One World Montessori Nursery

Montessori materials, a tree-shaded playground and two Kindergarten groups give One World Montessori Nursery a clear character: hands-on learning in a Victorian terrace on Minford Gardens. The basement premises have natural light and doors leading directly to the outdoor space. For parents weighing an urban setting, that connection between indoor activities and outdoor play is a useful part of the offer.

At its May 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall. Across the whole nursery, there are 24 places in total, with a current age range of 12 to 60 months. Lower Kindergarten takes children after their first birthday; the move to Upper Kindergarten happens when they turn three. Morning, extended morning and full-day bookings sit alongside later provision at St. Simon’s Church Annex.

Rooms and Ages

Lower Kindergarten and Upper Kindergarten organise the nursery into two age stages. The move at three gives families a clear point of progression within the setting, rather than treating the whole age range as one group. These are group names, rather than a measure of how many children attend together.

The physical setting matters too. A basement in a large Victorian terrace houses the nursery, with natural light inside and a tree-shaded playground behind it. Direct outdoor access gives play a place beyond the indoor learning spaces. The nursery stands opposite St. Simon’s Church.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for children's learning and development: language, movement and relationships sit alongside early reading, mathematics, creative work and exploration of the world. These are the everyday building blocks, rather than an extra programme. One World's curriculum adds specialist Montessori materials for children to explore and investigate.

The Montessori Method centres on children choosing activities and working at their own pace. The approach is illustrated through painting, grouping beads and using sandpaper letters to form words. That makes the educational style tangible: practical materials and choice are part of the learning offer, rather than Montessori being simply a name above the door.

In May 2022, younger children explored stories with objects and props, while older children were beginning to blend sounds and break words into their parts. Mathematical language also appeared during play, including matching pebbles to numbers and talking about watering cans. These examples show how early literacy and number work could grow out of an activity, rather than being confined to a separate lesson.

The same May 2022 findings identified an important limitation: staff sometimes joined activities without taking children's thinking further through their questions. More consistent extension of learning was an improvement priority. For families attracted by child-led activity, the balance between a child's choice and an adult's contribution deserves attention.

Outdoor and Community Life

In May 2022, outdoor activity included tunnels, stepping stones and wheeled toys, alongside regular visits to community gardens to explore wildlife. The garden and those outings brought movement and nature into children's experiences. The trips were regular; they were not described as a fixed weekly programme.

Family participation extends to concerts, class assemblies and Sports Day. Parents can also contribute stories, interests and projects in the children's learning spaces. These invitations give families ways to participate beyond receiving updates about the day.

Relationships and Communication

A key-person relationship forms part of the curriculum approach, connecting the development of independence with a secure relationship with an adult. Parent involvement is explicit too. Contributions from home are welcomed into learning, giving the nursery a way to connect children's experiences across both settings.

Communication has a defined rhythm: families receive two written reports during the academic year, individual conferences each term and a class newsletter every week in term time. The newsletters include photographs of activities and arrive by email as PDFs. Scheduled discussions give space for development and progress, while additional appointments can be arranged for concerns that need their own conversation.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the May 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged safeguarding effective, found excellent support for children with SEND and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and reported good progress from children's individual starting points. Additional funding was directed towards individual needs, making targeted support a substantive part of that dated judgement.

In May 2022, staff used colours to help children express their emotions following training on emotional regulation. Children also served their own snacks, but adults did not consistently encourage them to complete simple everyday tasks independently. Extending self-care was the other improvement priority. The distinction matters: offering an independent task is only part of the work; giving children repeated opportunities to carry it through matters too.

Food is freshly prepared in the nursery's own kitchen, using locally sourced ingredients, with vegetarian choices among the menu options. Private session fees include the meals and snacks specified for each booking; during funded hours, meals and snacks are charged separately.

Sessions and Attendance

Term-time attendance is the operating pattern, with opening hours of 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday; the nursery closes during school holidays. The booking choices have different finishing points:

• Morning Kindergarten runs from 8am to noon and includes breakfast and a morning snack.
• Extended Morning Kindergarten runs from 8am to 1pm, adding lunch to breakfast and the morning snack.
• Full Day Kindergarten runs from 8am to 4pm, with breakfast, lunch and snacks in the morning and afternoon.
• Extended Provision at St. Simon’s Church Annex runs from 4pm to 6pm and includes cooked tea.

The annex is therefore part of the practical decision for a family using the later provision. The main Kindergarten day and the final part of the opening window take place at different named premises.

Getting There

The address is Basement, 56 Minford Gardens, London W14 0AW, also described as Garden Level. Kensington Olympia and Shepherd’s Bush Rail and Underground Stations serve the area, with bus routes 295, 283, 220, 95 and 72 also identified.

Enquiries can be made through the contact form, by email at nursery@oneworldschools.info or by telephone on 020 7603 6065. Places are offered in registration order, with siblings of existing children receiving priority; accepting an offer requires written confirmation.

Funding and Paid Extras

The universal 15-hour entitlement for three- and four-year-olds is delivered from 1pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday. For children receiving the extended 30-hour entitlement, funded hours run from 8am to 2pm on those days. Funding covers core provision; meals and snacks, extra hours and optional enrichment from external providers are charged separately.

Access to core funded hours carries no additional charges, and wraparound participation is optional. Ballet, drama, music and forest school are examples of the separately charged enrichment, rather than a promise of a particular weekly timetable. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation; the fees page sets out how the different attendance patterns and extras fit together.

Children wear a navy blue and red uniform supplied by Perry Uniform. Families receive the required clothing list when they join, so clothing is another practical part of preparing for attendance.

• Term-time planning. Attendance follows the term-time calendar and the nursery closes for school holidays. Families needing care across the year should weigh that pattern against their working arrangements.
• The annex extension. Provision after 4pm takes place at St. Simon’s Church Annex. During a visit, ask how the move between premises and collection arrangements work for children using it.
• Adult input and independence. The May 2022 improvement priorities concerned extending children's thinking and giving them more responsibility for everyday tasks. Ask for current examples of both in Lower and Upper Kindergarten.
• Funded attendance and extras. The two funded entitlements have different daily windows, and meals are charged separately during funded hours. Ask how non-food consumables fit into the proposed booking before agreeing the written quotation.

One World suits families seeking either morning attendance or a fuller Kindergarten day, with an optional extension at the church annex. Montessori materials, direct playground access and a structured pattern of parent communication give the offer substance. Term-time operation and the separate location for later care are central to the decision.

The Good judgement from May 2022 provides a dated assessment, while its two improvement priorities keep the picture balanced. For a family drawn to practical, child-chosen learning, the strongest visit discussion will be about how adults extend that activity and help children become more independent.