Crafty Wizards Nursery, Avery Hill Park

A wizards lab, an outdoor play den and weekly learning in Avery Hill Park give this small Bexley Road nursery a recognisable character. Crafty Wizards Nursery, Avery Hill Park caters for children aged two to five and has 25 places in total. The appeal is practical as well as playful: children have resources they can choose themselves, alongside opportunities to explore beyond the nursery.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 15 September 2025 and judged safeguarding effective. Everyday independence was a clear thread in September 2025, from preparing fruit at snack time to choosing play materials within reach. There were also two specific improvements to make: stretching children who already knew more, and helping newcomers understand changes between activities.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care, so play and everyday routines both contribute to what children learn. At Avery Hill Park, an interactive touch screen table sits alongside a natural resources play area, a self choice area and the wizards lab. These give families concrete things to look at when considering how their child likes to play: digital resources, materials to explore and opportunities to make their own choices.

In September 2025, activities drew on children's interests and existing understanding. Staff introduced vocabulary through practical experiences and returned to new ideas to help children remember them. Learning about food included words such as minerals and vitamins, connecting language with something children encountered during the day.

Choice also had a physical basis. In September 2025, some materials were stored low enough for children to reach independently, and children spent sustained periods absorbed in activities. Preparing fruit and pouring drinks gave them manageable responsibilities. For parents, these examples show how independence can develop through ordinary tasks, rather than being reserved for a separate lesson.

The qualification matters: in September 2025, opportunities to take learning further were inconsistent for the most able children. A child who quickly masters an activity needs a next step, and this was one of the nursery's identified areas for improvement.

Outdoor and Community Life

Avery Hill Park is used every week for creative learning outdoors. The play den adds an outdoor resource at the nursery itself, while the connection with Greenwich University gives this branch a named local partnership. The park outings are the clearest practical detail: exploring outside the nursery forms a recurring part of the offer.

In September 2025, children could move into the outdoor area throughout the day, with water activities and balance practice among their experiences. Community outings also included visits to allotments and a library; some children used a local sensory room. These experiences extended the places and materials children encountered beyond their usual play space.

Relationships and Communication

In September 2025, each child's relationship with their key person helped them feel comfortable, and staff used their knowledge of individual children when planning activities. This matters for a child joining a small setting: familiarity with an adult and learning shaped around their interests give settling a concrete basis.

In September 2025, families received daily updates about children's learning. Workshops and events gave parents further opportunities to take part, rather than relying entirely on brief updates. That connection between home and nursery is useful when a child is practising new language or becoming more independent.

Changes between activities needed more attention, however. In September 2025, newer children sometimes had difficulty understanding instructions during these moments. Settling therefore needs to include learning the rhythm of the day, as well as getting to know people and play materials.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the September 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that staff recognised additional needs promptly, worked with professionals on individual support plans and enabled children with SEND to participate and make progress. The mechanism is the useful detail here: support was organised around individual children and informed by outside professionals.

In September 2025, staff discussed healthy eating with children and offered parents guidance about healthy food choices. Snack preparation also gave children opportunities to practise looking after themselves.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery's address is 190 Bexley Road, London, SE9 2PH. Opening hours are 8am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, and Avery Hill Park operates across the year. The afternoon finish is a significant practical boundary for families fitting childcare around work.

Branch enquiries can be made by telephone on 020 8331 6041 or through the Avery Hill Park contact form. Tours can be booked for this setting.

Funding and Paid Extras

In September 2025, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• A child ready for more challenge. In September 2025, staff did not consistently extend learning for the most able children. On a tour, ask how an activity changes once your child has mastered its starting point.
• Learning the daily routine. Newcomers sometimes struggled with instructions when activities changed in September 2025. Ask to see how staff explain those changes and support a child who needs more time.
• The 4.30pm finish. Opening hours end earlier than some working days. Consider whether that boundary fits your family's regular collection arrangements.
• Funding and attendance. Funded early education formed part of the September 2025 provision. Ask which attendance pattern and funded-hours arrangement would apply to your child, including what the written quotation covers for food and consumables.

Crafty Wizards Nursery, Avery Hill Park suits families seeking care for a two- to five-year-old within an 8am to 4.30pm day, with weekly park learning and resources that encourage children to choose their own play. Its September 2025 strengths were tangible: everyday responsibility, familiar key-person relationships and activities shaped around children's interests. The decision points are equally clear. Families with children who learn quickly should examine how challenge is extended, while those joining for the first time should look closely at support during changes in the daily routine.