Nurseries Guide

Choosing the right nursery for your child is a vital first step on their educational pathway – to help, here's our team's pick of the best nurseries in the country.

Where to begin when choosing a nursery?

Choosing the right nursery for your child can be a daunting prospect. For many, starting nursery will be the first time a child has been away from their family, so finding the right environment for them is key. There are over 2,000 nurseries in the UK, and no two are the same. We asked Talk Education's Nurseries Advisor, Sabine Hook, to give us her advice on how to find the right early years setting for your child, and our short video talks you through the key points to consider. Need more help? Our nurseries advisory team is at your service.








Find a nursery
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London
South East England
South West England
East of England
Midlands
Wales
North of England
Scotland
Alphabet Nursery School
London
Barnes Montessori Nursery
Barnes
Bassett Bear House
London
Beaumont House Day Nursery
London
Bertrum House Nursery
Balham
Bo Peep Nursery- Brook Green
London
Broadhurst School
London
Caterpillar Montessori Nursery School
London
Chelsea Pre Prep
London
Crickets Montessori Nursery School
London
Dallington Nursery
London
Dawmouse Montessori Nursery
Fulham
Devonshire House Nursery
Hampstead
Donhead Preschool
Wimbledon
Duchess Nursery Parsons Green
London
Ducklings at St. Helen's College
Uxbridge
Dulwich Montessori Nursery School
London
Dulwich Prep & Senior - Nursery and Reception
London
Eden Montessori Nursery
London
Falcons Pre-Preparatory Chiswick
Chiswick
First Bridge Nursery
Chelsea
Gardens Montessori - Iverna Gardens
Kensington
Gardens Montessori - Victoria Road
Kensington
Grand West Pre-Prep
London
Grasshoppers in the Park Nursery
London
Half Moon Montessori Nursery
London
Heathside School Nursery
London
Hopes and Dreams Montessori Nursery at The Lyceum School
London
Ivy House Nursery
London
Jack in the Box Montessori Nursery
London
Jelli Tots Nursery
London
Keren's Nursery- Belsize Park
London
Keren's Nursery- Hampstead Garden
London
Keren's Nursery- Holland Park
London
Kew College Prep Nursery School
Richmond
King's House Nursery
Richmond
Kingsland Pre Prep
London
Knightsbridge School - Early Years
Knightsbridge
Ladbroke Square Montessori School
London
L'Ecole des Petits
London
Lexham Gardens Playhouse
London
Little Chepstow Nursery School
London
Little Elves Montessori
Marylebone
Little Forest Folk - Chiswick
London
Little Forest Folk - Fulham
London
Little Forest Folk - Putney Heath
London
Little Forest Folk - Twickenham
Twickenham
Little Forest Folk - Wimbledon
Little Glendower Nursery
Little Sweethearts
London
Maggie & Rose Nursery - Chiswick
London
Maggie and Rose Nursery - Islington
London
Maggie and Rose Nursery - Kensington
London
Maples Nursery School
London
Marmalade Bear
London
Marmalade Cat
London
Marmalade Caterpillar
London
Marmalade Duck
London
Marmalade Owl
London
Meadows Montessori Nursery School
London
Melrose House - Fulham
London
Melrose House - Southfields
London
Miss Daisy's Nursery - Belgravia
London
Miss Daisy's Nursery - Brook Green
London
Miss Daisy's Nursery - Chelsea
Chelsea
Miss Daisy's Nursery - Hyde Park
London
Miss Daisy's Nursery - Knightsbridge
London
Miss Delaney's
London
Noah's Ark Nursery School SW11
London
Noah's Ark Nursery School SW18
London
Orchard House School Early Years
Chiswick
Paint Pots - The Boltons
London
Paint Pots - The Grove
London
Paint Pots - The Park
London
Pangbourne House
London
Phileas Fox Nursery School
London
Pippa Pop-ins - 165 New King's Road
Fulham
Pippa Pop-ins - 233 New King's Road
Fulham
Pippa Pop-ins - Fulham Road
Fulham
Pippa Pop-ins - Kensington Place
London
Prospect House Nursery
Putney
Puffins Nursery School
Fulham
Puss in Boots Nursery School
