Little Hippos Nursery at Honiton Primary School

Three mornings in the school woods give Little Hippos a distinctly outdoor character. Honiton Primary School’s nursery combines forest school with a classroom in a purpose-built Early Years Unit, its own outdoor space and a shared garden. There is room for both muddy exploration and quieter classroom learning.

The nursery admissions offer covers three- and four-year-olds, with entry possible from the half term following a child’s third birthday. Qualified teachers lead the Early Years team. At the Ofsted inspection on 6 and 7 December 2023, early years provision received a Good judgement within the school’s inspection, rather than a separate nursery rating.

Play takes up substantial parts of the day, interspersed with teaching in groups and directly with adults. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together children’s learning, development and care: here, that means attention to talking, movement, relationships, early literacy and mathematical thinking. Adults use the 3-M’s approach, linking Mathematics, Mark-Making and Making Conversation to each child’s next steps. Conversation during play therefore has a learning purpose.

The Growth Guide introduces perseverance, questioning and collaboration in nursery. These are practical habits for children experimenting with materials or working alongside friends: trying again, asking questions and learning together. Early reading uses Little Wandle, which connects spoken sounds with written letters. In December 2023, early years learning was effective and children began reading when ready. The school’s reading sequence beyond phonics still needed further planning, a limitation distinct from that positive early years finding.

Outdoors, the nursery classroom opens onto an area reserved for the youngest children. The shared Early Years garden adds a climbing frame, sensory space, water play and a mud kitchen. Forest school takes nursery children into the school woods on three mornings each week, making outdoor exploration a recurring part of the timetable.

A nursery example shows how physical play becomes learning: children have compared dry sand with wet sand when building castles in the outdoor sandpit. Helping to sweep it up adds movement and responsibility to the activity.

Support extends beyond the classroom team. Little Hippos can draw on the school’s Pastoral Manager for parenting support, a SENCO for observation, advice and referrals, and a Specialist Speech and Language Higher Level Teaching Assistant for language support. That gives families access to several kinds of help on the same site.

Parents and staff share children’s experiences and learning, while the early years approach takes account of individual interests and needs. The partnership also extends to learning at home. This creates a connection between what a child explores in nursery and the support their family gives outside it.

Attending Little Hippos does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate school application through the normal local authority process. Devon residents apply to Devon County Council; families living elsewhere apply through their own council. The primary application window runs from 15 November to 15 January.

Familiarity is a separate benefit. Nursery belongs to the school’s Early Years team and children can use the shared Early Years garden, giving continuity of people and surroundings for those who subsequently join the school. That familiarity should not be treated as an admissions entitlement.

Choose a morning session from 9am to noon, an afternoon from noon to 3pm, or a full day from 9am to 3pm. Nursery operates during school terms for 38 weeks each year. Parents are usually asked to consider at least three sessions, so staff have regular opportunities to build relationships with their child.

The nursery describes 15 funded hours weekly for three- and four-year-olds from the term after their third birthday, and 30 hours for eligible families, across 38 weeks. Extended-entitlement bookings depend on session availability. Additional sessions can be paid for; contact the school for current charges.

Wraparound care. The school’s breakfast and after-school clubs exclude nursery children. Families needing care beyond the nursery sessions will need another arrangement.

Applications go directly to the school. To arrange a visit, use the Nursery Admissions enquiry form or call 01404 548700. Younger children’s families can register interest, with contact planned during the term before their intended start.