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Heather Rabbit Nursery

Ofsted: Outstanding
(Sept 2025)
·
5.0(5 parent reviews) ·Heather Row Cottage, Heather Row, Hook, RG27 9JP · Hampshire
Number of places
26 places
Age range
3–4 yrs
Last inspected
Sept 2025
Local authority
Hampshire

About this day nursery

Heather Rabbit Nursery, located near Hook in Hampshire, provides high-quality education and care for children aged three to five years. The nursery focuses on supporting children's development at their individual pace within a nurturing environment.

They emphasise fostering self-motivation, resilience, and confidence, aiming to equip children with essential tools for their future. The nursery strongly believes in establishing strong relationships with families, considering it vital to their success and for building children's confidence in engaging with the wider world.

Leveraging its rural setting, Heather Rabbit Nursery offers diverse outdoor experiences, including exploring SSSI Heathland and surrounding woodlands. Their curriculum incorporates imaginative activities such as making campfires and canal boat trips, ensuring children create lasting memories while in their care.

The nursery has been recognised for its outstanding provision since 2011, with Ofsted highlighting the children's sustained engagement and curiosity.

Our ethos

Heather Rabbit Nursery's philosophy centres on supporting each child's individual development pace within a nurturing environment. They prioritise fostering self-motivation, resilience, and confidence, and believe strong family partnerships are vital. The nursery incorporates diverse outdoor experiences and imaginative activities to create lasting memories.

What it's like

Nursery staff create a vibrant and stimulating environment, consistently providing children with engaging activities and memorable outings that ignite a genuine enthusiasm for learning. These highly motivated and passionate staff skilfully build upon each child's existing knowledge and abilities, enabling them to develop the essential skills needed for their future education. Children embrace opportunities to take on meaningful responsibilities, such as caring for guinea pigs and rabbits.

Rural locationEmphasis on outdoor learningNurturing environmentIndividualised learningStrong family partnerships

Pricing & funding

Charges are based on an hourly rate for hours exceeding the standard funding entitlement, with a lower rate applying from the term after a child turns three. Additional fees are charged per session for access to enhanced facilities, and deposits are required for waiting list applications.

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)

Good to know

  • Waiting list deposits are required for both the main nursery and additional activity sessions.
  • A session fee applies for access to enhanced facilities.
  • Adventure Time sessions must be paid in advance.
  • Hourly rates for additional hours decrease the term after the child turns three.

Key facts

Opening hours

Mornings: 8:30am or 9:00am – 12:00pm; Afternoons: 12:00pm – 3:00pm or 3:30pm; Full Days: 8:30am or 9:00am – 3:00pm or 3:30pm, Monday to Friday from January 2024

Session types

Morning session, Afternoon session, Full Day

Age range

3-5 years

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Heather Rabbit Nursery

Last inspected 17 September 2025

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding

What it's like to attend

Nursery staff create a vibrant and stimulating environment, consistently providing children with engaging activities and memorable outings that ignite a genuine enthusiasm for learning. These highly motivated and passionate staff skilfully build upon each child's existing knowledge and abilities, enabling them to develop the essential skills needed for their future education. Children embrace opportunities to take on meaningful responsibilities, such as caring for guinea pigs and rabbits.

Inspector highlights

  • The manager demonstrates exceptional conscientiousness and leads the team with outstanding skill and high expectations for every child.
  • Staff implement the early years foundation stage with confidence, closely observing children and using precise assessments to showcase each child's rapid progress.
  • Staff support children in clearly articulating their thoughts, consistently encouraging correct context, meaning and tense.
  • The manager and staff actively help children develop an understanding of families, community and diversity.
  • Children demonstrate exemplary behaviour throughout the nursery, a direct result of staff nurturing them and providing dedicated guidance.
Inspection #10407470 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

parents say, "These memorable outdoor experiences ignite their children's curiosity and provide a strong foundation for learning, both in and out of the nursery."

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

Outdoor space

The setting makes exceptional use of its natural surroundings. Children relish woodland walks that spark creative thinking and lively conversation. They eagerly balance on logs and assess the conditions of the terrain, demonstrating impressive physical development as they navigate muddy and sometimes slippery ground.

Parent Reviews of Heather Rabbit Nursery

5.0
(5)
Emma Marsh
2 years ago

I wanted to share my experience of Heather Rabbit so other parents can give their children the gift of this wonderful place. My Son has now been with them for over a year but since September has been there full time, and his growth in that time has been remarkable. His confidence has grown, he has such affection for all the staff and speaks of his adventures with Heather Rabbit all the time. Their childcare offering is like no other, the staff are all incredible and their love for the job and the children in their care shines through! You will not find a better setting locally!

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Lorraine Greatrex
2 years ago

My youngest attended Heather Rabbit for the last six months of her pre-school era and I only wish I had enrolled her sooner, and my eldest too. The setting is magical and idyllic, but more importantly, the staff genuinely care. My daughter loved her time there and we remember it with fondness. I would highly recommend.

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Colin Davison
6 years ago

As a local in the area for the last 25 years, I can honestly say the most recommended nursery i the area has to be Heather Rabbit. That is from over 12 people whom I know had children at the nursery.

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Elliott Williams
8 years ago

Sparkie and Mickey were the ponies back in my day, and they were always up for a sesh. Learnt to make my first sandwich in this ting and still making it as a hangover cure 👊🏼Thanks lads 5/5.

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S K
a year ago

Beautiful little nursery. Wonderful staff, my daughter loves coming here, cannot recommend enough.

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Reviews from Google for Heather Rabbit Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: May 2011

  • September 2025Outstanding
  • January 2020Outstanding
  • July 2015Outstanding
  • May 2011Outstanding

Frequently asked about Heather Rabbit Nursery

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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more