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Our History
Our first site began in Wimbledon in 1991, and maintains an Outstanding OFSTED rating. Subsequently our founders, Judith Ish Horowicz MBE, and Ali Somers, opened Apples and Honey Nightingale in September 2017. It is the first nursery to embed daily intergenerational activities within its curriculum and has become a global exemplar of this practice. Despite the restrictions imposed by Coronavirus, Apples and Honey Nightingale continued to deliver an intergenerational programme, overcoming the risks of isolation and loneliness for the residents while maintaining the children’s strong relationships with their extended ‘family’.
The nursery enjoys a specially designed building, private and safe gardens and an imaginatively designed playground area. We pride ourselves in offering the best start to education for young children. Day nursery places are available 50 weeks, with an option to attend term-time only. We are open from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm (with an early close on Fridays for Shabbat). Additionally, we offer a core day session from 9am-3.30pm.
While Apples and Honey Nightingale is centred on the values and traditions of Judaism, we welcome children of all faiths and none. Through a broad and engaging programme, we use themes taken from the Jewish year to deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum, bringing the festivals to life through art, songs and dance.
Together with our older friends we enjoy the weekly Shabbat and Havdalah ceremonies, as well as exploring and learning about world festivals and cultures – particularly those that our children and families celebrate at home. This further encourages our children and older friends to share their faith, culture, and experiences in a mutually respectful manner.
The nursery is run on a ‘not for profit’ model as a Community Interest Company (CIC). This includes a Board of Directors drawn from the local community for their professional expertise and commitment which ensures the nursery runs smoothly and achieves the best outcomes for the children.
We aim to create a warm and caring environment in which children are constantly learning through a range of exciting and stimulating opportunities. Parents can be confident their children are warmly, expertly and safely looked after, and each child is nurtured to help them to reach their full potential.
We would be delighted to welcome you for a visit, please click the ‘orange’ link to the right.
Kathy O’Brien and Laura Kenny , Co-Managers
Ofsted Report 29/1/2020
‘The quality and standards of the Early Years Provision is Outstanding’
- Children flourish in this outstanding nursery. Leaders have exceptionally high expectations for every child
- Children are consistently engaged, excited and interested, and enjoy exploring the excellent range of learning experiences.
- Children manage their own behaviour well. They learn to listen to the views of others and accept each other’s ideas.
- Leaders are ambitious and inspiring. They successfully combine their expertise, experience and knowledge of children to provide an exceptional learning environment.
- Parents comment on the excellent emotional support their children receive. Parents make comments such as, ‘Not only is my child exceptionally safe, they are also genuinely loved by the staff.’
- Children eagerly develop their skills in mathematics and literacy.
- Children have a positive and enthusiastic attitude to learning. They are highly motivated, independent and confident.
Here’s what our families say about us
Get to know our teachers
Meet the team
Judith Ish-Horowicz MBE
Principal
PGCE; MA; Early Years Professional Status (EYPS)
I’ve never wanted to be anything other than a teacher and, after all these years, I still wake up with excited anticipation. What new pearls of young wisdom will I hear today? What shared laughter will I join? What special secret will I share? I feel so lucky to be working with such an amazing team and supportive families at Apples and Honey, my youngest ‘child’.
Carla Pais
Early Years Assistant
Working with children is a blessing. My passion is getting to know each child individually – seeing them blossom and progress is extremely rewarding.
Before having children, I worked as an after-school coordinator in a school-based nursery. Joining Apples and Honey Nightingale Nursery has been delightful.
My Christian faith is particularly important to me and growing to understand a new, beautiful religion at Apples and Honey Nightingale has allowed me to grow and develop as a person.
From a young age, I have always loved plants, flowers, and gardening. To me, children are like a garden. We have to look after them, care for them, encourage and teach them skills so they can develop into strong and healthy individuals.
Big hearts shape little minds.
Billie-Jean Hilton-Coy
Apples Class (Pre-school) Early Years Practitioner
NVQ 3 in Childcare
I began working with children after leaving school, working to gain my qualification through an apprenticeship in 2014. I worked at the same nursery for more than 7 years, gaining lots of experience caring for and supporting children’s learning from 3 months old until they go to school. Most of my working experience has been with children under 3 years, having led both the toddler room and the baby room in my previous nursery. I am the newest member of staff at Apples and Honey Nightingale, having started here in March 2021, and I enjoy getting to know the children and their families- everyone is so welcoming.
I love to lead sports activities with the children and support them with baking activities- introducing them to new techniques and skills.
Vivi Arboleda
Apples Class (Pre-school) Early Years Practitioner
NVQ3 in Childcare/ QTS Primary School Teaching
Becoming a teacher has been part of me since my early years, an my passion for teaching first led me to study for a primary school Teaching Degree in Spain. It has always been my ambition to keep on growing in knowledge so I followed this by a Masters Degree in teaching children with Special Needs. When I moved to London a few years ago, I had the amazing opportunity to volunteer in a nursery for a few months which was my first teaching experience in Early Years. Subsequently, I was offered a position at Apples & Honeys Nightingale where I have been able to both extend, and to put into practice, my knowledge. It has been a great pleasure to be part of the AHN team as I have been fully supported to keep on growing as a professional. I recently finished the CACHE Level 3 in Early Years and I greatly look forward to further improving my teaching skills and to making a difference to children’s lives.
Barbara Morris
Honey Class (Toddlers) Early Years Practitioner
NVQ 3 in Childcare
I began working with children because after working with the elderly, and finding I greatly enjoyed the caring aspect. Before moving into the Early Years from elderly care, I studied Childcare, Learning and Development at college to gain a qualification and knowledge into the subject.
I enjoy seeing how the children thrive through the love, care and teaching we provide to enable them to become resilient children for tomorrow.
Karen Lyon-Lowe
Honeys Class (Toddlers) Lead Practitioner
NVQ Level 3
I started working with children when I was just 16 years old. Originally a dance teacher for 20 years for children aged 3-16 years, I changed careers after having my own children.
Apples and Honey Nightingale is a lovely place to work, and I enjoy watching the children interact with the residents.
Sensory and explorative play is important for young children and I thrive on providing them with opportunities to explore a range of different experiences and materials.
Laura Kenny
Co-Manager
BA in Early Years and Early Years Teacher Status (PGCE)/ SENDCo and Speech and Language training
I began working in Early Years Education after completing an NVQ in childcare after school. Starting in a private day nursery which catered for children from 3 months to 5 years, I became the preschool room leader, deputy manager and then eventually nursery manager. Next, I managed a day nursery in East Dulwich for 3 and a half years before starting my journey at Apples and Honey Nightingale. I am a trained Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo), with further training in autism and speech and language support for children under 5. After recently completing the Early Years Teacher Status at Greenwich University, I am now studying for a Masters’ Degree in Education, with an Early Years endorsement.
As a nursery manager, I enjoy spending time with the children and watching how they grow and develop over time. I have a strong belief in encouraging children’s independence, curiosity, autonomy, and perseverance. It is such a rewarding career, being able to broaden each child’s experience of the world and their enthusiasm for learning.
Kathy O’Brien
Co-Manager
BA(hons) in Early Years Teaching/ Montessori Diploma/Hornsby Diploma in Dyslexia Teaching/Currently doing Assessor Training
Being part of Apples and Honey Nightingale from the day we opened, I feel a great sense of pride in the broad programme we have developed. The Intergenerational aspect adds such a rich and varied dimension to the nursery experience. It is wonderful to see the residents’ faces light up when the children appear and the children’s enthusiasm and confidence to communicate in this non-threatening and mutually beneficial environment.