London
Rainbow Montessori Nursery- Queen's Park
London
Rainbow Montessori Nursery- West Hampstead
London
Ravenscourt Park Montessori
London
Ready Steady Go - St John's Wood
London
Redcliffe Gardens Nursery
London
Ringrose Kindergarten
London
Riverside Nursery Schools - Kew Montessori
Kew
Riverston Nursery
Lee
Rocks Lane Montessori - Chiswick
London
Rolfe's Nursery School
London
Royal Russell Nursery
Croydon
Sheen Montessori Nursery
London
St Andrew's Montessori Nursery
London
St Anthony's Nursery NW3
London
St Benedict's Nursery
Ealing
St James Nursery School
Kensington
St Mark's Hall Nursery School
London
St Peter's Nursery
London
Stepping Stones Nursery School
London
Strawberry Fields Nursery School
London
Sunshine Nursery
London
Swinbrook House Nursery School
London
Swinbrook House Nursery School
London
Tadpoles Nursery School
London
Tara House Montessori School
London
The Acorn Nursery School
London
The Ark Nursery
London
The Barn Nursery
London
The Barnes Village Nursery
London
The Beanstalk Montessori Nursery School
London
The Beehive Montessori - Queen’s Park
London
The Brook Green Kindergarten
London
The Butterfly Preschool - Clapham
London
The Butterfly Preschool - Wimbledon
London
The Castle Kindergarten
London
The Cavendish School Nursery
Camden
The Children's House Nursery and Prep-Prep School
Islington
The Early Years at The Village Prep
Belsize Park
The Gardens Daycare & Nursery School
Southfields
The Gower School Nursery
London
The Hampshire School Chelsea Pre-School
London
The Kensington Kindergarten
London
The Kindergartens - Bumble Bee
London
The Kindergartens - Crescent I
London
The Kindergartens - Crescent II
London
The Kindergartens - Mouse Hole SW11
London
The Kindergartens - Mouse House SW11
London
The Kindergartens - Mouse House SW18
London
The Kindergartens - Mouse House SW6
London
The Kindergartens - Pooh Corner SW7
London
The Kindergartens - Pooh Corner W8
London
The Kindergartens - The Park SW11
London
The Kindergartens - The Park SW2
London
The Knightsbridge Kindergarten
London
The Ladybird Montessori School
London
The Montessori at Brook Green
London
The Nest at Falcons Prep Richmond
Richmond
The North London Forest School Nursery
London
The Roche School Nursery
Wandsworth
The Square School
London
The Walnut Tree Nursery
Kensington
The Willcocks Nursery School
London
The Willow Nursery School
London
The Willow Tree Nursery School
London
The Zebedee Nursery School - Parsons Green
Parsons Green
Thomas Coram Centre
London
Tiggers Nursery
London
Wetherby Pembridge Minors
Kensington
Wetherby Pembridge Minors, Notting Hill
London
Woodentops SW12
London
Woodentops SW4
London
Barfield Nursery
Farnham
Battle Abbey Nursery
Bede's Nursery
Eastbourne
Boundary Oak Early Years
Fareham
Brambletye Pre-Prep and Nursery
East Grinstead
Breaside Early Years
Bromley
Brighton College Nursery
Brighton
Brookham Nursery
Liphook
Burgess Hill Nursery
Burgess Hill
Chandlings Prep Nursery
Oxford
Chinthurst School Nursery
Tadworth
Churcher's College Nursery
Liphook
Claremont Fan Court Nursery
Esher
Cornflower Nursery
Oxford
Cumnor House School Nursery - Purley
Purley
Cumnor Nursery
Haywards Heath
Duchess Nursery Abingdon
Abingdon
Duchess Nursery Steventon
Steventon
Dulwich Cranbrook - Nash House Nursery
Cranbrook
Edgeborough Nursery & Pre-School
Farnham
Elstree Pre-Prep
Reading
Feltonfleet Nursery & Pre-Prep
Cobham
Forest Explorers Nursery at Kent College
Tunbridge Wells
Frensham Heights Fireflies Nursery
Farnham
Hall Grove School Early Years
Harriet House School
Frilsham
Hazelwood School Nursery and Early Years
Oxted
Hilden Grange Nursery
Tonbridge
Holme Grange School - Little Grange
Wokingham
Holmewood House School Nursery
Tunbridge Wells
King's School Rochester Nursery
Rochester
Lambrook Nursery
Little Amesbury
Hindhead
Little Barn Nursery
Canterbury
