Our team at The Little Sweethearts are dedicated to providing high quality care and education for children. Staff are experienced and excellent role models for the children in our care who seek to develop their personal skills and knowledge so that they are always best placed to identify the needs of the individual child.
Nicola Ruffle (Childminder)
Hello, I'm Nicola and own The Little Sweethearts, which I set up in 2007 to provide quality childcare from my home. I hold an NNEB certificate and gained my Montessori qualification at the London Montessori Centre, and since then I have worked as an Early Years Montessori Teacher. My love of the natural world and the benefits that this can bring to children led me to become a Level 3 Forest School Leader and incorporate the Forest School approach into our services. I was formerly a social worker in the Children and Families Team at Hampshire County Council and a foster carer for Surrey County Council.

As a childminder I am registered and inspected by Ofsted. At my first inspection by Ofsted in July 2008 I was awarded Outstanding in three areas and Good in two. Since then I am very proud to be consistently awarded Outstanding in all areas.

  • Ofsted registered (rated Outstanding)
  • NNEB Certificate
  • Enhanced CRB checked
  • Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice
  • Level 2 Food Hygiene and Catering Certificate
  • Paediatric Emergency First Aid Trained
  • Level 3 Forest School Leader
  • MCI International Diploma in Montessori Pedagogy
Tania Crowther (Childminder)
Tania is a qualified veterinary nurse and worked at a practice in Reading before joining The Little Sweethearts in October 2011. She has completed her Level 3 Childcare Diploma.

As a childminder she is registered and inspected by Ofsted. At her latest inspection by Ofsted in September 2019 she was awarded Outstanding in all areas.

  • Ofsted registered (rated Outstanding)
  • Enhanced CRB checked
  • Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice
  • Level 2 Food Hygiene and Catering Certificate
  • Paediatric Emergency First Aid Trained
  • Level 3 Children and Young People's Workforce
Becky Evans (Childminder)
Becky joined us as an apprentice, and has now achieved her Level 3 Childcare Diploma.
  • Enhanced CRB checked
  • Paediatric Emergency First Aid Trained
  • Level 3 Children and Young People's Workforce
Our Partners
In addition to our dedicated team, we are always looking to enhance your child's experience through collaboration with other organisations. Currently we are working with:
Relax Kids introduce young children to relaxation, and they have tools to help them grow with resilience, confidence and self-esteem. Each week they will move and dance, play games, stretch and relax, listen to a story and use props and puppets.
Mad Academy provide music and dance classes and their approach is fun, funky and physical.