Great Learners Montessori Nursery

Great Learners Montessori Nursery has capacity for 63 children aged six months to five years at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Cross and St Michael, The Riding, London NW11 8HL. Its latest Ofsted inspection, on 25 April 2023, judged it Outstanding across education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The Early Years Foundation Stage means that learning runs through play and daily routines across communication, physical development, literacy and mathematics; the curriculum then sequences what children learn from babies through to pre-school.

That judgement rested on unusually concrete examples. In April 2023, babies explored the smell of tulips before painting while observing the flowers, and older children rebuilt broken cracker pieces at snack time. Purposeful activities developed curiosity, persistence and problem-solving rather than simply keeping children occupied. Children stayed engaged for sustained periods, and staff used their interests to decide what skill or knowledge to extend next. That gives the Outstanding label practical meaning: adults combined responsive care with deliberate teaching.

In April 2023, inspectors saw practitioners set age-linked learning goals and adjust them for each child. This gave babies and pre-school children purposeful next steps rather than a one-size-fits-all programme.

Learning moved between planned activity and children's own ideas. Staff planned from children's interests while deliberately extending their skills and knowledge. That balance matters: a child's fascination became a starting point, but the adult still had a clear educational purpose.

Behaviour was equally strong in April 2023. Children sustained concentration, staff modelled excellent manners and kindness ran through nursery life. The result was calm engagement rather than compliance for its own sake. Children recalled donating unwanted toys to a local charity shop during circle time. A parent also shared the family's Eid al-Fitr celebration; the discussion continued into free play, giving children a direct way to explore another family's experience.

Independence was visible in small routines. In April 2023, pre-school children tidied and selected activities confidently from an organised classroom. Babies collected their coats for garden time, with one child bringing a coat to a peer who had forgotten it. These details show self-help and consideration being practised, not reserved for an occasional themed activity.

Relationships were a central strength in April 2023. Children spoke confidently with staff, while babies used gestures to ask for reassurance. The settling process for babies was individualised and informed, which matters when a young child is learning to trust unfamiliar adults and routines.

Support for children who spoke English as an additional language was judged exceptional. Staff also identified children needing extra help, embedded strategies and sought other professionals' support where necessary. Parents praised the care, learning and preparation for school recorded at that inspection.

Safeguarding arrangements were effective in April 2023. Leaders tested staff knowledge, monitored adults' ongoing suitability and organised the team so children were properly supervised. Routine safety work also addressed the premises.

The nursery is in The Riding, London NW11 8HL, and accepts children from six months to five years. It has 63 places in total. Families should use the nursery's enquiry process for a current nursery-specific quotation.

• Attendance fit. Ask which full-day or shorter patterns can currently be booked and how these work across the year. This determines whether the nursery can match a family's weekly routine.
• Quotation detail. Ask which categories sit inside the nursery-specific quotation and which are paid extras. The answer changes the real monthly budget.
• Current learning approach. Ask how today's room routines and resources build on the sequenced curriculum praised in 2023. This helps families compare the dated inspection picture with current practice.

The strongest evidence is inspection-specific and compelling: warm relationships, sustained engagement, thoughtful activities and highly effective support for children learning English. The Outstanding judgement from April 2023 was backed by observed practice from babies through to pre-school, rather than labels alone.

This nursery is best suited to families who value independence, purposeful learning and close relationships, and who are prepared to establish whether the current attendance pattern and practical costs fit their needs. The dated evidence is strong; the current booking details remain the decisive conversation before applying.