Fairyland Nursery

A key person plus a backup carer gives Fairyland Nursery's care arrangements a clear centre: a familiar adult for each child, with another ready to step in. This Chiswick nursery has capacity for 59 children, accepting ages from three months to five years. At its January 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall, with children developing close relationships with staff and making good progress, including those learning English as an additional language.

The practical choice spans morning sessions, a school-hours day and full-day care. Friday finishes earlier than the rest of the working week, an important distinction for families arranging childcare around employment.

Settling takes parental time as well as staff attention. Families are expected to remain closely involved during the first week, with separation increasing according to how their child copes. That makes the start of nursery a shared process rather than a fixed deadline.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. It connects everyday care with learning and development, rather than treating education as a separate part of the day.

In January 2023, the curriculum drew on children's interests and their next developmental steps. Language featured in outdoor exploration: looking for insects and discussing where living things belonged gave staff opportunities to introduce unfamiliar vocabulary. New words had something concrete attached to them. For a young child, a conversation about an animal's winter habits can connect language with something they are already curious about.

Books and singing also featured in January 2023. Staff used objects to help children act out stories, while toddlers and older children explored rhyme and rhythm through songs. Children sometimes began singing familiar songs themselves or invented their own. These were everyday routes into listening, language and early literacy, rather than lessons detached from play.

There was a qualification to that picture. In January 2023, group activities were not consistently pitched to children's developmental stages, leaving some without enough help to take their learning further. The improvement point was about matching the activity to the child, not simply providing more activities.

Outdoor and Community Life

In January 2023, a nearby outdoor space supported movement and exploration. Wooden balance beams gave children opportunities to practise coordination with staff support; toddlers used tunnels and played rolling-ball games. Dancing added another form of energetic movement.

Searching for leaves, stones and small creatures gave outdoor time a second purpose beyond exercise. Children could compare what they found and talk about the natural world. These are dated examples of the nursery day, rather than a promise of a particular activity on every visit.

Relationships and Communication

A key person is allocated before a child starts, and a key buddy provides cover when that adult is absent. The key person handles the family's introduction, acts as the main contact and works with parents on an individual plan for care, wellbeing and learning. Developmental information is shared with home and, where appropriate, other carers. The arrangement gives parents a defined person to approach and a route for information to follow the child.

Settling is deliberately gradual. Parents help decide how separation should progress and are expected to stay for much of the initial sessions, remaining involved for at least the first week and potentially longer. Younger children and those unused to time away from home may need more time. The nursery can decline to take a distressed child without their parent or carer, so families need room in their plans for a slower start.

The key person also completes the progress check at age two. This brings together areas developing well, areas needing attention and agreed next steps, including work with other professionals where appropriate. It is a specific mechanism for discussing development with parents, rather than a general assurance about additional-needs support.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the January 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, with staff understanding how to recognise and report concerns and using risk assessments to support supervision. That judgement belongs to that inspection date.

In January 2023, children received balanced meals, and staff worked with parents on toilet training and encouraged children to manage their coats. Older children served their own food. Opportunities to extend self-care were nevertheless inconsistent: younger children were not always encouraged to feed themselves, and older children could have been encouraged more consistently to clear up after eating. Independence was therefore an explicit area for improvement, alongside the planning of group activities.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 1 Barley Mow Passage, Chiswick, London W4 4PH. Morning sessions run from 7.30am to 12.30pm; the school-hours pattern runs from 8.30am to 3.30pm; full-day sessions run from 7.30am to 6pm. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm Monday to Thursday, with Friday opening from 8.30am to 3.30pm.

The nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays and the Christmas period. Flexible-session requests are considered where possible, rather than being an unconditional attendance option. Families can enquire using the Fairyland Nursery Enquire Form, and tours can be arranged by email at info@fairylandnursery.org or telephone on 02039416073.

Applications require a completed form and the relevant documentation. A place is confirmed in writing after availability has been agreed and the paperwork received. The admissions process takes account of application timing, the requested start date, the appropriate age group and the child's individual needs; siblings may receive priority where possible. Joining a waiting list does not guarantee a later place.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered under local authority requirements. Children attending through funded hours have the same educational opportunities as other children. Funding participation is therefore part of the offer, while eligibility and any additional services carrying charges remain separate considerations for each family.

• Time for settling. Parental involvement is expected for at least the first week and can continue longer. Discuss how the gradual separation plan would work alongside your return to work.
• Friday coverage. Friday runs from 8.30am to 3.30pm, unlike the longer Monday-to-Thursday opening window. The shorter day affects how much of the working week it can cover.
• Learning and independence. January 2023 improvement points concerned the level of group activities and opportunities for self-care. During a visit, ask how activities are adjusted for different developmental stages and how children practise managing meals and everyday tasks.
• Funded attendance costs. Funded childcare forms part of the offer. Which entitlement and attendance arrangement would apply to your child, and how would meals and non-food consumables be handled?

Fairyland Nursery suits families considering morning sessions, a school-hours day or full-day care from Monday to Thursday. Its clearest current strength is the structure around relationships: a key person, backup cover and a settling process shaped with parents.

The January 2023 picture adds concrete examples of stories, singing, outdoor movement and language development, alongside two useful improvement points about group activities and self-care. Families comfortable allowing time for settling, and able to accommodate the shorter Friday, have a clearly defined attendance and care model to consider.