Session types
Full day, Morning session, Afternoon session
Henry's Hut
Ofsted: Good
(Jul 2023)
Number of places
26 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jul 2023
Local authority
Northumberland
About this day nursery
Henry's Hut, located in Ponteland, offers a nurturing and stimulating environment for children aged 9 months and older. The day nursery boasts extensive outdoor gardens, providing ample opportunities for children to engage with nature daily.
It operates 50 weeks a year, excluding bank holidays, and is conveniently situated near Ponteland Primary School and Ponteland Community Primary School, making it an ideal choice for families with children attending these schools. The day nursery benefits from a large car park, ensuring easy and safe drop-off and collection.
With a focus on individualised learning, Henry's Hut encourages children to grow at their own pace through play-led activities designed to challenge and support their development. Experienced staff build strong relationships with both children and families, fostering open communication to aid in each child's learning journey.
The facility combines purpose-built indoor and outdoor spaces to promote independence, choice, and meaningful learning. The nursery also emphasises community connection, offering age-appropriate activities that allow children to interact with their surroundings.
Henry's Hut is committed to instilling a love of learning in children, helping them develop curiosity, confidence, and independence from a young age.
Our ethos
Henry's Hut is committed to instilling a love of learning by fostering curiosity, confidence, and independence. Their approach is play-led and focused on individualised learning, encouraging children to grow at their own pace. They utilise purpose-built indoor and outdoor spaces to promote independence, choice, and meaningful learning through daily engagement with nature and community connection.
What it's like
Staff ensure children settle into the nursery by gathering information from parents about their development and care needs. Children are happy and have strong relationships with staff, entering the nursery eagerly. Staff promote independence and lifelong learning, adapting activities to engage and motivate children, while also having clear expectations for behaviour and celebrating accomplishments.
Extensive outdoor gardensIndividualised play-led learningStrong family partnershipsConvenient location
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare
• Discounted rates for multiple sessions • Sibling discount • Transfers to and from local school Nurseries/Early Years Centre Eligible working parents can apply for childcare cost support. Please visit https://beststartinlife.gov.uk/to check eligibility.
Key facts
Opening hours
Monday to Friday, 07:30 to 18:00
Age range
9 months to 5 years old
Term time / All Year
All Year
Food
Meals provided
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Henry's Hut
Last inspected 12 July 2023 · Melanie Vincent
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Staff ensure children settle into the nursery by gathering information from parents about their development and care needs. Children are happy and have strong relationships with staff, entering the nursery eagerly. Staff promote independence and lifelong learning, adapting activities to engage and motivate children, while also having clear expectations for behaviour and celebrating accomplishments.
Inspector highlights
- Staff provide individualised curriculum planning that helps children achieve well in their development.
- Staff effectively support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) using various strategies and working with external professionals.
- Managers provide good support and training for staff, leading to very good, and at times outstanding, interactions.
- Children are articulate and keen to communicate, with staff introducing new vocabulary and engaging them in conversations.
- Children have constant access to a very stimulating outdoor area where they learn about healthy lifestyles and nature.
Areas to develop
- 1implement the plans in place to provide staff with professional development to support children's communication and language development even further
- 2plan whole-group activities, especially at times of transition, more carefully to engage younger children fully in their learning.
Inspection #10285433 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents are extremely positive about the service which the nursery provides. They comment that staff provide support for the whole family and they are delighted with the progress their children make.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) very well. They work hard to make sure that all children are included. Staff use strategies, such as visual aids and signs, to help children with SEND communicate. They work closely with other settings which children also attend and external professionals, to ensure that they meet all children's needs.
Outdoor space
Children have constant access to fresh air in the nursery's very stimulating outdoor area. They learn about nature and nutritious food, such as when they plant and care for vegetables. Children also help to carry out risk assessment of the outdoor area before going out to play.
Google Reviews of Henry's Hut
4.5
(8 Google reviews)
Steph Bell
6 years ago
We are so happy that we discovered Henry's Hut. Our daughter has been going since 2018 and she has grown so much in confidence. We have so much trust in the staff team, it feels like we are dropping her off with family as they are all so lovely and attentive. We really feel like they know our daughter well and always have time to chat to us when dropping her off or collecting her. We are looking forward to sending our son when he is old enough. Our daughter is always surprising us with a new skill that she has learnt at Henry's Hut. We also send her in the school holidays and she has so much fun and asks if she can go on a weekend. Thank you Henry's Hut for helping our daughter to grow and develop and for giving her amazing memories.
Read on Google
Claire Povey
6 years ago
My son has been going to Henry’s Hut since 2016, initially at nursery and now at after school club. He loves going and has made some great friends there. The Henry’s Hut team are engaging and encouraging and have had a really positive impact on his early years not just academically, but through instilling good values. It makes going to work a little easier knowing he’s very well cared for.
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andrew hall
6 years ago
Amazing staff and such a friendly environment, our daughter has come out of her shell so much since she started going. We initially chose Henry's Hut as we really wanted her to go some where with a homely feel and mix with children of different ages. She absolutely loves it!
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Neil Povey
6 years ago
Sandra and the team really make you feel assured that your child is being cared for in a positive, friendly and warm environment when you have to troop out to work. They work really hard with the children and cater their activities so the children have plenty of variety when it comes to playing and learning. They always let you know details of what your child has been talking about and what they’ve been playing. My son always comes out happy as Larry 😂
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Жозефа Ли
a year ago
I had terrible experience with irresponsible,rude, unprofessional, lazy management. For my request to check spaces for September 2025 or next year I’ve been ignored nearly two weeks and after call for updates I felt like they don’t have clue how to deal with booking system or just lazy to run trough all applicants and put them in base. Anyway I was in my tears after the call, as basically what he said is they have so many applicants that they don’t know what to do or how to squeeze all of them and if I got space in different nursery go to them😓
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Henry's Hut. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: January 2014
- July 2023Good
- October 2017Good
- January 2014Good
Frequently asked about Henry's Hut
Nearby day nurseries in Ponteland
Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Henry's Hut.
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<0.2 miAwaiting first inspection
Ponteland Community Primary School Nursery
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Little Pioneers Nursery & Pre-School
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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