Availability & Next Steps

Finding the right childcare place shouldn’t feel complicated or uncertain. At Little Shipmates, we aim to give every young child a joyful, safe and inspiring start in life, while also making the process as simple and stress-free as possible for parents.

A simple way to check availability

Rather than expecting you to navigate availability tables, session types, and changing spaces yourself, we simply check everything on your behalf. This means you always get clear, up-to-date information that relates specifically to your child and your family’s needs.

Because availability can change throughout the year across different age groups, days and settings, we don’t publish fixed spaces online. Instead, we take a more personal approach: you tell us what you’re looking for, and we’ll do the checking for you. It’s a small step, but it removes a lot of unnecessary uncertainty.

How it works

In practice, most parents are simply looking for three things at this stage: whether there is space, whether it might work for their child’s age and routine, and what the next step looks like. We’ve shaped our process around exactly that.

Once you enquire, we will:

Check current availability for your child’s age group and the days you need
Look across the most suitable setting(s) for your family
Come back to you with clear, honest options
Offer a visit if it feels like the right fit

No pressure, no obligation

There’s no pressure in this process. An enquiry is simply a way of starting a conversation and getting accurate information. It doesn’t commit you to anything, and there’s no expectation to proceed if the timing or availability isn’t right. Many families speak to us early in their search just to understand their options.

Prefer to speak to us?

We know choosing childcare is rarely just a practical decision. It’s about trust, confidence, and feeling comfortable with the environment your child will be in. That’s why we also keep things straightforward on our side - everything provided, clear communication, and a team who are happy to talk things through before you make any decisions.

If it helps, you’re also welcome to contact your local setting directly. Some parents prefer a quick conversation before filling anything in, and that’s absolutely fine. We’ll always point you in the right direction and help you understand what might be available.