Montessori at Brook Green

A willow tunnel, practical Montessori materials and a classroom that can be rearranged for dancing give Montessori at Brook Green a clear character: children have space to choose, move and do things for themselves. The nursery occupies a purpose-built hall at St Matthews Church in London, with sole use of the building rather than having to clear away between users. Children's artwork can stay on display. That makes the space their own.

At its June 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding, judged safeguarding effective and found that children made excellent progress through learning closely matched to their interests. That is a dated judgement, with useful detail beneath it: independence, language and mathematical understanding were central to the children's experience.

The nursery welcomes children aged two to five and has 20 places in total. Morning attendance and extended mornings provide different ways to build up a child's nursery week, rather than requiring every family to begin with five mornings.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care, expressed here through play, language, movement and practical activities. Montessori adds a child-led approach: teaching begins with what a child can already do, and children have freedom to choose activities and move around the learning space. The practical implication is a day that can respond to individual interests rather than expecting everyone to tackle the same task together.

Montessori Practical Life exercises make that approach tangible. Pouring, transferring beans with a spoon and squeezing pegs give children small movements to practise before pencil work. Montessori Sandpaper Letters link letter sounds with the movement used to form them; Sandpaper Numerals support recognising and ordering numbers. Phonics begins when a child shows interest, with individual books to take home rather than photocopied worksheets.

French Club introduces another language through games, puppets and music in the afternoon. Weekly yoga gives children opportunities to practise relaxing, while Circle Time starts with brief, familiar poems and stories before listening demands increase. A library book goes home each week, giving families a regular way to share stories beyond nursery hours.

In June 2023, children created repeating patterns, used counting in play and, among the older children, explored addition and subtraction. Story props helped draw children into books, while action songs introduced vocabulary alongside movement. These were concrete learning experiences, with numbers and words embedded in activities children wanted to join.

Outdoor and Community Life

The garden has two parts, including shelter for wet-weather play, a sensory path and a willow tunnel. Two play houses and a large sand pit provide further settings for imaginative and physical play. Chalk drawing on paving, sweeping leaves and washing dolls' clothes extend practical tasks outdoors; a wooden table and benches provide somewhere to eat packed lunches in fine weather.

In June 2023, children collaborated independently in the mud kitchen, deciding their own roles and making a pretend meal from water, sticks and mud. They also grew vegetables and explored flowers, with adults using their questions to develop explanations and solve practical problems. The same outdoor space supported both imaginative play and investigation.

Family events have recognisable settings. The Christmas Concert takes place in St. Matthew’s Church, while the Summer Concert uses the garden in July. The garden also hosts the Summer Picnic, connecting a familiar play space with shared family occasions.

Relationships and Communication

Settling begins before the first term. Each child is invited to a trial session with a parent or carer, and photographs are sent afterwards so the family can revisit the experience together. Parents contribute information about favourite stories, important words, likes and dislikes. This gives staff something personal to work with when helping a child settle.

A key person system supports relationships with children. Communication continues through weekly emails, photographs and news, alongside two written reports each year and one parents' evening. Everyday conversations, telephone calls and email offer other ways to discuss a child's experience, so contact is not confined to formal reporting dates.

In June 2023, staff greeted children using their home languages and linked activities to individual needs. Children also practised ordinary acts of independence: preparing fruit, spreading food on bread and setting tables. Those tasks gave them a part in the daily routine, rather than leaving every practical job to an adult.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the June 2023 inspection, Ofsted found effective collaboration with speech and language therapists, with carefully tailored plans for children's needs and successful involvement of parents in learning. This is useful evidence of how support worked at that time, including cooperation beyond the nursery team.

In June 2023, staff used tooth-cleaning toys and stories to explore oral health, and parents received toothbrushing songs to use at home. Staff also received regular supervision and feedback on their work; training on young children's mental health had increased awareness in that area. The nursery's stated aim of preparing children for their next school sits alongside practical independence and gradually increasing hours, rather than an admissions promise.

Sessions and Attendance

Morning attendance does not require a commitment to five sessions. Hours build gradually as children approach primary school, and Tuesday and Thursday offer extended mornings ending at 14:45. Children staying for those extensions bring a packed lunch, so food for that part of the day comes from home.

In June 2023, opening hours ran from 9am to 12.15pm and from 12.15pm to 2.45pm, Monday to Friday, during term time, with closure on public bank holidays. Those hours describe the inspection-era operation; the extended-morning arrangement above is the current attendance offer.

Getting There

The postal address is St Matthews Church Hall, St Matthews Church, Masbro Road, London W14 0LL. New enquiries can be made by telephone on 07803984639. A viewing can be arranged before registration, allowing families to assess the hall and garden as part of their decision.

Funding and Paid Extras

In June 2023, the nursery accepted funding for early education for children aged three and four.

Registration carries a non-refundable charge. Places are offered in application order, with siblings given priority. A deposit is requested in the January preceding admission and is refunded during the child's final term if a full term's notice has been given. That condition matters when planning a departure or move to school.

• Building up attendance. Five mornings are not compulsory, and extended mornings run on Tuesday and Thursday. During a viewing, discuss how a gradual increase in hours would work for your child and your weekly routine.
• Funding arrangements. Three- and four-year-old funding was accepted in June 2023. What funded entitlement and charge structure would apply to your child's proposed attendance now?
• Leaving notice. The deposit refund depends on giving a full term's notice and is made during the final term. Factor that timing into plans for a move or the start of primary school.

Montessori at Brook Green suits families seeking morning nursery attendance with the option of longer Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Its appeal is concrete: practical Montessori activities, a flexible classroom, a garden with sheltered play and a settling process that starts with the family. Regular communication gives parents several ways to stay involved.

The June 2023 Outstanding judgement provides a strong quality benchmark for that period. For a family choosing today, the combination of child-led learning and a graduated attendance model is the central proposition, with deposit and notice conditions deserving attention before registration.