Little Cherubs Nursery School

A secret garden just off Kensington Church Street gives Little Cherubs Nursery School a clear identity: outdoor exploration sits alongside an emphasis on independence and learning about food. Children can investigate nature, grow vegetables and take part in cooking. For parents seeking an early start that reaches beyond indoor play, those are useful details.

At its 6 March 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall and judged safeguarding effective. The setting welcomes children from their first birthday until they start school, at the Carmelite Parish Centre in Kensington. Its strongest thread is practical learning: doing things for themselves, exploring their surroundings and developing the language to share their ideas.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care, bringing their education and everyday wellbeing together. Here, the curriculum includes early number work, literacy and problem-solving, alongside personal and social development. That gives parents a useful picture of the day: learning extends beyond recognising letters or counting to managing relationships and becoming more independent.

Montessori and Reggio Emilia are inspirations for an approach tailored to children's different ways of learning. They sit alongside a curriculum responsive to individual needs; the practical emphasis remains on curiosity, developing skills and children's own participation. The curriculum approach connects this learning with outdoor exploration and food preparation.

In March 2025, older children used a mud kitchen to investigate quantities, measuring and counting natural ingredients while making imaginary food. Staff extended the activity through their interactions. It is a concrete example of number work growing out of play, rather than requiring children to leave their interests behind for a separate task.

Independence also had everyday applications in March 2025. Older children practised using cutlery and managing shoes and coats. These small tasks matter when children move towards school: looking after themselves is part of preparation, alongside early literacy and numeracy.

Outdoor and Community Life

The secret garden gives children outdoor space within this Kensington setting. Gardening, searching for bugs and projects linked to the seasons provide different reasons to spend time outside. Growing vegetables connects the garden with cooking activities, helping children encounter food before it reaches their plate.

In March 2025, outings took children into the neighbourhood daily, including museums, a library, shops and parks. This added a different kind of learning to the garden: children encountered the places and routines of their wider community. For families who value exploration beyond the nursery premises, that dated picture of everyday practice is a meaningful strength.

Relationships and Communication

Settling-in sessions form part of the start at Little Cherubs. Before a child begins, the enrolment process gathers medical information, allergy details and emergency contacts, giving staff practical information about the child as well as the family's contact arrangements.

In March 2025, families took part in recurring cooking, singing and storytelling activities. Staff also worked with bilingual families to include familiar words, stories and songs from home. These were specific ways for family life to enter the nursery day, rather than remaining separate from it.

Communication between staff supported children moving between nursery classes in March 2025. Information travelled with the child, helping maintain continuity as their everyday group changed. This is relevant to parents who want transitions within nursery to receive attention as well as the initial settling period.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the March 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that close tracking of development, targeted help and collaboration with families and other professionals supported children's progress. Language development received substantial attention, with support directed towards identified gaps. For parents whose child needs additional help, the important mechanism was the combination of observation and joint working.

Behaviour was the improvement point in March 2025. Children generally followed routines and formed friendships, but adults sometimes gave unclear messages about turn-taking and did not consistently help children understand the emotions behind disagreements. This is a specific concern about everyday guidance, and it deserves attention alongside the positive judgement.

Menus receive input and review from a qualified nutritionist. Cooking activities and vegetable growing also make food part of children's learning, giving them opportunities to participate in preparation as well as eat.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 8.30am to 5.45pm, across 41 weeks each year. The annual calendar matters as much as the daily closing time for parents arranging work and childcare: families need to plan around the weeks outside that opening pattern.

The application process asks for preferred sessions and a start date. An enquiry form begins the process, followed by a showaround invitation; applications then set out the family's requested arrangements. Joining involves an agreement and a deposit to secure an offered place.

Offers remain open for two weeks. A waiting list operates when a requested place cannot be offered, so the process includes a route for applications beyond an immediate offer. Neither the opening hours nor the application process should be treated as a statement of present availability.

Getting There

The address is Carmelite Parish Centre, Pitt Street, London W8 4JH, on a quiet street near Kensington Church Street. The nursery sits between High Street Kensington and Notting Hill Gate.

Funding and Paid Extras

In March 2025, the nursery offered government-funded childcare. Families should obtain current prices in a written quotation, keeping the attendance arrangement and its charges together when assessing affordability.

• Behaviour guidance. The March 2025 improvement point concerned inconsistent expectations and support with feelings during disagreements. During a visit, ask how practitioners now explain turn-taking and help children manage frustration.
• The annual calendar and quotation. Opening spans 41 weeks, with a daily window of 8.30am to 5.45pm. Which bookable sessions and funded arrangements fit your needs, and how are meals and non-food consumables treated in the quotation?
• Accepting an offer. There is a two-week response period, followed by an agreement and deposit to secure the place. Use the showaround to discuss how settling-in sessions would work for your child before accepting.

Little Cherubs suits families who value outdoor exploration, practical independence and links between home life and nursery learning. The garden, vegetable growing and cooking give that character substance. Its Good judgement in March 2025 supports a positive assessment, while the behaviour improvement point remains a useful question for a visit.

The 41-week calendar is an essential part of the decision. Parents comfortable with that annual pattern, and seeking care from a child's first birthday through to school, have clear reasons to consider this Kensington setting.