St Thomas' Hospital Day Nursery

Rope ladders, a bridge on the climbing equipment and stepping stones gave outdoor play a physical challenge at St Thomas' Hospital Day Nursery in December 2022. Babies had a different emphasis: close contact with staff and exploration through sand and water.

At its December 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children with additional needs received effective support and made good progress. The nursery has 102 places in total and accepts children aged 3 to 60 months.

In December 2022, stories connected with songs, actions and objects during group activities, giving children several ways to join in. Children also chose books independently. The early years foundation stage is the framework for learning, development and care: here, the December 2022 day included learning through play indoors and outside.

Outdoor activity involved balance and coordination. In December 2022, older children tackled rope ladders and the bridge, while toddlers practised balancing on stepping stones. Sensory exploration took different forms across the ages, with older children investigating leaves and younger children experimenting with sand and water.

The garden committee involved parents and staff in developing the outdoor areas in December 2022. That gave families a practical role in shaping the space children used.

Daily routines also had a place in the December 2022 experience. Children helped put toys away and understood that they should walk when moving towards outdoor play. These were opportunities to take responsibility for shared spaces and practise following instructions. Learning extended beyond organised activities.

The December 2022 story sessions combined listening with participation: children contributed familiar words and accompanied songs with movements. Independent book choices offered another way to engage, alongside the shared group activity. For parents, the useful distinction is between children having access to books and staff actively making stories part of their play. Both featured in that day's account.

In December 2022, babies sought comfort from familiar staff, while older children practised sharing and waiting for a turn. Staff used their knowledge of individual children to plan activities and exchanged information with parents and other agencies to identify additional support needs early.

Communication extended to learning at home. In December 2022, parents received information about the curriculum, giving them a basis for continuing activities beyond nursery. Everyday independence included handwashing, putting on coats and using the bathroom.

In December 2022, managers spent time alongside staff in the children's rooms, offering practical support with their work. Staff also undertook training to develop their practice. This put management support into the spaces where children spent their day, rather than confining it to administrative work. For families, that is a useful detail about how the team was supported at the time.

A refurbishment was under way in December 2022. Parents received updates as the work progressed, while staff used risk assessments and safety arrangements during the project. Communication therefore covered changes to the building as well as children's learning. Families could understand what was happening around their child's care while the premises were being altered.

Mealtimes in December 2022 included food choices and conversations about fruit; staff helped babies develop their feeding skills and kept track of individual dietary requirements.

The address is Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE1 7EH. Opening hours are 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with bank holiday closures.

For parents whose working day starts early or finishes late, those opening times are a useful starting point for planning childcare. Year-round opening also matters when work continues through school holidays. Bank holidays need a separate care arrangement if they are working days for your family.

In December 2022, the nursery received funding for early education for children aged three and four. This is a dated funding position.

• Emergency evacuation. In December 2022, new procedures followed an evacuation incident and staff completed fire marshal training, but managers needed to monitor how consistently the changes became part of daily practice. Ask how evacuation practice is monitored now.
• Home languages. In December 2022, staff missed opportunities to bring children's home languages into routines. Families using another language at home should discuss how it will feature in their child's day.
• Choosing attendance. The weekday opening window runs from 7am to 7pm. At a visit, ask which booking pattern fits your working hours and request a written quotation covering meals and consumables.

For families needing weekday childcare on Lambeth Palace Road, the long opening window has clear practical value. The December 2022 account gives concrete examples of outdoor challenge, shared stories and personal care. Home-language practice and evacuation monitoring deserve direct discussion before joining.