Heath Lodge Day Nursery

Weekly music sessions and visits to the Irish Community Centre give Heath Lodge Day Nursery a day that extends beyond its rooms. In Bexleyheath, it cares for children from 3 months to 5 years, with separate bases for younger children and those approaching school age.

No Ofsted inspection has been published for this setting yet. The practical character comes from its play spaces, community outings and communication with families.

Rooms and Ages

Little Discoverers covers ages 3 months to 2.5 years across two rooms, with a stated capacity of 18 children; sensory exploration, a reading area and a home corner sit alongside construction and mark making. For parents of babies, the arrangement across those rooms matters as much as the overall cap.

The Big Adventures Room caters for ages 2½ to 5 years, with capacity for 20 children, and combines construction, imaginative play and creative activities with free-flow outdoor access. These are room capacities, rather than a statement of how many children attend together across the nursery.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) provides the framework for the day: play involves language, physical development, creativity and the other areas of learning. Alongside that shared early-years foundation, weekly Jo Jingles sessions use percussion, songs and movement, giving children ways to explore sound through their bodies and instruments.

In the older room, Wellcomm and Talk Boost provide activities supporting speech and understanding. Monthly themes also draw on children's interests, connecting planned activities with what catches their attention.

Outdoor and Community Life

Garden play happens in the morning and afternoon, including in wet weather. Suitable outdoor clothing is part of the daily kit.

Tuesday visits to the Irish Community Centre bring children together with older people for art activities and a related story. Weekly library sessions involve interactive storytelling with librarians, followed by choosing books to take back to nursery. These outings give stories and creative play a setting beyond the usual base room.

Within Little Discoverers, each child has a key worker who records observations and builds their individual learning journey. Daily newsfeeds on the Famly App give parents a way to follow activities, while children's artwork is displayed in the room.

A dedicated SENDCo role sits alongside a Designated Safeguarding Lead. Team training covers safeguarding, paediatric first aid, food hygiene and health and safety; these are arrangements for care, rather than an inspection judgement on their effectiveness.

Meals are cooked in the nursery kitchen, with a vegetarian choice each day and a tailored menu for babies under 6 months during weaning. The nursery operates a nut-free policy and discusses individual dietary requirements with families.

Heath Lodge's address is 56 Lessness Avenue, Bexleyheath, DA7 5SJ. Registration enquiries and visit arrangements can be made through the contact form, by email at heathlodgedaynursery@gmail.com or by telephone on 020 8312 1919.

Opening hours run from 7.15am to 6.15pm, Monday to Friday, across 51 weeks of the year. Bank holidays and a week over Christmas are closures, with an earlier 4pm finish on Christmas Eve. That seasonal pattern needs to fit the family's working calendar.

• Younger children's rooms. Little Discoverers spans two rooms and has an overall cap of 18. At a visit, ask how babies and older toddlers are grouped and how settling sessions work.
• Attendance and costs. The opening window covers the working day. Ask for a written quotation for your preferred booking pattern.
• Dietary needs. A nut-free policy and baby weaning menus are part of the food arrangements. Confirm current allergy procedures for your child's needs.

Heath Lodge suits families who want music, community visits and regular outdoor play woven into nursery life. Little Discoverers' daily app updates offer a concrete connection with home, while older children have indoor and outdoor choices. The room organisation and attendance quotation deserve close attention when deciding whether it fits your family.