The pre-school made for childhood
This morning. This patch of sunlight on the floor. The marvel in a child’s eyes as they watch the seeds of a dandelion clock blow away in the breeze.
HERE&NOW is made for these moments. Welcome to the new nurture-led pre-school built for your child to be exactly who they are.
HERE&NOW in Wanstead
A pre-school with a new view on childcare. We’ve opened a space that prioritises children in every situation, one that meets your child where they’re at and encourages them to be exactly as they are. A space where muddy boots are welcomed and every corner is waiting to be explored.
The Snug is open now for children from two years old, The Club opens for three to five year olds on Wednesday 6 January 2027, and The Nest opens for our youngest, from nine months, on Wednesday 31 March 2027.
Our values
Inspire curiously
Love unconditionally
Live slowly
Care completely
Exist kindly
Embody fully
Hi there, I’m Hannah. Founder of HERE&NOW.
If you told me at the start of my corporate career I’d be on this journey, I wouldn’t have believed you. I’ve always loved children and I’ve worked with them throughout my life, but it wasn’t until Pearl, our precious daughter, arrived that something shifted. I was so excited to go back to work, but I felt physically torn between the career I loved and the daughter I wanted to be with.
I know first hand how important it is to find the right pre-school for your child. When we were looking for Pearl I noticed something. Although many pre-schools came across as professional and organised, they also felt transactional. Staff were limited or with high turnover and there seemed to be a collective understanding that this was just the way things were. In today’s world, everything moves so quickly; rushing childhood and speeding up the moments we once savoured. Where was the pre-school that allowed room for children to just be children? The space where they could be truly nurtured, not just academically, but emotionally, mentally and physically. Where they had time to fully be themselves. It didn’t seem to exist. So I decided to create it.
I built HERE&NOW for children. I built it for the pre-school caregivers who are so often underpaid, overworked and not recognised for the critical work they do in nurturing our collective futures.
And finally, I built it for you, the parent or caregiver. Together, we’re recreating the “village” it takes to raise a child, that is still so very needed. I’d love you to join me on this journey.
Three rooms, three stages of childhood
9 months - 2 years (opens Wednesday 31 March 2027)
New beginnings and new adventures. We welcome the youngest with open arms and take the time to really know them: what makes them laugh, what catches their eye, what helps them settle. Familiar faces, familiar rhythms, and all the time they need to find their feet.
2 years - 3 years
As your toddler grows into their unique personality, we encourage the moments that shape who they are. Their questions and curiosity, the way they see the world; we help inspire their creative imagination and personal awareness of their own emotions.
3 years, plus (opens Wednesday 6 January 2027)
As you begin thinking about school, we help your child grow at their own pace. By providing a safe space where they can be who they are, we help your child be confident, kind, and secure in who they are and their place in the world as they journey towards writing their next chapter at Reception.
Register your interest
Frequently asked questions
We welcome children between the ages of 9 months and 5 years. We separate children into age ranges to ensure they have the best care and attention for their needs but we will also never rush a child to move up a class if they’re not quite ready yet.
We are open during term time. In The Nest, full days run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays, and half days run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
In The Snug, full days run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays, and half days run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. In The Club, days are full days only, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays, with a minimum of two days a week.
We also run a supper club Monday through Friday outside of those hours until 6 p.m., and holiday care is available during all school holidays for all community families. As a small team, we can only offer a number of spaces for out of hours care, so get in touch early, as places are limited.
We certainly do. Please reach out to us via our registration form, and we can guide you through the options tailored to your specific needs.
HERE&NOW is located in Wanstead. You can find us on Overton Drive down a treelined path next to St Mary's Church, in the grounds of the beautiful Wanstead Cricket Club and Clay Courts.
To get to us by public transport, we are under a 10-minute walk from Wanstead tube station, or there are many bus lines that stop near Wanstead Cricket Club, including: 137, 171, 273, 33, 423, 64, 86, W13, N8, W12, N55, 101, 66, and W19. If you’re driving, we have ample parking, and buggy, scooter, and bike bays.
In time, we hope to open more settings around London, so keep an eye on our socials.
To join the waitlist or register your interest, we just need a few details from you. You can find the form here.
Each child has their own personality, likes, and dislikes, so our days are led by the children, and we centre our activities and rest time around their individual needs. If your child is curious and energetic, they may spend more time playing outside and making friends. If they’re more reflective, they might prefer more quiet time with their caregivers.
We anchor our day around a shared lunchtime. Children and staff members share lunch together around a single dining table. We also allow time for all children to care for their bodies, hearts, and minds. This means encouraging ample time outdoors, rest, gratitude, and emotional understanding alongside daily activities.
Alongside daily play, rest and discovery, every child’s week includes gardening, daily yoga, breathwork and meditation, walks into Wanstead, a monthly cultural outing and time singing and reading with our older neighbours at Age UK. We also offer six optional programmes, taught weekly in small groups by specialists: golf, tennis, cricket, athletics, music and languages. They are always a choice, never a condition of a place and never needed to use funded hours.
We keep our staff to child ratio well above the statutory floor. This is to ensure the highest level of care, with a dedicated committed team.
Our 9 months - 18 months room, The Nest, has 16 places, with a 1:2 ratio (where the statutory floor allows 1:3 for babies).
Our 18 months - 3 years room, The Snug, has 10 places, with a 1:3 ratio (where the statutory floor allows up to 1:5 for two-year-olds).
Our 3 years - 5 years room, The Club, has 30 places, with a maximum 1:4 ratio (versus the statutory floor of 1:8).
Yes, every day. HERE&NOW is Hannah’s vision, and being here each day is how she makes sure it lives in every part of your child’s day, from the welcome at the door to lunch around the table. Alongside her, Anjum (our Preschool Manager), Fatima (our Deputy Manager) and Seema (our SENDCO) form our core management team, supporting our room leads and our highly trained practitioners.
We are a small and dedicated team. Most of our team live locally in Wanstead. Everyone who works here fully embodies our values and is committed to creating a safe and loving environment where children come first. We care for our team and strive to see them succeed. We pay at least the London Living Wage, and all our employees benefit from paid training and career progression alongside generous holiday, sick pay, and pension contributions (something our Founder, Hannah, has come to learn is not the norm in all preschools).