Little Barn Owls at Farlington Nursery
Horsham
Little Barn Owls Forest School Nursery - Southwater
Horsham
Little Barn Owls Nursery and Farm School - Horsham
Horsham
Little Godstowe Nursery
High Wycombe
Little Lambs Nursery at Sutton Valence Prep
Chart Sutton
Little Lancing Day Nursery & Forest School
Lancing
Little Vic Nursery
Richmond upon Thames
Marlborough House School Nursery
Hawkhurst
Micklefield School Nursery
Reigate
Notre Dame Nursery
Cobham
Pennthorpe Nursery
Rudgwick
Ramsgate Nursery at St Lawrence College
Ramsgate
Reddam House Early Learning School
Wokingham
Reigate St Mary's Nursery
Reigate
Rocking Horse Nursery
Surrey
Saint Ronan's Nursery
Hawkhurst
Somerhill Pre-School
Tonbridge
St Andrew's Prep Nursery
Eastbourne
St Neot's Nursery
Hook
St Swithun's Preschool
Winchester
Swanbourne House Nursery
Swanbourne
The Hawthorns Nursery
Redhill
The Little Courtiers - Hampton Court House
Richmond-upon-Thames
The Marist Nursery
Ascot
The New Beacon Nursery
Sevenoaks
The Nursery at Aberdour School
Tadworth
The Nursery at Ardingly College
Haywards Heath
The Old Station Nursery - Bampton
Oxfordshire
The Old Station Nursery - Henley
Henley on Thames
The Old Station Nursery - Heyford
Oxfordshire
The Old Station Nursery - Oxford
Oxford
The Oratory Prep School - Little Oaks Nursery
Reading
The Willow on the Farm
Banbury
Thorngrove School Nursery
Newbury
Walhampton School Pre-Prep
Lymington
Wellesley Haddon Dene Early Years
Broadstairs
Wellington College Prep Early Years
Sandhurst
Westbourne House School Nursery
Chichester
Winchester House School Nursery & Pre-Prep
Brackley
Beaudesert Park Nursery
Stroud
Bingham Kindergarten
Gloucestershire
Butcombe Nursery & Preschool at Clifton College
Clifton
Dean Close Early Years
Cheltenham
Hazlegrove Prep School Nursery
Sparkford
Little Acorns Nursery
Westbury-on-Trym
Little Crickets Nursery at Springmead School
Frome
Little Owls Nursery at Hatherop Castle
Cirencester
Park School Nursery
Bournemouth
Pinewood Pre-Prep & Nursery
Shrivenham
Port Regis Pre-Prep and Nursery
Shaftesbury
Pumpkins Nursery - Sherston
Sherston
Pumpkins Nursery - Tormarton
Tormarton
Pumpkins Nursery and Preschool Badminton
Badminton
Sapphires Nursery
Surrey
Taunton School Nursery & Pre-Prep
Taunton
The Circle Nursery
Wiltshire
The Garden Nursery at Kingswood
Bath
The Lemon Tree Nursery School
Somerset
The New School Exeter Nursery
Exminster
The Old Station Nursery - Faringdon
Oxon
The Old Station Nursery - Filkins
Oxon
The Old Station Nursery - Houlton
Houlton
The Old Station Nursery - Iver
Iver
The Old Station Nursery - Mottershead Dr, Innsworth
Innsworth
The Zebedee Nursery School - Tetbury
Tetbury
Truro School Nursery
Truro
West Buckland Nursery
Barnstaple
Westonbirt Nursery
Tetbury
Framlingham College Early Years
Woodbridge
Gresham's Nursery and Pre-Prep
Holt
Holmwood House Nursery School
Colchester
King's Ely Acremont Nursery and Pre-Prep
Ely
Oakfields Nursery
Upminster
Orwell Park Nursery School
Ipswich
The Lodge Day Nursery
Ipswich
The Nest at Bishop's Stortford College Pre-Prep
Bishop's Stortford
Woodlands - Beechwood Park School Nursery
St Albans
Abberley Hall Nursery
Worcester
Beachborough Nursery
Nr Brackley
Edgbaston High School - Westbourne
Birmingham
First Steps Nursery
Oswestry
Great Wood Farm Early Years Centre
Lincolnshire
Hallfield First Nursery
Birmingham
Little Grange Nursery
Rugby
Oak House
Herefordshire
Peacock Lodge at Winterfold
Kidderminster
The Elms Early Years
Malvern
Tick Tock Nursery at Moor Park
Ludlow
Ackworth School Coram House Nursery
Pontefract
Aysgarth Nursery & Pre-Prep
Bedale
Brackenfield Nursery
Harrogate
Little Crickets at Argyle House School
Sunderland
Little Gleddings Nursery
Halifax
Pownall Hall Early Years
Wilmslow
Stonyhurst St Mary's Hall Pre-Prep
Clitheroe
Bonnington House
Midlothian
The Secret Garden Outdoor Nursery
Fife


