SS&L!”

At the moment, Little Discoveries are supporting apprentices at every level: Level 2 Early Years Practitioner, Level 3 Early Years Educator, and two members of the management team, including Nunney manager Sadie, are working towards Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner.

“SS&L has always been a supportive and approachable training provider. The apprenticeship programmes have been invaluable in guiding and developing our staff. Regular communication and visits from assessors have felt collaborative and constructive, benefiting both our apprentices and the nursery as a whole.”

“With nursery settings across Somerset, Frome, and Yeovil, SS&L’s local centres make face-to-face teaching accessible and convenient for our apprentices. This partnership ensures our team receives high-quality training close to home.”

“It’s incredibly rewarding to welcome newly qualified staff into permanent roles. Whenever we have vacancies, we consider the apprenticeship route first. Additionally, if new team members express interested in further qualifications, we fully support them to train with SS&L!”

If you would like to know more about how an apprentice can support your Early Years setting, contact us today and for an initial chat about what options are available!