Woodentops Day Nursery

A Victorian villa, a toddler conservatory and an allotment give Woodentops Day Nursery its character. At Thornton Road in London, the nursery combines separate spaces for babies and toddlers with direct access to outdoor play. It has 25 places in total.

The building is Grade II listed and dates to 1850. Its historic exterior is only part of the appeal: the practical detail is the division of space for sleep, early movement, messy activities and outdoor play. For families comparing baby care with provision for older children, those different uses matter more than the building's age.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good in July 2011. That is a dated judgement, rather than a description of today's practice. Babies can start from six months, while older children have an opportunity to attend Woodentops Kindergarten during term time.

Rooms and Ages

The baby class and toddler class each have their own indoor and outdoor areas. Babies have a sleeping room and space intended for learning to crawl and walk, giving rest and early movement separate places within the day.

Toddlers use an airy room with an adjoining conservatory for messy play. That provides a specific space for hands-on exploration, rather than making every activity compete for the same room.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the educational requirements for the children's learning and development. Under this shared framework, children learn through play, building on their individual needs and interests.

Specialist teachers lead yoga, music and sports, with these activities included in the fees. The combination brings movement and music into the nursery's curriculum rather than treating them as separately purchased extras.

From age 2½, preschool children can attend Woodentops Kindergarten in term time for up to 15 hours a week. This introduces a more formal educational setting alongside their nursery experience.

Outdoor and Community Life

A large outdoor play area supports activities and sports lessons. The small allotment adds digging and vegetable growing: children have something to tend as well as somewhere to move.

A keyworker follows each child's development and keeps parents informed about the daily routine through an individual diary. Weekly newsletters provide another rhythm of communication, covering nursery activities and events.

Settling starts with two free sessions, usually in the week before attendance begins. The first runs from 9.30am to 11.30am with a parent present; the second runs from 9.30am to 12.30pm and includes lunch, with a shorter period of parental involvement. Sessions can build gradually during the first month when a child needs more time.

The All about me pack gathers medical information, consent forms, routines and preferences before the start. This gives staff practical information about the child, including the habits that may help them settle.

It arrives around a week before the child begins and also collects emergency contact details. Preferences and dislikes belong alongside the medical information: the introduction gives parents a way to explain their child's everyday routine before staff take responsibility for it. That preparation complements the time spent together in the settling sessions.

During the first introductory session, parents remain with their child and the team. There is also time to review nursery policies and procedures. At the second, parents are encouraged to stay for around 20 minutes before leaving the room, allowing the child to spend time with staff and take part in an activity before lunch. The two sessions therefore introduce separation in stages.

The nursery may also recommend a longer settling period. Its advice is to avoid making the child's first full day coincide with a parent's first full day back at work. For a family managing both changes, that creates room to respond to how settling actually goes rather than relying entirely on a fixed start date.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery opens on weekdays from 8am to 6pm, across 50 weeks of the year. Morning sessions run from 8am to 1pm, and afternoon sessions from 1pm to 6pm; these are the two half-day options.

Bank holidays and ten working days are closure days, usually divided between Easter and Christmas. Parents receive the year's holiday dates at its start, which helps with planning care around those breaks.

Getting There

The nursery address is 24a Thornton Road, London, SW12 0LF. Enquiries can be made by telephone or email to the SW12 office.

Funding and Paid Extras

Fees use a flat rate across children's ages and weekdays. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation. Music, yoga and sports taught by specialists are included in the fees.

A 5% sibling discount also extends to siblings attending The White House Preparatory School. This is a practical consideration for families arranging care and education for more than one child. The included specialist sessions are a separate budgeting point: choosing music, sports or yoga does not mean purchasing those activities as additional extras.

The nursery describes its connection with The White House Preparatory School through the Kindergarten opportunity. Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place; families must use the school's own admissions process.

• Wednesday visits. Show rounds take place on Wednesday mornings, with one family per appointment. Arrange one by emailing the office before submitting a registration form; use the individual appointment to discuss how the baby spaces or Kindergarten opportunity would fit your child's routine.
• A gradual start. Two introductory sessions precede the usual routine, and some children build up attendance over their first month. Allow time for settling before your return to work.
• School transition. Kindergarten attendance is a term-time opportunity from age 2½. Consider whether this more formal element suits your child alongside their nursery day.

Woodentops suits families seeking morning or afternoon care, with specialist-led activities and a gradual settling process. The baby sleeping room, toddler conservatory and allotment give the offer practical substance. Its Kindergarten connection adds a further option for older children, while the July 2011 Good judgement should be read in its historical context.