Riverston Nursery
Lee
Dulwich Prep & Senior - Nursery and Reception
London
Half Moon Montessori Nursery
London
Dulwich Montessori Nursery School
London
Breaside Early Years
Bromley
Hopes and Dreams Montessori Nursery at The Lyceum School
London
Dallington Nursery
London
The Children's House Nursery and Prep-Prep School
Islington
The Willow Nursery School
London
The Kindergartens - The Park SW2
London
Thomas Coram Centre
London
Maggie and Rose Nursery - Islington
London
Woodentops SW12
London
Woodentops SW4
London
Miss Daisy's Nursery - Belgravia
London
The Knightsbridge Kindergarten
London
Grasshoppers in the Park Nursery
London
Marmalade Owl
London
The Kindergartens - The Park SW11
London
The Kindergartens - Bumble Bee
London
Marmalade Cat
London
Miss Daisy's Nursery - Knightsbridge
London
Knightsbridge School - Early Years
Knightsbridge
The Butterfly Preschool - Clapham
London
Swinbrook House Nursery School
London
Swinbrook House Nursery School
London
Alphabet Nursery School
London
The Gower School Nursery
London
Marmalade Caterpillar
London
Ringrose Kindergarten
London
Noah's Ark Nursery School SW11
London
Miss Daisy's Nursery - Chelsea
Chelsea
The Kindergartens - Mouse Hole SW11
London
Bertrum House Nursery
Balham
The Kindergartens - Mouse House SW11
London
The Kindergartens - Crescent I
London
The Kindergartens - Crescent II
London
Marmalade Bear
London
The Cavendish School Nursery
Camden
Miss Daisy's Nursery - Hyde Park
London
Kingsland Pre Prep
London
Paint Pots - The Park
London
Chelsea Pre Prep
London
Tadpoles Nursery School
London
St Mark's Hall Nursery School
London
Little Glendower Nursery
The Willcocks Nursery School
London
First Bridge Nursery
Chelsea
Noah's Ark Nursery School SW18
London
Paint Pots - The Boltons
London
The Kindergartens - Mouse House SW18
London
The Kindergartens - Pooh Corner SW7
London
Gardens Montessori - Victoria Road
Kensington
Phileas Fox Nursery School
London
Lexham Gardens Playhouse
London
Pippa Pop-ins - Fulham Road
Fulham
Puffins Nursery School
Fulham
The Kensington Kindergarten
London
The Early Years at The Village Prep
Belsize Park
Pippa Pop-ins - 165 New King's Road
Fulham
Gardens Montessori - Iverna Gardens
Kensington
Little Sweethearts
London
Eden Montessori Nursery
London
Pippa Pop-ins - 233 New King's Road
Fulham
The Roche School Nursery
Wandsworth
Puss in Boots Nursery School
London
The Zebedee Nursery School - Parsons Green
Parsons Green
Wetherby Pembridge Minors
Kensington
The North London Forest School Nursery
London
The Walnut Tree Nursery
Kensington
Dawmouse Montessori Nursery
Fulham
Royal Russell Nursery
Croydon
Pippa Pop-ins - Kensington Place
London
Maggie and Rose Nursery - Kensington
London
Keren's Nursery- Belsize Park
London
Duchess Nursery Parsons Green
London
Paint Pots - The Grove
London
Tiggers Nursery
London
The Kindergartens - Pooh Corner W8
London
Ladbroke Square Montessori School
London
The Gardens Daycare & Nursery School
Southfields
The Square School
London
St Peter's Nursery
London
Marmalade Duck
London
Melrose House - Southfields
London
St James Nursery School
Kensington
Broadhurst School
London
St Anthony's Nursery NW3
London
The Acorn Nursery School
London
Strawberry Fields Nursery School
London
Devonshire House Nursery
Hampstead
