Lemon Tree Montessori & Daycare

Child-sized furniture, materials children can choose for themselves and time to work at their own pace give Lemon Tree Montessori & Daycare its character. At 45a The Mall in Ealing, the Montessori approach puts independence into the ordinary nursery day: selecting an activity, learning how to use it and taking responsibility for the shared space. The practical detail matters more than the label.

At its 23 April 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective. The setting has capacity for 30 children, and entry starts from 18 months. Its central Ealing address also makes it a useful option for families whose routines involve Ealing Broadway or Ealing Common.

Both full-day care and term-time attendance are offered, with shorter morning and afternoon sessions adding another way to organise the week. The strongest reasons to consider it are the hands-on learning arrangements and the gradual settling process. The main educational reservation concerns participation in larger group activities.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage covers children's learning, development and care, so play, communication and physical activity sit alongside growing independence. Montessori adds a particular way of organising those experiences: children explore selected materials, choose activities and receive guidance suited to their stage of development. It sits alongside the statutory framework rather than replacing it.

The Work Cycle gives children time for activities they select themselves or that adults introduce. Accessible shelves support choice, while practitioners demonstrate equipment individually or in groups. Exploration has structure, with adult guidance alongside independence.

The physical setting supports that approach. Tables, chairs and shelving are scaled for children, while activities can take place at tables, on mats or outside. Choosing a resource and working in an appropriate space makes independence something children practise, rather than simply hear about. Practitioners observe children and direct them towards activities relevant to their development.

In April 2025, younger children experimented with rice and tongs, while older children worked out how to connect pieces of railway track. Large sheets of paper gave children space to make marks. These are useful examples of the day at that time: handling small tools, solving a construction problem and experimenting with early writing movements.

Language activities also had concrete content in April 2025. Spanish sessions combined singing with instruments, and staff allowed time for children to answer questions. Children learning English could hear and use their home languages. These experiences brought listening, speaking and participation into activities children could join through music as well as words.

Outdoor and Community Life

Daily garden time or local walks bring fresh air and exploration, with climbing equipment, bikes and messy play supporting movement and experimentation.

Regular outings take children to places such as local shops, the fire station, a park and the library. The walkodile is an outing aid used when appropriate, and trips are risk-assessed beforehand. Familiar everyday places become part of the nursery experience, giving children things to notice and discuss beyond the classroom.

In April 2025, planting helped children explore what seeds need to grow, while tricycles and apparatus provided opportunities to climb, slide and balance. These observations connect outdoor learning with physical activity. They also give parents a more useful picture than a general promise of outdoor play.

Relationships and Communication

Settling is organised around a key person who learns about the child's routines, food needs and daytime sleep. A favourite comforter or toy can accompany a child during the early stages. That creates a practical link between familiar home routines and the people providing care.

The initial visit with a parent lasts about an hour, followed by a further visit when a settled child may stay briefly without them. The process usually extends over about two weeks, with the pace adjusted to the individual child. Longer periods away from parents begin after the child has settled. Families therefore need room in their plans for a gradual start rather than assuming the first attendance will be a full day.

Parents can telephone about their child's day, meet staff to discuss progress, contribute ideas and join children's activities. Contact covers both immediate care and longer-term development.

In April 2025, parents received updates online and through daily conversations, newsletters and consultation meetings. Staff supervision, team meetings and further training provided opportunities to discuss and develop practice.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the April 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that staff used observations to plan children's next learning steps, worked with parents and other professionals, and supported children with additional needs well. The practical mechanisms included referrals when necessary and speech and language work using pictures, gestures and straightforward vocabulary. That is more informative than a general assurance about inclusion.

Children do not need to be potty trained before joining. Staff discuss readiness with parents before starting toilet training, allowing the nursery and home to work towards the same routine. Clothing that children can manage themselves also fits the wider emphasis on independence.

Breakfast, snacks, lunch and tea are supplied, with lunch cooked on site. Parents provide formula and nappies; the nursery supplies creams and wipes. These arrangements make the distinction between food preparation and what families need to pack clear.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 45a The Mall, Ealing, London W5 3TJ. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and the attendance choices include full-day care and term-time sessions. Morning sessions run from 9.15am to 12.15pm; afternoons run from 12.15pm to 3.15pm. Term-time opening hours are 9.15am to 3.15pm.

Minimum attendance is three weekly sessions for under-threes and five for children over three. Even shorter sessions require a recurring commitment; the pattern needs to fit working hours and holidays.

A completed application and a non-refundable registration charge place a child's details on the waiting list for the requested entry term. A deposit secures the selected sessions and is credited against the final term or month; it is not refunded if the child does not attend after accepting the place. For Lemon Tree, withdrawal requires a full month's written notice, with the deposit lost if the required notice is not given.

Getting There

Ealing Common station serves the Piccadilly line, while Ealing Broadway provides Central and District line connections. Both are within 7 minutes walking distance, and North Common Road is the nearby bus stop on Uxbridge Road.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered through Early Learning Entitlement for 2 year olds and Early Education Entitlement for 3 year olds. Private fees and the funded contribution should be considered together when choosing an attendance pattern; current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Fees remain payable during sickness or holidays. Budget for the registration charge separately from the deposit.

• Participation in group activities. In April 2025, some children lost concentration in larger groups, and organising group activities to engage everyone was the improvement priority. During a visit, ask how activities are adapted for children who find a larger group difficult.
• The annual calendar. Current information gives both 48-week and 50-week daycare calendars. Confirm the applicable closure dates before matching attendance to work commitments.
• A gradual start and a recurring commitment. Settling usually takes about two weeks, while the minimum pattern is three weekly sessions for under-threes and five for children over three. Allow time for the transition and consider whether that commitment fits your household.
• The complete funded-place quotation. Funded entitlements, a registration charge and a deposit all form part of the joining arrangements. Ask for a written breakdown covering your chosen hours, meals and consumables before accepting a place.

Lemon Tree suits families seeking Montessori learning through accessible materials and guided choice, with either full-day attendance or shorter morning and afternoon sessions. Term-time attendance broadens that practical appeal. The child-sized furnishings, key-person settling process and everyday outings give its approach concrete substance.

The Good judgement provides a dated quality benchmark, while the group-activity concern deserves attention alongside the strengths. For parents, the decisive fit is likely to be the combination of hands-on learning, a gradual start and an attendance pattern that works across the family's week.