Bunnies on the Green

Shared activity rooms and two outdoor spaces give Bunnies on the Green its character: children learn together rather than moving through a sequence of rooms divided by age. Based in Stockwell, this small nursery has capacity for 26 children aged 24–59 months. Its indoor spaces serve different purposes, from messy creative work to quiet reading on sofas.

At its July 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and judged that children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), made good progress from their starting points. There were also clear improvements to make around additional-language support and changes between activities. Those matter alongside the positive judgement.

The current opening hours are 8am–4pm, Monday to Thursday, during term time. That makes the nursery's calendar an important part of the decision for working families.

Rooms and Ages

Creative Room brings together painting, musical movement and sensory play, giving children practical ways to develop hand control and express ideas. Main Room hosts guided activities and circle time, with an emphasis on communication, shared learning and preparation for school. Book Corner provides sofas, books and a quieter place for stories and relaxation, linking language development with a calmer part of the day.

These are shared activity spaces, rather than separate baby, toddler and preschool groups. The distinction is useful: parents are choosing a nursery where children use different environments together, with each space supporting a different kind of activity.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for learning through play, conversation, movement and practical exploration. Here, that includes counting and sorting, early mark-making, learning to manage feelings and discovering the natural world. It is the foundation of the day, rather than an extra programme.

Montessori influences add an emphasis on children working at their own pace, using prepared surroundings and specialist materials to explore independently. The nursery describes influences, rather than a wholly Montessori model. For families, the useful detail is the combination of hands-on resources with opportunities to make choices.

Early literacy includes books, mark-making and recognising letters; phonics begins from age three. Mathematics is made practical through equipment, sorting and patterns. Threading and scissor work develop smaller movements, while climbing and ball games give children opportunities to practise coordination on a larger scale.

The daily rhythm moves between shared activities and quieter periods. Circle time brings songs and stories together before structured learning and outdoor play; after lunch, rest and calm activities precede creative work and small-group activities. This gives parents a concrete picture of how different kinds of learning fit into the day.

Outdoor and Community Life

Two outdoor areas contain scooters, ropes, a climbing wall and an obstacle course. These give children different ways to balance, climb and move, rather than relying on a single type of outdoor activity.

In July 2024, children examined snails in the garden and shared their discoveries with one another. The same visit recorded clay, play dough and mark-making activities. Everyday exploration connected physical skills with opportunities to talk and play together.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key worker who follows their development and works with parents. During settling in, familiar comfort items or favourite toys may come from home. That allowance gives children something recognisable while they adjust to a new setting.

Communication combines messages, photographs and conversation: parents receive texts and emails, alongside verbal updates from staff. A learning journal records each child's development and informs termly reports. Quick updates explain the day; the journal and reports provide a longer view of progress.

In July 2024, practitioners gathered information from parents about their key children and children approached adults when they needed comfort. Staff also encouraged sharing and turn-taking. These observations give substance to the nursery's emphasis on personal relationships.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

The July 2024 inspection identified uneven language support for children learning English as an additional language and insufficient preparation for some younger children and children with SEND when the routine changed, sometimes leaving them upset. Families whose children need help understanding instructions or anticipating the next activity should give these findings particular attention.

During that visit, the manager and SEND coordinator worked with parents, practitioners and other agencies, and staff used observations to plan around children's development. The positive work and the transition concern belong together: support was present, but some everyday changes needed better handling.

Lunch is freshly prepared, with vegetarian and non-dairy choices, and is charged separately for full-time and half-day attendance, including when a child is absent. Parents supply nappies where needed; the day also includes a snack and a light tea.

Sessions and Attendance

Bunnies on the Green is based at the United Reformed Church, 60–62 Stockwell Road, Stockwell, London SW9 9JQ. It opens Monday to Thursday from 8am to 4pm for 38 weeks of term-time provision each year.

Full-time attendance and half days are recognised in the lunch charging arrangements. Those attendance options sit within the opening window, rather than making the opening hours a separate session timetable.

Joining starts with an informal telephone conversation, and nursery visits can be arranged. An enquiry form provides another route to contact the setting. Parents are asked to provide allergy or dietary information and bring labelled spare clothes, as well as nappies where applicable.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded places are offered for eligible two-, three- and four-year-olds. The nursery operates during term time, so its calendar matters when matching childcare to work and family commitments. Eligibility remains a condition of the funded offer.

Lunch carries a separate charge, and its non-refundable absence rule deserves attention when comparing costs. Nappies come from home. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation, allowing families to assess the charge structure alongside their attendance pattern.

• Term-time calendar. Opening is Monday to Thursday, 8am–4pm, for 38 weeks annually. At a visit, discuss how the full-time or half-day pattern would fit your family's working week.
• Language and transitions. The July 2024 findings highlighted support for additional-language learners and preparation for routine changes. Ask how staff now use visual prompts, home languages and advance explanations for your child's needs.
• Lunch costs during absence. Lunch is charged separately for full-time and half-day children and remains payable when a child is absent. Include that rule when assessing the written quotation.

Bunnies on the Green suits families seeking either full-time attendance or half days within a Monday-to-Thursday, term-time nursery. Shared creative and reading spaces, practical learning materials and two outdoor areas give its offer a clear shape.

The July 2024 Good judgement is supported by concrete observations of children's learning and relationships. Additional-language support and daily transitions remain the key points to explore. For a family whose calendar fits, this is a small setting with a clear emphasis on shared play, independence and communication with parents.