Beavers Playgroup
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Hackney for children from birth to 8+, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in June 2025. Open since 1993, with 20 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Hackney
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Hackney from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
N1 5SEWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 10 June 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children clearly demonstrate that they are happy and secure at this extremely enabling and nurturing setting. The manager and staff make it a priority to meet children's individual needs at all times. They plan an ambitious curriculum that staff implement consistently. This includes commitment to ensure that children enjoy their learning with an emphasis on having fun as they play. Staff use this time to teach children to understand positive behaviours. They praise children warmly, offering specific acknowledgement that is reinforced with recognition when they follow this independently.
Staff consistently embed their commitment to develop secure attachments with children. They do this by supporting and communicating with each other, with children as the focus. Staff are clear that organisation is planned so they can fully concentrate on interacting with children. This enables staff to show children that they are valued and respected.
Staff work closely with children to help them make the best progress. Their interactions are extremely effective with children, who are highly confident communicators. Staff use a wide range of interesting vocabulary to engage children. They listen carefully to what children say, using open-ended questions to encourage them to think, process and express their own ideas and expand their vocabulary and language skills. They make effective use of children's favourite books to inspire them. Children respond well and can concentrate for prolonged periods. Staff gather key words in children's languages. This includes all children to reinforce respecting and celebrating each other. During group time, staff encourage children to join in as they sing with greetings in other languages. All children thoroughly enjoy this as they take part fully and sing with pride together.
- 10 June 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 8 July 2019Good
- 14 November 2018Inadequate
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Beavers Playgroup
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.