Little Forest Folk - Fulham
London
Grand West Pre-Prep
London
Little Chepstow Nursery School
London
Bo Peep Nursery- Brook Green
London
Melrose House - Fulham
London
The Montessori at Brook Green
London
The Kindergartens - Mouse House SW6
London
Keren's Nursery- Holland Park
London
The Brook Green Kindergarten
London
Rainbow Montessori Nursery- West Hampstead
London
Heathside School Nursery
London
Miss Daisy's Nursery - Brook Green
London
Prospect House Nursery
Putney
The Butterfly Preschool - Wimbledon
London
Bassett Bear House
London
The Ladybird Montessori School
London
Rainbow Montessori Nursery- Queen's Park
London
Little Forest Folk - Putney Heath
London
Pangbourne House
London
The Castle Kindergarten
London
The Beehive Montessori - Queen’s Park
London
Jelli Tots Nursery
London
Crickets Montessori Nursery School
London
Ravenscourt Park Montessori
London
Sunshine Nursery
London
Donhead Preschool
Wimbledon
Ivy House Nursery
London
The Ark Nursery
London
Jack in the Box Montessori Nursery
London
The Beanstalk Montessori Nursery School
London
The Barnes Village Nursery
London
Keren's Nursery- Hampstead Garden
London
Barnes Montessori Nursery
Barnes
Stepping Stones Nursery School
London
Tara House Montessori School
London
The Willow Tree Nursery School
London
Little Forest Folk - Chiswick
London
Little Forest Folk - Wimbledon
Meadows Montessori Nursery School
London
Orchard House School Early Years
Chiswick
Rocks Lane Montessori - Chiswick
London
Sheen Montessori Nursery
London
Cumnor House School Nursery - Purley
Purley
Caterpillar Montessori Nursery School
London
Maggie & Rose Nursery - Chiswick
London
Maples Nursery School
London
Oakfields Nursery
Upminster
The Barn Nursery
London
Kew College Prep Nursery School
Richmond
Riverside Nursery Schools - Kew Montessori
Kew
King's House Nursery
Richmond
Little Vic Nursery
Richmond upon Thames
St Benedict's Nursery
Ealing
Little Forest Folk - Twickenham
Twickenham
Beaumont House Day Nursery
London
The Nursery at Aberdour School
Tadworth
Hazelwood School Nursery and Early Years
Oxted
The Little Courtiers - Hampton Court House
Richmond-upon-Thames
Sapphires Nursery
Surrey
The Hawthorns Nursery
Redhill
Chinthurst School Nursery
Tadworth
The New Beacon Nursery
Sevenoaks
Claremont Fan Court Nursery
Esher
Micklefield School Nursery
Reigate
Reigate St Mary's Nursery
Reigate
Ducklings at St. Helen's College
Uxbridge
Notre Dame Nursery
Cobham
Feltonfleet Nursery & Pre-Prep
Cobham
The Old Station Nursery - Iver
Iver
Hilden Grange Nursery
Tonbridge
King's School Rochester Nursery
Rochester
Somerhill Pre-School
Tonbridge
Brambletye Pre-Prep and Nursery
East Grinstead
Forest Explorers Nursery at Kent College
Tunbridge Wells
Holmewood House School Nursery
Tunbridge Wells
The Nest at Bishop's Stortford College Pre-Prep
Bishop's Stortford
Little Barn Owls Nursery and Farm School - Horsham
Horsham
Hall Grove School Early Years
The Nursery at Ardingly College
Haywards Heath
Cumnor Nursery
Haywards Heath
Lambrook Nursery
Little Lambs Nursery at Sutton Valence Prep
Chart Sutton
Woodlands - Beechwood Park School Nursery
St Albans
Rocking Horse Nursery
Surrey
Pennthorpe Nursery
Rudgwick
Little Godstowe Nursery
High Wycombe
Little Barn Owls Forest School Nursery - Southwater
Horsham
