Mother Bear Nursery & Pre-school

Instrument play, a soft playground and vegetarian food give Mother Bear a recognisable character. This Hackney nursery accepts children aged 1 to 5, with a light, neutral interior and a substantial book collection supporting its emphasis on children's creative choices.

No Ofsted inspection has been published for this setting yet. The practical offer includes full-day, morning and afternoon sessions, alongside funded childcare.

Music and Singing on Tuesdays combines instruments, exploration of sound and using the voice. Thursday Sports sessions introduce balance, ball skills and teamwork with a sports coach. These give children different ways to participate: making sounds together and practising physical skills.

The early years foundation stage framework provides the educational foundation, with learning woven through play and everyday routines. Free play and messy activities sit alongside group stories and singing. The afternoon brings further activities before a quieter period with books towards home time.

Food also becomes an activity. Occasional cookery groups let children make smoothies, cakes or biscuits to eat at teatime. Mother Bear participates in Healthy Early Years London (HEYL), alongside its work on food education through stories, songs and play. Wednesday yoga is planned rather than an established class.

The daily routine makes room for sleep or quiet time after lunch, with going to the park another option in that period. Toothbrushing follows breakfast. These routines give rest and everyday health habits a place alongside play.

The first settling-in session is free; subsequent settling days or half days attract the usual charge. That distinction matters when planning the start of attendance.

Meals and snacks are prepared on site each day, with a vegetarian menu using organic ingredients. Mother Bear has a nut- and sesame-free policy and works with parents on food allergies, making individual dietary arrangements an important part of joining.

Sessions and Attendance

Full Day runs from 8am to 6pm; Half Day Morning runs from 8am to 1pm, and Half Day Afternoon from 1pm to 6pm. The minimum attendance is three full days, so the shorter sessions need to be understood alongside that booking requirement.

Care runs across the year, with funding stretched over 50.5 weeks and a Christmas and New Year closure of 1.5 weeks. Enquiries can be submitted through the pre-registration form or sent by email.

Funding and Paid Extras

Eligible families can use 15 or 30 hours funding support, stretched across the year rather than restricted to term time. Hours beyond the entitlement are paid for privately. Meals, snacks, consumables and care items are included in nursery fees, but fall outside what funded entitlement covers; additional activities and online learning journals are also included in those fees.

Registration involves a non-refundable administration charge and a deposit credited against the final month's payment. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation, with detailed terms supplied on application.

• Session combinations. Morning and afternoon sessions sit alongside a three-full-day minimum. Ask how shorter sessions fit into the intended weekly booking.
• Visit address. The address is Unit 10 Parkhaus, 1A Downs Road, Hackney, E5 8QJ, while the visiting address is Unit 10 Parkhaus, 3 Maple Path, Hackney, E5 8FE. Confirm the correct entrance and postcode when booking an appointment-based open day.
• Food allergies. The nut- and sesame-free policy and vegetarian menu shape daily meals. Discuss your child's dietary needs and confirm current allergy practice before starting.

Mother Bear suits families interested in creative play, scheduled music and sport, and vegetarian meals prepared on site. Full-day attendance and shorter morning or afternoon sessions give it several practical uses, subject to the minimum booking requirement. Its activities and routines provide concrete reasons to consider it; an independent inspection judgement is still to come.