Holland Park Pre-Prep and Nursery

In March 2024, imaginative play in a tree house and weekly specialist classes gave Holland Park Pre-Prep and Nursery a recognisable character. At its March 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good, found safeguarding effective and judged support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those learning English as an additional language to be effective.

The nursery has capacity for 54 children at 5 Holland Road, London W14 8HJ. Children attending in March 2024 were aged 0 to 3; that age range describes the children there at the time.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care, with play providing opportunities to build language, physical skills and independence. In March 2024, children chose activities themselves, persisted with tasks and practised dressing and recognising their own names. Messy activities, drawing and cutting with scissors gave them opportunities to develop hand control.

Outdoor play had substance. In March 2024, children used the tree house for pretend play, brought adults into their stories and practised balancing, jumping and ball skills. Weekly specialist sessions covered Spanish, music, dance and yoga, adding language and movement experiences to the day.

Books reached across the ages: babies explored textured books, toddlers began connecting letters with words, and older children selected stories for adults to read. The March 2024 improvement priority was to make better use of play for mathematical vocabulary and number bonds. Counting seeds during a planting activity was one practical starting point.

In March 2024, familiar key persons comforted babies and responded affectionately to children. Children practised cooperation through taking turns in a pretend hospital.

Support included identifying difficulties early and developing targeted plans with parents and other professionals. Parents knew their children's learning targets. Staff also discussed toothbrushing, provided healthy food and planned exercise, connecting everyday care with habits children could practise themselves.

The address is 5 Holland Road, London W14 8HJ. In March 2024, opening hours ran from 8.15am until 6.15pm on weekdays, for most of the year; this describes the opening window at that date rather than a session booking pattern.

At that time, the nursery received funding for free early education for children aged two, three and four. That dated participation should be kept separate from an individual family's entitlement.

• Attendance planning. The March 2024 opening window covered weekdays into early evening. Which current booking patterns and funded-hours arrangements would fit your week?
• Mathematical language. The March 2024 improvement priority concerned number vocabulary during play. On a visit, ask how staff now build this into everyday activities.
• Individual support. Targeted plans involved parents and other professionals in March 2024. Discuss how a key person would involve you in setting and reviewing your child's targets.

The March 2024 inspection picture makes this a nursery to consider for families drawn to imaginative outdoor play, specialist language and movement sessions, and care organised around familiar key persons. The March 2024 picture combines those strengths with a specific teaching priority: making mathematical language a more consistent part of play.