Holme Grange School - Little Grange
Wokingham
Wellington College Prep Early Years
Sandhurst
Dulwich Cranbrook - Nash House Nursery
Cranbrook
Burgess Hill Nursery
Burgess Hill
Barfield Nursery
Farnham
Saint Ronan's Nursery
Hawkhurst
Reddam House Early Learning School
Wokingham
St Neot's Nursery
Hook
Edgeborough Nursery & Pre-School
Farnham
The Old Station Nursery - Henley
Henley on Thames
Frensham Heights Fireflies Nursery
Farnham
Little Amesbury
Hindhead
Brookham Nursery
Liphook
Battle Abbey Nursery
Churcher's College Nursery
Liphook
Little Lancing Day Nursery & Forest School
Lancing
The Oratory Prep School - Little Oaks Nursery
Reading
Holmwood House Nursery School
Colchester
Little Barn Nursery
Canterbury
Elstree Pre-Prep
Reading
St Andrew's Prep Nursery
Eastbourne
Bede's Nursery
Eastbourne
Harriet House School
Frilsham
Westbourne House School Nursery
Chichester
The Old Station Nursery - Oxford
Oxford
Cornflower Nursery
Oxford
Duchess Nursery Abingdon
Abingdon
Chandlings Prep Nursery
Oxford
Duchess Nursery Steventon
Steventon
Beachborough Nursery
Nr Brackley
Thorngrove School Nursery
Newbury
Ramsgate Nursery at St Lawrence College
Ramsgate
Winchester House School Nursery & Pre-Prep
Brackley
Wellesley Haddon Dene Early Years
Broadstairs
St Swithun's Preschool
Winchester
The Old Station Nursery - Heyford
Oxfordshire
The Lodge Day Nursery
Ipswich
King's Ely Acremont Nursery and Pre-Prep
Ely
Boundary Oak Early Years
Fareham
The Old Station Nursery - Bampton
Oxfordshire
The Old Station Nursery - Faringdon
Oxon
Pinewood Pre-Prep & Nursery
Shrivenham
The Willow on the Farm
Banbury
The Old Station Nursery - Filkins
Oxon
Framlingham College Early Years
Woodbridge
Little Owls Nursery at Hatherop Castle
Cirencester
The Old Station Nursery - Houlton
Houlton
The Circle Nursery
Wiltshire
Little Grange Nursery
Rugby
Bingham Kindergarten
Gloucestershire
The Zebedee Nursery School - Tetbury
Tetbury
Dean Close Early Years
Cheltenham
Westonbirt Nursery
Tetbury
Park School Nursery
Bournemouth
Pumpkins Nursery - Sherston
Sherston
Beaudesert Park Nursery
Stroud
Pumpkins Nursery and Preschool Badminton
Badminton
The Old Station Nursery - Mottershead Dr, Innsworth
Innsworth
Great Wood Farm Early Years Centre
Lincolnshire
Little Crickets Nursery at Springmead School
Frome
Pumpkins Nursery - Tormarton
Tormarton
Port Regis Pre-Prep and Nursery
Shaftesbury
The Garden Nursery at Kingswood
Bath
Hallfield First Nursery
Birmingham
Edgbaston High School - Westbourne
Birmingham
Gresham's Nursery and Pre-Prep
Holt
The Elms Early Years
Malvern
Peacock Lodge at Winterfold
Kidderminster
Oak House
Herefordshire
Hazlegrove Prep School Nursery
Sparkford
Tick Tock Nursery at Moor Park
Ludlow
The Lemon Tree Nursery School
Somerset
Taunton School Nursery & Pre-Prep
Taunton
Pownall Hall Early Years
Wilmslow
Ackworth School Coram House Nursery
Pontefract
First Steps Nursery
Oswestry
West Buckland Nursery
Barnstaple
Little Gleddings Nursery
Halifax
Brackenfield Nursery
Harrogate
Stonyhurst St Mary's Hall Pre-Prep
Clitheroe
Aysgarth Nursery & Pre-Prep
Bedale
Truro School Nursery
Truro
Little Crickets at Argyle House School
Sunderland
Bonnington House
Midlothian
The Secret Garden Outdoor Nursery
Fife
L'Ecole des Petits
London
The Marist Nursery
Ascot




