Opening hours
Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, 51 weeks a year (closed bank holidays and between Christmas and New Year)
Honeybees Nursery, Pre-School and Willand Copse Forest School
Ofsted: Good
(Jul 2024)
Number of places
75 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jul 2024
Local authority
Devon
About this day nursery
Willand Copse Forest School offers an engaging outdoor learning environment for children from Pre-School age up to 11 years old. The school operates independently from Honeybees Nursery, though children can attend both by splitting their full sessions.
Emphasising a holistic approach to development, the Forest School encourages problem-solving skills through managed risks and challenging activities in a safe, fenced outdoor space. Children are provided with a healthy, well-balanced diet, with meals prepared and eaten communally, catering to all dietary requirements.
The school is open 51 weeks a year, Monday to Friday, from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, closing only for bank holidays and during the Christmas and New Year period. The dedicated team, led by a Manager and Deputy Manager, includes Senior Practitioners, Practitioners, and trainees, ensuring comprehensive care and education.
Strong parent-staff relationships are fostered through honest daily feedback on children's progress and experiences. The school embraces outdoor activities in all weathers, highlighting the importance of appropriate clothing and providing sheltered areas for rest.
Settling-in sessions are offered to help children adjust to the routine. The school also actively uses a nursery software app to connect home and school life, sharing photos, news, and learning updates with parents.
Our ethos
Willand Copse Forest School offers an engaging outdoor learning environment, emphasising a holistic approach to development. It encourages problem-solving skills through managed risks and challenging activities in a safe, fenced outdoor space, embracing outdoor activities in all weathers.
What it's like
Leaders have worked hard since the last inspection to implement changes that have brought about improvement in the design and implementation of the curriculum. As a result, children now flourish and thrive in this welcoming and friendly setting. Staff provide an ambitious curriculum that is well sequenced and successfully challenges children.
Forest SchoolOutdoor LearningHealthy MealsFlexible SessionsApp-based Communication
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare
Pricing on request
This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.
Key facts
Age range
Pre-School to 11 years old
Term time / All Year
All Year
Established
2020
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating
Last inspected 22 July 2024 · Michelle Heimsoth
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Leaders have worked hard since the last inspection to implement changes that have brought about improvement in the design and implementation of the curriculum. As a result, children now flourish and thrive in this welcoming and friendly setting. Staff provide an ambitious curriculum that is well sequenced and successfully challenges children.
Inspector highlights
- Staff's interactions and support for children to develop good communication and language skills is a key strength.
- Children develop a love of books and stories.
- Younger toddlers are confident and demonstrate high levels of self-esteem, communicating well.
- Staff support children to develop healthy lifestyles through outdoor learning and physical play.
- Leaders monitor staff's practice and provide support and training to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills.
Areas to develop
- 1organise the grouping of children and routines better to ensure that children can focus and concentrate to consistently benefit fully from the learning opportunities provided.
Inspection #10339980 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
Outdoor space
Children benefit from lots of outdoor learning and physical play and have many opportunities to run and climb in the vast open space of the nursery garden.
Parent Reviews
3.5
(6)
Owen L
11 months ago
Amanda Scriven the owner of Honey Bees, sold her 2nd nursery in Salisbury to new owners completely unannounced to parents. I have been shocked by the deception from Amanda and the Honey Bees staff throughout this period who were covering the running of the Salisbury nursery due to staff absentees. The condition that Amanda left the Salisbury nursery in, meant that the new owners needed to close for weeks to get it H&S compliant. We also paid Amanda for that full month of nursery fees in advance which have not been refunded back to us. From this experience I have no faith that Amanda or the staff at Honey Bees are capable of running a happy and safe childcare setting.
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Sarah Baulch
11 months ago
WHISTLEBLOWING Re-post after my previous review was deleted - this is entirely factual and evidence based. My daughter attended the other setting (Spire View, Salisbury) owned by Amanda Scriven via Kiddi Galore Ltd until recently, when Amanda sold the business and gave all families less than 12 hours notice of this by sending an email at 9pm on a Sunday evening! She has since not refunded 3 weeks of nursery fees we had paid in advance and does not respond to emails. The disregard she had for the well being of our children in this transition, along with many of the team from the Honeybees nursery who were running the both settings during this period is truly unforgivable.
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Helen Bell
a year ago
My son has been attending Honeybees Day Nursery full time since he was 11 months old (he is now nearly 3.5). He has thrived in the setting, they have such fabulous grounds and a really caring and nurturing approach. Would absolutely recommend as a childcare setting. We have also regularly used their Holiday Club for children in primary school, for our eldest son, who thoroughly enjoys his days there.
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Kian
9 years ago
Our child has been at honeybees since it first opened and we have always been extremely happy with the service provided by the nursery. The environment is well-equipped and stimulating with lots of topic-based learning activities set up inside. Our child loves the outdoors so the large outdoor space at Honeybees is a real bonus for her. The care provided by the staff at Honeybees who are all so friendly, supportive and hardworking, is also fantastic. All in all we would strongly recommend Honeybees Nursery.
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Angie Kay
a year ago
Our daughter has been at Honeybees for over a year now and loves it ❤️ the staff have all made a huge effort to get to know her growing personality and all her likes and dislikes. I couldn’t recommend them enough as a nursery who really treat her like one of their own!
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Honeybees Nursery, Pre-School and Willand Copse Forest School. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Improved from Inadequate → Good in 2024
Date: June 2022
- July 2024Good
- February 2024Inadequate
- October 2023Requires improvement
- April 2023Inadequate
- October 2022Good
- June 2022Inadequate
Frequently asked about Honeybees Nursery, Pre-School and Willand Copse Forest School
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