The Honey Pot

Shaving-foam mark-making for babies and snake-length comparisons for preschool children give The Honey Pot a recognisable character: learning starts with something children can touch, discuss or investigate. At its January 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. There were also clear improvements to make around changes between activities and giving children more opportunities to manage tasks themselves.

Based at 71 Lichfield Street in Walsall, the nursery accepts children from four months to five years. Four named age groups organise that span, from Bumblebees to Butterflies. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm on weekdays.

Rooms and Ages

Bumblebees covers children aged zero to one, Ladybirds one to two, Caterpillars two to three and Butterflies three to five. These age bands describe the rooms; the nursery's overall starting age is four months. The progression gives families a clear sequence of groups through the early years.

In January 2025, babies explored making marks in shaving foam, while preschool children used drawable tablets to practise letters and their sounds. These were different activities for different stages: early hand movements for the youngest children and more deliberate letter formation for older children. Books also featured across activities, rather than being confined to a single story session.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, its everyday expression includes language, early mathematics, creative activity and opportunities to practise personal skills through play and routines.

In January 2025, activities became more structured as children progressed through the nursery. Preschool children explored an anaconda's length by comparing it with an adult, making measurement something tangible. Younger children discussed book covers and learned vocabulary for parts of a book, including its spine. Staff introduced individual words before encouraging sentences, giving children a manageable next step in conversation.

Chinese New Year activities in January 2025 explored the year of the snake and introduced children to their peers' traditions. Children's own questions also influenced activities: an interest in cells prompted further exploration. The useful thread is concrete subject matter, with discussion extending beyond the original activity.

Relationships and Communication

In January 2025, staff used nappy-changing routines to talk with their key children and listen to their responses. Preschool children received reassurance and time to settle their emotions when overwhelmed. Younger children used photographs of themselves on a registration board, connecting a familiar image with their place in the group.

Parents met staff regularly to discuss development and received detailed updates. Guidance also helped families continue learning at home. This made communication more than a handover: there were opportunities to discuss what children were doing and how adults could support the next step.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the January 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that staff understood children's SEND needs, including adaptations for hearing-aid users, and worked with speech and language therapists on personalised targets. The current team structure includes a setting SENCO and designated safeguarding lead roles.

The January 2025 team comprised 13 childcare staff; eight held level 3 early-years qualifications and three held qualifications at levels 5 or 6. Those figures describe the team at that time, rather than the number of adults working with any particular group today.

Independence needed more attention in January 2025. Adults sometimes took over jobs children could attempt, including adding play-dough ingredients and managing coats or hats. Changes between activities also needed better organisation: some children received unclear signals during tidying, while cleaning tasks distracted adults from supporting story time.

Sessions and Attendance

The Honey Pot opens Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, and operates across the year. It closes for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. The contact route includes an online message form, email and a nursery telephone number.

Getting There

The main entrance is at 71 Lichfield Street, Walsall, WS4 2BY. The car park has a separate entrance before 24 The Butts, Walsall, WS4 2BP, so drivers need the parking approach rather than simply the main entrance address.

Funding and Paid Extras

In January 2025, the nursery offered funded places for children aged two, three and four. Families should obtain a current written quotation for prices.

• Independence in practice. In January 2025, adults sometimes completed manageable tasks for children. During a visit, ask how staff now judge when to help and when to let a child try.
• Changes between activities. Tidying and story-time organisation needed attention in January 2025. Ask how children are supported when an activity ends and another begins.
• Matching care to your week. The opening window runs from 8am to 6pm on weekdays. Which booking pattern, funded-hours arrangement and meal or consumable terms would apply to your child's attendance?

The Honey Pot suits families seeking care from infancy through the preschool years, with separate age groups and weekday opening across the year. Its January 2025 examples give substance to the nursery day: sensory exploration, books, conversation and practical mathematics. The decision also deserves attention to everyday organisation. Giving children room to attempt tasks, and helping them move calmly between activities, were the two clear priorities for improvement.