Ages 2–4 years
For dreamers, makers and music-lovers
The Den is our second pre-school room for children aged 2 to 4 — a rich, imaginative space with a particular love for sensory exploration, small world play, music and role play.
About The Den
The Den
For dreamers, makers and music-lovers
Like The Burrow, The Den follows the HighScope curriculum — Plan, Do, Review runs through every session. But The Den has always had its own particular magic: a little more theatrical, a little more musical, with children regularly staging their own productions and conducting their own orchestras.
The atmosphere here is creative and unhurried. Children are deep in playdough, small worlds, instruments and story caves. Practitioners support imaginative thinking and never redirect children away from what absorbs them.
2–4 years
Age range
1:8 / 1:13
Staff ratio
Level 3+
All qualifications
What you’ll find
Inside The Den
The Den has large south-facing windows and its own distinct character — creative, sensory-rich and theatrical. It runs alongside The Burrow, with children able to freely access both rooms throughout the day.
The daily rhythm
A typical day in The Den
Every day follows a warm, predictable rhythm — enough structure to feel safe, enough freedom to feel joyful. HighScope’s Plan-Do-Review runs through everything.
Breakfast Club
The Den’s Breakfast Club is a gentle, social start — warm food, quiet chat, and the unhurried transition from home to nursery that young children need.
Planning time
Each child meets with their Key Person to plan their morning. Planning in The Den is often theatrical — children love to narrate their intentions like they’re setting the scene for a story.
Work time
Children scatter across the room following their plans — the playdough table, the small world, the instrument collection, the sensory trays. Adults observe, support and join in when invited.
Review & tidy
Tidy-up time is taken seriously — children know where things live. Review follows: a gathering to share stories, discoveries and the surprises that came from following their curiosity.
Group time & outdoors
Songs with instruments, movement games, call-and-response — The Den loves music. Then outdoor time: weather never stops us, just dresses us differently.
After School Club
After School Club continues until 6pm — more outdoor time, a relaxed snack, free play and creative activities to end the day well.
The environment
What you’ll find in The Den
Every corner of The Den is intentional — designed to invite curiosity, support independence, and make children feel at home from the very first day.
Playdough with real ingredients
Our playdough is made fresh with lavender, rosemary, pine needles, petals and spices. Children help make it, then explore its scent, texture and open-ended possibilities.
Small world & role play
Miniature landscapes built with natural materials, story caves, puppet theatres, dress-up rails — The Den is a place where imagination is the main resource.
World music instruments
A collection of real instruments from around the world — drums, chimes, rain sticks, thumb pianos. Children explore rhythm, sound and music freely throughout the day.
Sensory trays & investigation
Rotating sensory trays with seasonal materials — mud, sand, oats, seeds, water with botanicals. Each one is an invitation to investigate, measure and play.
Indoor climbing frame
A low climbing structure gives children the chance to move, challenge themselves physically and take managed risks — an important part of healthy development.
Storytelling corner
A snug nook with a story cave, shadow puppets and a beautifully stocked library. Stories are told, performed and invented here every single day.
Our team
The people who look after your child
Every practitioner in The Den holds a Level 3 qualification or above and has completed enhanced DBS checks. They bring genuine warmth, expertise and deep commitment to every child in their care.
Rachel B
Practitioner
- Level 3 NVQ in Early Years Care and Education
- HighScope Implementation course
- Paediatric First Aid Qualified
Nicola L
Practitioner
- Level 3 BTEC National Diploma in Caring Services (Nursery Nursing)
- Paediatric First Aid Qualified
The Den Team
All Level 3 qualified
Our full Den team holds Level 3 qualifications and enhanced DBS certificates. Every child has a consistent Key Person who builds a genuine relationship with them and their family.
Fees & funding
The Den fees
We accept all government funded hours and keep our fees as straightforward as possible. As a charity, every penny goes back into the setting.
The Den
Ages 2–4 years
A voluntary 50p per session covers healthy snacks the children help prepare. We accept all government funded hours — universal 15 hours (age 3+), 30-hour working parent entitlement (from 9 months), stretched over 48 weeks. Full fees & funding info →
Our other rooms
The full Hawthorn Tree journey
Children can move through our rooms as they grow — from The Den right through to school age. One setting, one ethos, all the way through.
The Nest
Ages 0–23 months
The Burrow
Ages 2–4 years
Come and see The Den for yourself
The best way to know whether The Den is right for your child is to come and spend a little time here. We offer relaxed, no-pressure show-arounds at a time that suits you.
Or call 01205 362255 · Mon–Fri 7:30am–6:00pm