Our unbiased and tailored reviews contain admissions information, the potential future school destinations for your child, facilities available, nursery transport links and more. Click on each nursery’s icon on the map above to hear more about what each individual school offers – and subscribe now to easily compare your favourite nurseries on your parent dashboard.  

Nursery ethos
Every nursery across the UK aims to develop a child’s cognitive, social and motor skills in a less formal, more interactive setting than later school learning. Nurseries provide a key foundation for early learning and development. However, the way this is achieved can vary. While no nursery approach is right or wrong, one may be more suited to a child’s development than another.  

Early Years Foundation Stage
The most common type of nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) standards, set by the government. Nurseries following this approach foster a child-centred, play-based environment that is loosely guided and observed by the teacher. EYFS development emphasises creative imagination and greatly encourages the development of communication skills between pupils. These nursery spaces are designed to help ease a child into a more formal educational setting.  

Montessori Nurseries
Montessori nurseries are based upon a similar approach to education as EYFS, but they place greater emphasis on child-directed development. This allows children to act at their own pace and encourages them to build confidence, independence, self-discipline and self-esteem. Montessori nursery teachers observe and track pupils’ progress while allowing their self-led development, all within child-appropriate environments.  

Reggio Emilia Nurseries
Reggio Emilia nurseries focus on discovery-based learning for pupils aged between three and six. They place a large emphasis on knowledge acquisition through natural ‘language’ curiosity, creativity and interactions with others.  

At these nurseries, the learning journey is viewed as being of far greater importance than the outcome. Rather than evaluating what has been achieved at the end of the day, teachers at Reggio Emilia nurseries will observe and work to understand how a child learns and how this can be used to enable development to flourish. A Reggio Emilia philosophy aims to encourage self-expression, communication, teamwork and problem-solving.  

Steiner Nurseries
Steiner nurseries are based on a holistic ethos, and focus on supporting pupils’ unique mental, physical and academic development, as well as inclusivity and individuality. The aim is to uncover pupils’ enthusiasm for knowledge – regardless of background or ability.  

The key points to consider when choosing a nursery:
Location
Consider where you child will attend nursery. Local nurseries are often a great choice, as they reduce travel time and allow pupils to walk, cycle or scoot to school (in turn, boosting both physical and mental health).  

You should also consider the size of the nursery itself. Does the nursery provide enough outdoor space for your child to play? Would they flourish better in a larger indoor setting?  

Ethos, care and learning quality
Quality of care, development and education should also be considered when deciding on the perfect nursery. Visit a nursery a few times before making a decision. Do you get the sense there is a warm and supportive environment? Do children appear engaged or are they easily distracted? How do the teachers interact with pupils? Ofsted reports and other parent recommendations can also be great resources.  

School connection
If you already have a good idea of the pre-prep or prep you would like your child to go on to, deciding on a nursery with an official link to the school can be a benefit. It’s important to note, however, that generally a great nursery will stand out on its own, and a nursery connected to a school shouldn’t be chosen for this reason alone.  

Inclusivity
Finally, you should choose a nursery that is inclusive and culturally sensitive to all pupils. It shouldn’t use a one-size-fits-all approach, but instead each child should be supported as an individual in order to best suit their personal development.  

What skills will a child acquire during their time at nursery?
Early childhood is the most important development stage in a young person’s life, as their curiosity for new places, people, and skills open-up. A nursery environment is tailored to this and so your child will begin to develop a new set of skills. Just some of these are:  
 
  • Independence - simply being in a different environment away from their parents for the first time will help a child foster a sense of independence.   
  • Communication skills – thanks to being around other children, nursery pupils will become adept at hearing and understanding different sounds.     
  • Personal development – nursery education provides a space for children to begin to discover how they best learn and develop.   
  • Physical development – from running and jumping to the practical precision grip of a pencil, nursery will give a boost to a child’s physical abilities and development.   
FAQs
What is the difference between a nursery and a preschool?
While similar in many ways, there are some key differences between a nursery and preschool education. Nurseries are all about providing a more relaxed environment for your child to develop their cognitive, social, and motor skills. As a result, there is freedom for children to learn and develop in their own unique ways. Nurseries are also more flexible in terms of enrolment age, (some schools accept children as young as six weeks) when they operate, and the hours with which pupils attend. This provides parents with increased flexibility when it comes to working-hour childcare. Preschools on the other hand are tailored to prepare a child for the start of primary education. They have a set curriculum with more traditional school schedules and primarily enrol older pupils closer to primary school age.  

What is the best age for my child to start nursery?
There is no definitive age of when you should send your child to nursery. Some children develop differently from others and may be better suited to the nursery at different ages. It’s important to consider how they might respond to the new environment and whether it’s better to wait an additional year or enrol this year. Nurseries don’t have a one-size-fits-all in terms of admissions, so it’s important to research a nursery in detail before looking to enrol your child. Some nurseries may enrol those as young as six weeks old, while others may not enrol pupils until the age of three.  


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Choosing your child’s school is one of the most important decisions you will ever make – let our experienced team help you. We will guide you through the decision-making process and give you the confidence to make the right choice, armed with the most up-to-date insider knowledge. We are all parents ourselves – we know how hard this is, and we can make it easier for you.
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