Montessori Moments

Bread-making, a world map and a large garden give Montessori Moments at Charlton House a concrete character: practical independence sits alongside learning about other people. These were features of daily life in December 2023, rather than a promise about today's timetable.

At its December 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received effective support. The current age range is 9 to 60 months.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care: here, the December 2023 examples included learning through cooking, imaginative play and conversation. Children pretended to treat patients in the home corner, while bread-making introduced vocabulary about ingredients. These activities gave familiar interests an educational purpose.

A world map prompted children to talk about their countries of origin. Play dough gave them opportunities to form shapes and practise handling materials. Outdoors, the large garden accommodated climbing and energetic movement, with staff supervising children as they explored physical challenges.

Independence had practical expression too. In December 2023, children served themselves food, with adults demonstrating how to handle water and serving utensils. The emphasis was on doing things for themselves.

In December 2023, kindness was taught through shared play and everyday help: older children assisted younger ones with handwashing. Daily circle-time activities included stories and animal sounds, giving children opportunities to practise communication together.

Feedback at the end of sessions and an online application connected home and nursery learning that December. Parents could contribute information about learning outside the setting. Menus included healthy, freshly prepared food, while dancing, yoga and walks added movement to the day.

Behaviour guidance needed greater consistency. In December 2023, adults sometimes failed to apply the nursery's rules consistently, leaving children with mixed messages.

Ofsted's November 2025 compliance outcome required improvements to risk assessment, staff deployment and supervision, and consistent, age-appropriate behaviour management; following the nursery's response on 26 November 2025, it confirmed that the safeguarding and welfare actions had been met. That resolution matters, although behaviour management was a recurring issue.

The address is Charlton House, Charlton Road, London SE7 8RE. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and one week over Christmas.

In December 2023, the nursery offered funding for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated participation statement, rather than a description of current funded attendance arrangements.

• Behaviour guidance. Consistency was raised in December 2023 and again in November 2025. The later actions were met, but this remains a useful area to discuss during a visit.
• Attendance planning. The weekday opening window runs from 8am to 6pm. What booking patterns and funded-hours arrangements would fit your child's attendance?

Montessori Moments merits consideration by families seeking practical play, growing independence and communication between home and nursery. Its December 2023 examples make those priorities tangible. Families needing weekday care across the year can weigh the opening window against their routine, while keeping the repeated behaviour-management concern and its November 2025 resolution in view.