Raphael Nursery Hammersmith

French and English shared the nursery day equally in March 2024, with activities in one language before lunch and the other afterwards. That gives Raphael Nursery Hammersmith a clear point of interest for parents seeking bilingual early education: children encountered vocabulary through activities, with opportunities to practise it.

At its 13 March 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall and found safeguarding effective, while asking staff to connect activities and conversations more closely to each child's next learning steps. The judgement supports a positive assessment, with a specific teaching point for families to explore.

The nursery accepts children from 3 months to 5 years at the Augustinian Centre in Hammersmith. Its weekday opening window runs from 8am to 6pm.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, that means considering education alongside everyday needs, with play and interaction forming part of the learning day.

In March 2024, babies explored the feel of sand combined with water, while toddlers examined citrus fruit as staff supplied words for its appearance and smell. These were concrete opportunities to connect sensations with language. The bilingual rhythm added another layer: staff chose vocabulary for children to encounter and revisit in both French and English.

Physical experiences varied with children's development. In March 2024, babies who could not yet move independently spent time on their tummies and reached towards resources placed beyond immediate grasp. Toddlers worked play dough with their hands. These examples show how movement could be built into ordinary play, rather than reserved for a separate activity.

The teaching caveat matters. In March 2024, staff knew what they wanted individual children to learn next, but the activities and exchanges did not consistently serve those intentions. A busy activity is only useful educationally if it helps the child take the intended next step. This is the most useful point to discuss when considering the nursery's learning approach.

Outdoor and Community Life

In March 2024, children took walks around the surrounding community, and the garden featured in everyday routines. Young toddlers helped clear away hoops. Outdoor space also supported room transitions, allowing children to play with their future group before moving.

Family backgrounds contributed to the day too. In March 2024, children explored music, customs and food associated with their families' countries, and resources represented different family structures. That gave children recognisable connections between home and nursery life, alongside opportunities to encounter other experiences.

Relationships and Communication

In March 2024, children had close connections with their key person and separated readily from parents. Staff drew on news from home when talking with children, making family experiences part of nursery conversation. The personal connection was practical as well as affectionate.

Everyday routines gave children opportunities to do things themselves. In March 2024, children helped themselves to food and cleared their plates afterwards; toddlers practised pouring drinking water. Songs before meals reinforced expectations about manners. These small responsibilities made independence part of daily care.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the March 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that staff monitored children's development, referred emerging concerns promptly and worked with parents on support plans, helping children make progress. For families whose child needs additional help, the useful detail is the combination of observation, referral and planning with parents.

Moving between rooms received attention in March 2024 through shared garden play with the next group. When children left for another setting, their key person joined settling sessions, and staff passed detailed information to schools. This was transition support centred on continuity: familiar relationships and knowledge about the child accompanied the move.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Augustinian Centre, 55 Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8AU. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures on Bank Holidays and between Christmas and New Year. Those closures matter when planning care around work.

Enquiries can be made through the Hammersmith contact form, by telephone on 0203 645 2963 or by email at hammersmith@raphaelnursery.com.

Funding and Paid Extras

In March 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for three-year-old children. This is a dated participation detail rather than a promise about an individual family's funded arrangement.

• Learning next steps. The March 2024 improvement point concerned making activities and staff conversations serve individual learning intentions more precisely. On a visit, ask for an example of how an activity has been adapted for a child's next step.
• Bilingual practice. French and English were used equally in March 2024. Ask how that balance works for a child starting with experience of only one language.
• Your attendance and costs. The nursery opens throughout the year, with specified holiday closures. Ask for a written quotation showing the attendance pattern, funded-hours arrangement and treatment of meals and consumables for your child.

Raphael Nursery Hammersmith merits consideration for families interested in French and English learning and weekday care across the year. Its March 2024 strengths included personal relationships, practical independence and support through transitions. The qualification is precise: staff needed to make learning activities better match children's next steps. Families who value bilingual experiences should weigh that teaching question alongside the nursery's care routines.