How the LittleBase Awards are chosen

Most Transparent

Providers that publish their price, class days, ages and what the fee covers, so parents can compare without calling.

Criteria

Must publish a price with its unit (per class, month, term or session), plus at least two of: what the fee covers or extra fees, class days, ages.

Points: price 4; what the fee covers or extra fees 2; class days 2; class times 1; both a youngest and oldest age 2 (one of them 1); registration date or link 1. Out of 12.

Data

The provider's own website, read by us; Details the provider sent us or typed into their LittleBase dashboard.

Runs for

Each category and each activity, per city.

Most Trial-Friendly

Providers that publicly offer a trial class, and say what it costs and when classes run.

Criteria

Must publicly offer a trial class, free or paid.

Points: free trial 4, paid trial 3; the trial's cost stated 1; class days 1; ages 1; regular price 1. Out of 8.

Data

The provider's own website, read by us; Details the provider sent us or typed into their LittleBase dashboard.

Runs for

Each category and each activity, per city.

Most Complete Profile

Providers whose LittleBase page answers the most of parents' basic questions.

Criteria

Counts only things every provider can add for free, and only whether each is there, never how many: a description, a photo or logo, price, class days, ages, trial details, phone, website, address, registration date or link, class size, languages taught in.

Must have at least 8 of these 12. One point each.

Data

The listing's LittleBase page (what any visitor sees).

Runs for

Each category and each activity, per city.

Verified Teaching Credentials

Providers with at least one teacher whose credential we checked against the certificate.

Criteria

Must have at least one teacher credential we have checked (for example an RCM certificate, a Lifesaving Society instructor award or a teaching licence).

Points: one per teacher with a checked credential, up to 5.

Data

Certificates providers upload, each checked by a person at LittleBase.

Runs for

Each category and each activity, per city.

Most Shortlisted by Peel Parents

The providers the most Peel families saved to their LittleBase shortlist and then contacted.

Criteria

Counts families, not clicks: a family counts once per provider. Saves later marked “not for us” don't count, nor do our own team's and test accounts.

Must be on at least 3 families' shortlists. Points: one per family, plus one per family that contacted the provider.

Data

Parents' shortlists on LittleBase (counts only, never who).

Runs for

Each category and each activity, per city.

Parents' Choice

Chosen in a vote of signed-in Peel parents, one vote per family account per category.

Criteria

Decided only by the Parents' Choice vote (rules below). A provider needs at least 10 counted votes to win, and the category needs at least 30 counted votes in that city.

Data

The Parents' Choice vote on LittleBase.

Runs for

Each category, per city.

Parents' Choice vote rules

• Only signed-in parents can vote. Signing in proves you own the email address (we send a link or code).
• One vote per account per category (2027), for a provider in your city. Votes can't be bought, and our own team's and test accounts don't count.
• Providers may invite their own families to vote, with the share link from their dashboard. That's allowed: every vote still needs its own signed-in account.
• Votes that look automated are held for a person at LittleBase to review, and only count if approved:
  • 3 or more accounts voting from the same browser in one category;
  • 4 or more accounts on one internet connection voting for the same provider within 24 hours;
  • an account less than 24 hours old casting 3 or more votes within 10 minutes.
• A winner needs at least 10 counted votes, and the city's category at least 30 in all. Ties share the award. Vote counts are shown with the result.
• Voting dates and the announcement date are posted on the vote page before voting opens.