Chingford Forest Day Nursery and Pre-school

A preschool cabin in a forest garden gives Chingford Forest Day Nursery and Pre-school its recognisable character. Based at Hawkwood Lodge beside Epping Forest, it combines a restored lodge house with half an acre of grounds and three gardens. Outdoor exploration has a substantial physical setting here.

Children are accepted from 3 months to 5 years. No Ofsted inspection has been published for this setting yet.

Babies aged 3 to 16 months use the front room upstairs, next to the sensory room; older babies aged 16 to 26 months occupy the back room upstairs and also use that space. Toddlers aged 2 to 3 years have a downstairs base opening directly onto the barked garden. For forest preschool children aged 3 to 4 years, the base is a log cabin in the forest garden. Room moves take account of development and emotional readiness, with these ages serving as guides.

The play-based approach follows children's interests, alongside daily outdoor opportunities and regular woodland exploration. Cooking, baking, imaginative play and music broaden the day beyond nature activities. Preschool learning includes early reading, number work and opportunities to practise independence before school.

Each child has a key person, giving families a consistent relationship around their child's care. Conversations each day, photographs and learning updates through the nursery app, and regular parent meetings provide different ways to follow progress. A SENCo role supports arrangements for children with additional needs.

Settling sessions and a settling pack form part of the joining arrangements. Breakfast, cooked lunch, tea and snacks are supplied through the catering package, with vegan and vegetarian choices.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 66 Yardley Lane, London, E4 7RS, with Hawkwood Lodge used as the nursery's building name. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. Full Day bookings last 11 hours, with a minimum of two full days each week; additional ad hoc days are offered subject to availability.

The nursery opens for 51 weeks, closing on bank holidays and for a week over Christmas. Christmas Eve has an earlier 4.30pm closing time. Enquiries and visit bookings use the nursery's online form and booking calendar.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes the universal entitlement of 15 hours per week during term time for children aged 3 to 4, the same entitlement for eligible children aged 2 to 3 receiving additional government support, and 30 hours per week during term time for eligible working families with children aged 9 months to 4 years. These entitlements are stretched across 51 weeks here. Working-family funding begins in the term after the child turns 9 months, subject to eligibility and a valid code before the term starts. Additional private childcare is charged separately.

Meals and care products are charged through Everyday Essentials, alongside enrichment experiences. Care products include wipes, suncream and hand sanitiser. During funded hours, catering, consumables and enrichment remain separate charges, although fully funded sessions can be taken without additional charges. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

A non-refundable administration charge covers enrolment and settling arrangements. Families using only funded hours instead pay a deposit, credited to their account and returned within a month of starting.

• Outdoor preschool base. The cabin and forest garden shape the older children's experience. On a visit, discuss how outdoor routines work for your child's preferences.
• Weekly commitment. The minimum booking is two full days. Families seeking a shorter weekly commitment should weigh that requirement against their plans.
• Funded attendance costs. Everyday Essentials sits alongside funded education and care, while fully funded sessions can carry no additional charges. Discuss the arrangement you want before agreeing your booking.

Chingford Forest suits families wanting regular full-day attendance with substantial outdoor space, as well as those seeking funded-only attendance. Its lodge, sensory room and forest preschool cabin give different ages different physical settings. The two-day minimum and the distinction between funded care and Everyday Essentials deserve careful attention when choosing an attendance plan.