Honeypot Pre-School

A garden where children cut home-grown herbs for pretend cooking captures Honeypot Pre-School's character: practical, playful and unusually trusting of young learners. This sessional setting at Stanmore Chapel, 96 Marsh Lane, has 25 registered places. Ofsted judged it Outstanding in September 2022, with Outstanding grades across education, behaviour, personal development and leadership.

Children at that inspection were aged two to four. The setting currently offers funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds, while families can choose short morning, short afternoon, longer morning or all-day patterns.

Learning and Named Experiences

Honeypot follows the Early Years Foundation Stage, using children's interests and existing knowledge to plan progress across its seven areas of learning and development. In everyday terms, that means children can choose activities, persist with a task and also join adult-led small- and large-group experiences that introduce something new.

Practice recorded in 2022 gives this approach real definition. Scribbling and drawing clubs developed literacy and creativity. At a well-equipped water tray, children explored mathematical language together. Staff also used spontaneous moments well: when balancing pebbles appeared in water play, they praised the children's ideas and introduced the concept of waterfalls.

Outdoor learning is integral rather than a break from the curriculum. Children moved freely between the garden and indoors, cut herbs they had planted, used kitchen tools and carried a pretend cake to the indoor kitchen. This combination gives imaginative play, physical control, language and carefully managed risk a shared purpose.

Relationships were a major strength in September 2022. Warm bonds and attention to individual needs helped children settle quickly, while a continuous key-person link connected home and preschool. The setting also provides a written progress report at the end of each term, giving parents a regular point at which to understand development.

Support for children with SEND, children receiving additional funding and children who speak English as an additional language was judged highly effective. The evidence highlighted communication with parents and outside agencies, alongside routines that helped children feel comfortable and make strong progress from their starting points.

Independence runs into daily care. Children prepared healthy snacks, chose when to eat, poured water or milk and used picture prompts to start conversation at the table. Safeguarding arrangements were effective in 2022; staff understood reporting procedures, managers checked suitability and children learned about personal safety through routines and discussion.

Sessions and Attendance

Honeypot publishes four weekday patterns. The Short Session Morning runs 9:15am to 12:15pm, the Short Session Afternoon 12:45pm to 3:45pm, and the Long Session Morning 9:15am to 1:15pm. All Day runs 9:15am to 3:45pm. The preschool operates in term time, and its calendar includes term dates plus staff training and meeting closures.

Funding and Enquiries

Funded places are offered for children aged two, three and four, subject to the setting's current terms and each family's eligibility. Families should request a current quotation and clarify how funded hours work with their preferred pattern.

Enquiries can be made through the contact form, by telephone or by email. The address is Stanmore Chapel, 96 Marsh Lane, Stanmore HA7 4HP.

• Session fit. The day is built from defined morning, afternoon, longer-morning and all-day patterns. Check how a preferred weekly combination works across the term.
• Current terms. Ask how funded hours apply to the preferred weekly pattern and request the complete current terms before deciding.
• Learning space. No named room structure or room-specific age bands are set out. Use a visit to see how children of different ages share the indoor and garden environments.

Honeypot best suits families who value purposeful play, close key-person relationships and genuine scope for independence. Its Outstanding 2022 inspection is supported by memorable practice, from child-prepared snacks and drawing clubs to herb-cutting and mathematical water play. The defined short mornings, short afternoons, longer mornings and all-day sessions also give several practical routes into a term-time week. Families should still pin down current costs and the precise funded-hours arrangement, but the educational and care picture is unusually clear. Its compact, sessional model may appeal most to those seeking a structured term-time rhythm rather than year-round care.